The Spirit of Bermuda is currently heading towards Bermuda as part of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge. This is the latest despatch report from the sloop:

It is with mixed emotions that The Spirit of Bermuda can report the Tall Ship Atlantic Challenge race from Tenerife is over.

Though the ship is currently more than 500 miles off Bermuda the race has been called due to a high pressure system which has left many in the fleet immobile.

Unfortunately for the Spirit, this could not have come at a worse time and has hurt her when it comes to race standings.

Throughout the early part of the race Spirit made considerable headway and therefore was one of the first to enter the high pressure system, which proceeded to grow and cover over 3,000 miles of the Atlantic.

This high pressure system acted as a wind vacuum over the past four days. As the Spirit bobbed in the ocean setting a new low record of 28 nautical miles in 24 hours others in the fleet, who were still hundreds of miles behind the ship, were able to catch up.

It was not until yesterday when other vessels were becalmed and were still more than 1,100 miles from Bermuda that the Tall Ship Atlantic Challenge committee decided it was time to call the race. The concern was that many of the larger ships would not make it to Bermuda in time for the festivities if the race continued. Spirit would have arrived well within original deadline of June 10 if the race had continued, but most of her class would have retired. The timing was terrible for the ship. Just as the race was called Spirit started to pick up speed having finally found wind.

Captain Simon Colley said: "It is unfortunate because we committed to a strategy that did not have the opportunity to pay off. We had a good chance competitively, especially as there are vessels ahead of us on corrected time that would not have been able to make Bermuda by the original deadline.

"As much as we have enjoyed the competition this is not about the race. It is about bringing young people from all over the world, by sea, to celebrate Bermuda's 400th anniversary and it is hard to have a Tall Ships festival if the ships are still in the middle of the Atlantic.

"It was a big disappointment for the crew but already talk is turning to highlights of the race and how we can bring Spirit home in style."

Many on the crew are disappointed the race has been called and hoped to sail the entire 2,500-mile leg the longest in this summer's race. Others are pleased that there is an end in sight to the voyage, which is in its 17th day. The one saving grace is that everyone is happy to be heading home and ready to celebrate the Island's 400th anniversary. Many on the crew are also looking forward to showing their new friends on other ships their home country.

The provisional finish line results show Spirit still in second across the water but she has fallen to fourth in the corrected time category. The ship fought hard to maintain third place on corrected time but dropped due to the fact she spent four days in the high pressure system while others were making good speed in other parts of the Atlantic.

It is expected she will arrive in Bermuda this weekend.

Spirit's position at 1400UTC: Tuesday June 2.

31º17'N x 52º30'W

COG 290ºT

SOG 5.6 knots

Force 4 SW'ly, slight sea, fine and sunny scattered Cumulus

Barometer 1019.5 mb and steady.

Under full sail, Close Reach.

Daily run since 1400 yesterday 54.6 NM as the crow flies.

1889 NM from Santa Cruz de Tenerife

613 NM from St. David's Light, Bermuda.