Youngsters who went on an educational voyage returned to Bermuda yesterday after sailing to and from the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Spirit of Bermuda, which set sail from Grand Turk on Monday, took a group of teenagers to the Turks and Caicos Islands to learn about the legacy of enslaved Bermudian woman and national hero Mary Prince.

The crew, made up of 17 high school pupils, reached Dockyard at midday.

Alex Peacock, the captain of the Spirit, said from the ship: “All is well with the students. Some have expressed they wish the trip would not end – and others are ready to be off.”

They recreated a centuries-old trade off by leaving Bermuda with several blocks of limestone that they then traded for salt mined from Turks and Caicos.

The salt, which was brought back with them on the voyage, will then be taken to Eastern Canada and Maine, where it would have been traded for salted fish.

A Facebook post from Ava and the students said: “This is officially our last evening on the Spirit of Bermuda as we approach the island. Today has definitely been an exciting day, with comfy beds, A/C and ice water not far off in the distance.

“The seas were extremely calm throughout the day, which has made for a relaxing last day as we reflect on all of the new lessons we’ve learned, friends we’ve made, and memories that we'll never forget.”

The post added: “Even though everyone is excited to get home, we will all miss waking up to sea breeze in the morning, and watching the sun set over the Atlantic each night. We have learnt so much about the amazing life of Mary Prince, as we follow in her wake, and can all reflect on her resilient and inspirational mindset, having been so well informed by Dr Francis’s lessons.

“However, we have also learnt so much about ourselves, and how to work with each other when faced with challenges in a constantly changing environment. This voyage has certainly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we all cannot wait to tell you about our experiences!

“As we complete our final watches, we are all looking forward to getting home, and will treasure the memories made aboard Spirit for years to come."