have gained their sea legs and something more. The 16- to 25-year-old crew has learned tolerance, goodwill and cooperation.

The 160-foot Polish ship arrived in Bermuda on Monday for a short stopover on the way to New York where she will take part in the Grand Regatta Columbus '92. Her young crew's stay here will give them a chance to get the boat ready to celebrate Columbus's discovery of America and to pick up provisions.

The ship has been commissioned by the Scottish Maritime Sailing Trust to participate in the regatta as Scotland's only entry.

Fryderyk Chopin's trans-Atlantic regatta voyage began in Cadiz, Spain where one group of mostly Scottish sail trainees helped sail her to the Canary Islands.

A second group took over for the sail to San Juan, Puerto Rico where the current group began its journey last week. They are to sail on to New York, Newport and Boston where they will be replaced by a fourth group which will sail with the ship to Liverpool.

The young Scots on board Fryderyk Chopin were able to take part in the programme by raising the 3,000 pounds it cost each of them for their one-month stint aboard ship.

Most of the young Scots currently on board have had little or no experience with sailing, so the tall ship experience came as a shock. Most of them were surprised at the amount of hard work it takes to run a ship. As one said: "I'll need a holiday after this.'' After becoming accustomed to the shipboard regimen, the trainees have discovered that sailing is fun. Most of them did not know each other before starting the programme, but now consider themselves good friends.

Being confined to a boat for days on end has taught them to get along with one another. One crewman pointed out: "We make the most of what we've got.'' The captain and crew of the ship are Polish with the exception of a British first officer and an Australian third officer. A few trainees are also Polish but the differences in language and lifestyle have not prevented them from getting along.

The captain of the Fryderyk Chopin , Chris Baranowski, whose credentials include a solo sail around the world, said that he and the crew "are ready to teach them whatever we know and they are willing to share in our efforts''.

Fryderyk Chopin was built to function as a training ship and only started operating this year. Before the Scottish trainees came aboard, Polish youngsters trained onboard.

Capt. Baranowski said he felt the high seas experience was stronger and more satisfying than the one land-locked trainees get.

"We are not training sailors,'' he said. "We are bringing up youngsters to be responsible.'' First officer Mr. Frank Scott, who has a naval background, agreed.

"It's like outward bound, but at sea,'' he said.

All the trainees said they thought their biggest shipboard challenge was climbing the mast. Mr. Scott sees that challenge as a way for the trainees to gain confidence.

The trainees' begins at 6.25 a.m. At 6.40, it is time for physical training.

Afterwards, they start their daily tasks which range from swabbing the decks to navigating.

Shore leave seems to be the trainees' favourite part of the journey, but the privilege is only granted with the completion of tasks such as learning knots.

Every task assigned to the trainees is not just intended to teach them how to sail but to teach them teamwork and responsibility.

While on shore in Bermuda, the group attended a barbecue hosted by the Caledonian Society. They also plan to see the sights and visit the local pubs.

The ship, berthed in St. George's, leaves on Sunday.

UNDER FULL SAIL -- The Fryderyk Chopin and her young Scots crew are bethed in St. George's until Sunday.