The slave ship Amistad will be making its way back to Bermuda after retracing some of the Atlantic Slave Trade route.

The ship has just about finished its year-long voyage from its homeport in New Haven, Connecticut, to the West African nation of Sierra Leone and then back to Connecticut. The ship is expected to come to Bermuda for the winter months, arriving around Halloween.

One lucky Bermudian, Marine and Ports pilot Odwin (Mickey) Berkley was able to participate in the Amistad's historic trip. Mr. Berkley joined the crew of the Freedom Schooner Amistad as they covered 14,000 nautical miles and visiting 20 ports, retracing the slave industry triangle.

Mr. Berkley boarded at the mid-point of the tall ship's journey on Goree Island, Senegal West Africa and sailed with them to Cape Verde Island and then continued on across the Atlantic to Barbados.

"A couple of years ago the ship needed two more crew members and I was referred to them," Mr. Berkley told The Royal Gazette. "(Over the years) I've kept in contact with them and when the opportunity came to revisit over 200 years of history I was excited to be apart of it. The ship's captain at the time, Eliza (Garfield), said she could use an officer so I filled in as Second Mate to the crew of four."

Mr. Berkley said it was very interesting to work with people from different nationalities and learn about their cultures.

"For the most part, everyone got along very well. When you're on the ocean you have no choice but to get along or it's miserable," he said.

In addition to sailing the crew were given history lessons on the slave trade. There was a learning session every afternoon where classes where held and books about the slave trade were assigned.

"At that time, we would discuss the issues of slavery and the trade and have the opportunity to diary what we were experiencing," Mr. Berkley said.

We would also look at location and what was the closest landmark to us at the time and what it would have been like during the trade.

"I learned a lot of history especially in Barbados which was made up of thousands of black and Irish slaves. In 1606 there were approximately 1,200 Irish slaves. This is something I had no idea of so I always remember that.

"One thing that I found interesting was the behavior of the slaves. They had figured a way to get out of Africa to America thinking that they were escaping slavery because the current ran right across from Africa to America. They had no clue they were headed right to slavery."

Mr. Berkley said he was a bit dismayed learning that slaves were captured and taken on board by the hundreds because the traders knew they were going to lose slaves on the way.

"When we got half way across the Middle Passage, we slowed the boat down and had a memorial ceremony. We made a wreath out of memorabilia from each crew member. I put a Bermuda $2 bill on the wreath.

"We stood in silence and reflected on what the slaves were experiencing at the time. After the moment of silence a bell was rung 53 times to remember the 53 slaves that were on board. People on board were getting very emotional at this point."

The Freedom Schooner Amistad is a replica of the original Amistad, which was made famous in the Steven Spielberg movie by the same name.

It's captain is currently John Beebe-Center, who replaced Capt. Eliza Garfield in Charlestown, S.C., on May 16.

Mr. Beebe-Center told The Day newspaper of Connecticut that the Amistad will spend the summer travelling to US East Coast ports and then head to Bermuda in late October.

The ship will continue its educational mission and will no doubt have equally enthusiastic crew members.