The Spirit of Bermuda's maiden voyage was two years ago. Since then it has taken more than 200 middle school students on programmes, won international awards and covered more than 10,000 nautical miles.

The ship is a unique modern day training vessel, 112-feet long overall, 88 feet on deck with a 23-foot beam, a draught of 9.5 feet and a main mast height of 90 feet.

The Foundation offers two training programmes. One is for middle school students and ensures a majority of middle school students across the Island experience five days of sailing.

It provides schools with the perfect opportunity to combine teaching with doing and brings Bermuda's rich maritime history to life.

Crew also learn about the marine environment, including weather patterns, wind patterns and marine currents and how to calculate them using the latest technology.

Teamwork is another skill that students gain while aboard the ship.

The other programme, the "Skiller Programme", is for those interested in pursuing it as an extra curricular activity and are age 15 or older.

The Skiller Programme allows students to hone their skills during international sails and act as ambassadors of Bermuda.

The programme has seen them sail up the east coast of the US, to the Caribbean and in 2009 they will set sail for Europe.

The state-of-the-art training vessel has also helped arrange for 12 young Bermudians to attend a seaman's course in the US which will provide them with international maritime qualifications.

All 12 have already sailed with the Spirit and four were aboard for the sail to Turks and Caicos.

They will attend the Northeast Maritime Institute in Fairhaven, Massachusetts — free of charge — and if successful, they will sail away with a certificate of competency — a qualification that is recognised by the US Coast Guard and other international agencies.

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation's main aim is to ensure the ship is accessible for all, regardless of a student's financial situation. Many that sail aboard the ship receive financial assistance.

Last year it was named Sail Training Programme of the Year by the American Sail Training Foundation.

The ship is estimated to have covered some 10,000 sail training sea miles in its first year alone.

For more information about the foundation or to give donations, contact 737-5667 or e-mail info[AT] bermudasloop.org.