The crew of the sail training ship came through their first test with flying colours, according to her captain who said they had faced a baptism of fire.

On the first day at sea, crew members were confronted with rough seas and gale force winds for 12 hours as the training ship began its maiden voyage to Bermuda.

Captain Chris Blake described the first night of the journey as ?baptism by fire? and added: ? We experienced winds in excess of 35 knots. We had huge waves crashing over the bow.

?The ship and the crew were tested, and both performed well. Some of the crew were sea sick but they still managed to perform their duties.?

The left Rockport, Maine at 11 a.m. on Sunday and travelled more than 172 nautical miles in its first 24 hours at sea.

Capt. Blake added: ?She is very fast. Bermuda is getting closer.?

The is the Island?s first sail training ship and the 32-strong crew, ranging in age from 61 to 16, are responsible for ensuring her safe arrival at Bermuda.

Crew member Ed Stowe, 19, had the honour of taking the helm of the ship as she left the harbour in Maine.

Speaking from the ship, he told : ?I was excited. It was a great honour to be asked to bring the boat out of the harbour. I had to navigate through some boats tied to moorings.

?Once we got clear we put up the sails and then the Captain put the ship on a compass course for about 45 minutes. It is a privilege to be on this boat.?

Fellow crew member 16-year-old Reid Perinchief echoed Mr. Stowe?s sentiments. Mr. Perinchief, a Berkeley Institute student, said: ?I have learned a lot about myself. I want to be a marine engineer and I have had the opportunity to work with the ship?s chief engineer.

?This has been a great learning experience and I would encourage all youth ? whether they sail or not ? to participate in this programme.? The will offer Bermuda?s 4,800 young people aged between 14 and 20 extracurricular and school programmes using ocean sail training to develop character, promote team building and excite formal learning.

Subject to weather conditions the is expected to reach the Bermuda area this Thursday.

She will rendezvous with an escort flotilla at Town Cut at 10 a.m. on Saturday and proceed up the North Shore, around the Great Sound, into Granaway Deep, through Timlin?s Narrows into Hamilton Harbour and to her official port of entry Albuoy?s Point. A number of activities have been planned to welcome the including performances at Albuoy?s Point by artists Heather Nova and Shine Hayward.

At 5 p.m. on Saturday the ship will proceed to the Royal Naval Dockyard and on October 1 there will be an open house at Dockyard in front of the Clock Tower from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.