Spirit of Bermuda's maiden voyage in the Newport Bermuda Race is nearly over.The triple mast sloop is crawling along at five knots towards the St David's finish line.Some crew members are eating dinner in the galley while others are above deck taking in the breathtaking views and sunset off the Island's northern coast.Among the crew of 32 is veteran sailor Warren Brown who is impressed with Spirit's performance in the 635 mile race."I'm surprised how she's goes to windward and how fast she goes," he said. "When you look at a boat like this you think she's quite slow. But she's not slow, she's fast and I think quite a few people are surprised to see her up there (top half of the fleet)."Currently at the helm of Spirit as she slowly makes her to port is starboard watch leader Michael Ashton."Right now we are enjoying a nice bit of breeze (seven knots) which is the most we have enjoyed in a couple of hours," he said, without taking his eye away from the wheel. "Trying to sail 90 tons of vessel in seven knots of wind is phenomenal but this boat does it extremely well."Veteran sailor Ross Smith summed up his voyage at sea as "wonderful"."It's been a wonderful and great experience and I advise anybody to take the opportunity to sail aboard Spirit."Also among Spirit's crew are teenaged sailors Hannah Horsfield and Dimitri Stevens.Horsfield said:"It feels good to be back home. I wish the boat was moving faster though, I can swim faster than this."Stevens added:"It's been a little long for my liking. But it wasn't that bad."I didn't get sea sick, so it wasn't that bad."Asked would he do the Newport Bermuda Race again, Stevens smiled:"Maybe after a long break."Spirit of Bermuda is the sole entry in the new 'Spirit of Tradition' Class for the War Baby Trophy.