In March the Bermuda Sloop Foundation welcomed aboard the Spirit of Bermuda a crew of 21 members from the Year 9 Warwick Academy boys I was fortunate enough to have been one of them.The voyage lasted a total of five days, commencing on a Monday and ending on a Friday. Our days were made up of activities which ranged from snorkelling to fishing to whale watching to learning about the sloop’s history … all of which made our adventure as extraordinary as it was rumoured to be.On Monday, we met the sloop’s crew, learned the safety features of the boat and were briefed on the protocol scheduled for the rest of the voyage. We were divided into groups according to which mast we would be working at fore, main and mizzen from the bow to the stern of the ship, respectively and then sailed off, albeit with a little help from the motor.Each day’s classes revolved around a specific theme such as perseverance or courage, as well as around more general themes of trying our best and being a reliable team member. The lessons were both enjoyable and educational, yet had the students bouncing off the walls in anticipation of the quizzes that would be given at the end of each class. We learned about Bermuda’s endemic species and their migration patterns throughout the world; this knowledge was strengthened by hands-on experience when, on Wednesday, we took a tour of Nonsuch Island with Mr Madeiros. On the island we were able to watch and study Bermuda’s graceful longtails, the Bermuda skink and many other local species of animals. In the afternoon we anchored in the cove just off Nonsuch Island and went snorkelling among the reefs. Later that evening, we threw hand lines over the side of the sloop and caught enough fish for the sloop’s chef, Chefie, to fry up for dinner.The food was another great aspect of our voyage. Chefie served up an array of delectable meals straight from the galley’s warm oven. There were pancakes, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza … Chefie was there to satisfy our stomachs, and satisfy he did our compliments to the chef.In the evening we would gather in the cockpit to have our evening meeting where we would discuss what our expectations were for that day, whether or not we had met those expectations and what our goals for the next day would be. The most controversial topic of discussion centred on the cleaning of the sloop, which was part of the guest crew’s daily morning duties.On Thursday we ventured ten miles out to sea. This was the best day on the sloop for some and the worst for others. Twenty-foot swells crashed over the edge of the boat, tossing some of the students across the deck and causing others to be sick over the side. At about eight miles out we heard the one word we had all been waiting for: the First Mate on the foremast bellowed, “Whale!” Less than thirty feet from the Spirit of Bermuda a humpback whale frolicked in the swells, spouting water from its blowhole and flipping its tail. Although this particular sail held a ‘low tide’ for the unfortunate few who suffered from seasickness, I think it is safe to say that none of us would have wanted to miss this awe-inspiring encounter with the humpback whale, one of nature’s most magnificent creatures.Friday was perhaps our least favourite day of the week, as we had to say goodbye to the crew, the captain and to all of the new friends made during our week at sea.