BSF Welcomes Back Captain Chris Blake
Bermuda Sloop Foundation [BSF] is welcoming back former Captain Chris Blake to Captain Spirit of Bermuda in the 2023 Marion Bermuda race next month.
A spokesperson said, “Captain Chris Blake, OBE, is a master mariner with over 45 years’ experience in the maritime industry, sailing tall ships such as the Pelican of London and Royal Albatross. Captain Blake joined BSF in 2005 to supervise the construction of Spirit in Maine and set up the charity’s youth development programmes, training Bermudians to take over.
“Captain Blake will be sailing alongside current Spirit Captain Paul Bracken, who will be acting as First Officer, as they compete in the Marion Bermuda race. This well-known Corinthian event has not been held since 2019. Spirit of Bermuda will be sailing across the Atlantic to Marion, MA for the start of the event before racing back to Bermuda.
“During both voyages, Spirit of Bermuda will be crewed by professional and amateur sailors looking to improve their maritime skills and enjoy the thrill of an Atlantic crossing.”
Captain Blake said, “It is a great honour to be invited back to sail as Captain on board Spirit of Bermuda. I’m looking forward to being back on the Island and catching up with friends and shipmates who sailed with me in the past.
“The Bermuda Sloop Foundation continues to do an excellent job of taking young people of Bermuda to sea and giving them an experience that will assist them with their personal development and future lives.”
Captain Bracken said, “I’m very excited about sailing Spirit of Bermuda overseas this summer. She’s a wonderful vessel and handles well in all conditions. We have two great trips planned, first in the Marion Bermuda race and then a second a voyage to New York plus a small shipyard period in Rhode Island to give Spirit the attention she deserves.”
Bermuda Sloop Foundation CEO, Robin Hamill, said, “We are very happy to have Captain Chris Blake aboard Spirit for the Marion Bermuda race. His expertise and wealth of experience was fundamental to the development of our world-class experiential learning programme. Having both him and Captain Bracken at the helm will be a huge asset and a great opportunity for our current crew and amateur sailors to develop their navigation and sailing skills.”
The spokesperson said, “With Captains Blake and Bracken on board, it’s going to be a great race!”
