'Spirit' heads off for Philadelphia

Jonathan Bell

Published May 20, 2018 at 2:29 pm (Updated May 20, 2018 at 2:29 pm)

The Spirit of Bermuda sets off for Philadelphia (Photograph supplied)

The Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s signature vessel headed off early today from St George’s to Philadelphia.

The Spirit of Bermuda is to take part in the city’s Memorial Day Festival, from Friday to May 28.

It marks the ship’s first visit to the city, with a four-day passage expected to the Delaware Bay and up the Delaware River, to Penn’s Landing.

The Spirit will be open to the public for four days, along with other tall ships — including square riggers from Portugal, and the educational vessel Oliver Hasard Perry from the US.

The sloop will return home on June 3, bringing a new 16ft bowsprit and rigging to replace the one damaged in a collision last year.

As well as representing Bermuda, the trip will give training to apprentices seeking the role of watch leader for the 2018/19 middle school voyage programme.

The Foundation announced that all three existing watch leaders are moving on to tertiary education and overseas training overseas this autumn.

Bermudians in the Philadelphia area are encouraged to visit Spirit of Bermuda during her stay.

For more information, contact Branwen Smith-King, at 737-5667 or e-mail executive.director@bermudasloop.org.

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