‘Spirit Of Bermuda’ Crosses Finish Line
[Updated] The Spirit of Bermuda is presently making its way to the finish line in St David’s, and is expected to finish within the next 30 minutes or so, and then make its way to Hamilton.
As of this time [11.10pm] the vessel is less than one mile away from the finish line, closing in to the very end of the 635-mile race from Newport to Bermuda.
The Bermuda Sloop Foundation sail-training vessel competed in this year’s race as the sole entrant in the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ Division. Among the Spirit’s crew of 32 are Captain Scott Jackson, veteran sailor Warren Brown, former St George’s Mayor E. Michael Jones, UBP MP Charles Swan, and teenagers Hannah Horsfield, Tre Jones and Dimitri Stevens.
Spirit of Bermuda led the fleet away from Newport [Photo: Barry Pickthall/PPL]:
The boat started the race first on Friday [June 15], after the Spirit’s captain raised safety issues and concerns about the Spirit — a Custom 86′ schooner — sailing through the fleet of smaller slower boats during the first night of the race.
The Spirit suspended racing late last night in order to assist a fellow sailor who had to be evacuated from his 46-foot sloop ‘Seabiscuit’ after suffering from complications from dehydration.
The Spirit of Bermuda en route to Bermuda [Photo Daniel Forster/PPL]:
The Spirit of Bermuda is a purpose-built sail training vessel based on civilian Bermudian-type schooners built in Bermuda between 1810 and 1840. It began operating in September 2006, and has provided training for thousands of young people and has sailed to 17 ports in 10 countries.
Update 11.50pm: The Spirit of Bermuda has crossed the finish line off St David’s. Due to the complexities of trying to shoot long distance footage at night the video below doesn’t really show much but a black screen [Sorry, we will get a better video in the morning!].
However for those very interested the first lights you see are those of the Spirit’s sails, which soon fade out. The small lights that are left visible are from the Spirit, with the second set of lights [on the right] the finish line. The lights blinking across the screen show the Spirit cross the line.
Update 6.42am: Having made its way to Hamilton overnight, the Spirit is presently at Albouy’s Point.
Update 8.00am: Another view of the Spirit docked in Hamilton this morning in a photo courtesy of Sam Greenfield.
Update 8.44am:A quick video of Charles Swan on the deck of the Spirit is below. Mr Swan said they came into Hamilton at about 2.30am this morning after completing her inaugural Newport Bermuda race. He said the wind dropped out when they were about 25 miles off Bermuda, so they slowed down for the finish.
Welcome Home Spirit.
We don’t want another episoed of drug and gun smuggling like we have experienced in the past with this particular ship!
oh shuddup….they’ve tighten things up quite a bit as it only takes on idiot to cause problems for our flag ship.
Thank you, people like that needs to get a life and move on. Welcome back home Spirit of Bermuda and I’m proud of you my fellow mariners. Ray