Bermuda was the final port of call before reaching their ultimate destination for an international crew of students who have spent nine months travelling 20 countries on four continents.SS Sorlandet, built in 1927, is the oldest full-rigged tall ship in the world still in operation. She cruised into Hamilton last Tuesday for three days of shore leave, having sailed up from the Dominican Republic. The vessel was chartered by Class Afloat, a non-profit school based in Canada that teaches senior high school and university students on-board a floating classroom.A crew of 48 students, seven teachers and 11 sailors set out from Istanbul, Turkey, last September, calling in on Greece, Croatia, France and Portugal before heading across to Africa.The ship left Senegal for the first of its three Atlantic crossings in November, before resting up in Brazil over the Christmas break. It then made a second ocean crossing to South Africa before heading west once more to the Caribbean and then on to Bermuda.While here, the crew toured the Island and sampled some Bermudian culture, making kites which they flew on Horseshoe Bay. They also gave a presentation to Saltus Grammar School students and met up with representatives of Spirt of Bermuda, the Island charity that provides similar educational voyages to Bermudian youngsters.Shipboard director Jennifer Williams said: “We’re having a great time. Some of us have been swimming at Tobacco Bay and hanging out in St George’s.“The school visit was to tell students about Class Afloat. It went really well and a few of the students have since come down to the ship, got tours from students and asked even more questions.“It’s been a great year with an incredible crew and it is sad as we come to the end.”The tall ship left Bermuda on Friday on the final leg of its journey and will arrive in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia on June 3.See video at: www.royalgazette.comUseful website: www.classafloat.com