Warm welcome in the Azores for the Spirit of Bermuda

by Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch. The Royal Gazette on 30 Apr 2009 The Spirit of Bermuda left the Island earlier this month on its first transatlantic crossing. Here is a report of its arrival and stopover in Ponta Delgada in the Azores from Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch published in The Royal Gazette.

The sloop is currently sailing onwards to Porto, in Portugal. It will continue on to Vigo, Spain where it will meet more than 30 other tall ships for the start of the Tall Ship Atlantic Challenge. The ship will then race to the Canary Islands and then undertake a two- to three-week race to Bermuda, where it will participate in the Island's 400th anniversary.

Land Ho! The Spirit of Bermuda approaches the Azores, the crew's first sight of land since leaving Bermuda more than a week earlier.

When 'land ho' was called, ship's company ran to the deck and looked on as Horta, Faial in the Azores came into view. Known as one of the greenest islands in the world, it did not disappoint.

After eight days at sea, covering 1,800 nautical miles, the crew was looking forward to some time on land. Soon after setting foot on land in Horta, many of the ship's crew rented cars to explore the volcanic island and visit its many craters. While no one knew what to expect before arriving on the island everyone was amazed with the lush landscape the island had.

The port is a popular one with international yacht crews, and with only 24 hours in Horta, the Spirit crew participated in a popular tradition painting its crest on the wall of the dock to ensure a safe passage home
Before long the sails were set and the ship was heading to Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel 150 nautical miles away. They arrived under full sail with many smaller vessels coming out to meet the ship as it entered the dock.

After a free night the crew woke to give tours and hold its traditional Dark 'n' Stormy party with fish chowder for dignitaries, including the mayor and port officials, who helped organise the ship's stay. Yet again, Goslings Black Seal and Barritt's ginger beer were a hit with the locals.

The following day everyone was treated to tours of Sao Miguel, which is famous for its beautiful landscape and exceptional volcanic lakes. One of the most awe-inspiring features is the Vale das Furnas, a lush garden at the bottom of a huge volcanic crater where warm water bubbles out of the side of the hills and into rivers.

The crew was also treated to the local stew slowly baked in a volcanic crater for over 12 hours which has been featured on the Food Network.

'It was cool when ash was put in one of the thermal vents and smoke came out of them.'

Sixteen-year-old Vershon Simmons said drinking water out of the hot springs was a once-in-a-lifetime experience: 'The water was like Perrier. It's cool that people can just fill up jugs with 'Perrier' and take it home.'

Ambrose Gosling, who is 21, said he did not know what to expect when he arrived in the Azores: 'It is a beautiful island and incredibly lush. I also wasn't expecting to meet so many people with Bermuda connections. We met people who have lived there and people who are living there now, it was very interesting and a great experience.'

Brian Bulhoes, whose family is from the island, was treated as a local celebrity after several press interviews in Portuguese.

After a fun five days in Azores the ship said goodbye to the homeward-bound Bermuda Regiment soldiers and Sea Cadet officer, and welcomed new crew members before setting sail for Porto, Portugal.

Said Mr. Gosling of the new crew: 'We have some new hands on board so it will be interesting bonding with them. On the first leg we were strangers but are now good friends so hopefully that will happen again on this leg.'

A lack of wind meant the ship was under motor for the first 36 hours of the sail, however the wind picked up and the ship is now 400 miles from Porto.

Captain Simon Colley said he is looking forward to the crew continuing to evolve and is impressed with the sail so far: 'We are sailing the ship really well, the crew responds quickly and sail handling and operations that would have taken considerable time a week ago are now taking minutes. Today we had a tear in the foresail; we struck it, reefed it and raised it in minutes. That would have taken 30 minutes a week ago. Many of the crew are now becoming truly 'of the sea' where the subtleties of living aboard as a member of a community are second nature. Aspects of living aboard a ship are now becoming natural, people are compensating for the pitch and roll of the ship without even thinking of it.'

The trainees include Rodrico Bean, Michael Byron, Shakir Foggo, Mr. Gosling, Cameron Joseph, Joachim Knickenberg, Klaus Neidhardt, Vershon Simmons and Jackie Stevenson.

The professional crew includes Capt. Colley, First Mate Johnny O'Keeffe, Second Mate Sarah Stein, Third Mate Mickey Berkeley, engineers Colin Kinsella and David Goulbourne and deckhands Nova Ewers, Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch and Lawson Williams.

Bermuda Sloop Foundation chairman Alan Burland and deputy chairman Jay Kempe are also sailing with the crew.

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