Hundreds of students in Bermuda yesterday set off on a virtual sailing trip that promises to take them around the globe during the next eight months.

The XL/Bermuda Education Initiative has joined forces with the Ministry of Education and Tyco to enable students at CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute to closely follow Bermuda's entry in The Volvo Ocean Race.

Team Tyco Bermuda set off yesterday on the first leg of the around-the-world race from Southampton in England to Cape Town, South Africa.

And at the same, students gathered in Bermuda to launch their own virtual sailing trip, which will see them using the latest technology to communicate with the team aboard the yacht, follow their every move and plot and plan their voyage.

But they will also be teaming up with students at Thompson Middle School in Newport, Rhode Island, who will also be tracking the boat's progress during the next eight months.

Teachers Chris Swan, from Berkeley, and Saleem Talbot, from CedarBridge, have spent weeks putting together the virtual sailing programme with the ministry so that the project could be included in the students' science curriculum.

Pupils at both schools will regularly be able to apply their physics skills to monitor the distances, times, weather and wave factors as part of their regular science lessons.

But they are also hoping to link up with the sailing team to ask questions and discuss the journey via a satellite linkup.

Mr. Talbot said adding the sailing trip to the students' curriculum was not difficult, but said he believed it would be very rewarding for the pupils.

He said: "I think this is a perfect example for us to show the students how we utilise physics in every day life.

"We have the technology so that youngsters will be able to see the weather conditions and plot where the boat is going. They will be able to monitor the winds and the tides, no matter where the boat is. It will give them a whole new insight into sailing and the use of science.

"Historically, Bermuda has always been a sailing nation but today's generation are at a loss and have very little experience of sailing. We are hoping this encourages them to take an interest, and we think it will be hugely exciting."

Chairman and Chief Executive of Tyco International Ltd, L. Dennis Kozlowski said the students would be using a computer programme called Virtual Spectator, which has been supplied through a grant from the company, which will deliver video and audio directly from the boat.

There will also be a Team Tyco web page for the students to access either at school or at home.

He added: "One of the rewarding aspects of the race is the chance for everyone to participate via today's technology. We see this as a unique opportunity for students to explore and learn about their world, as well as sailing, as they share the experience of the Volvo Ocean Race and that of Team Tyco."

The XL/Bermuda Education Initiative and Tyco have agreed to organise speakers for the students throughout the race to discuss various topics, such as boats, the weather, ocean currents, sail-making and navigation.

Dianne Miller, executive director of XL/Bermuda Education Initiative, said: "With a programme such as this, learning becomes exciting. Everyday subject matter is virtually transformed into real world problem-solving activities."

Student Shardae Whitter, 16, who attends CedarBridge, said: "I love science, but this will make it even more interesting, especially as we will be interacting with the team as they are sailing."

The race is expected to finish next June, but it is also hoped that some students from Bermuda may be able to visit the Tyco team when they arrive in Baltimore at Easter.