Tremayne Bean and Patrick Perret want to work on superyachts.

Lamar Samuels is eyeing a captain’s licence.

In the meantime, they’re watch leaders on board Spirit of Bermuda.

Their progress is a success for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation. The three men joined the sailing programme while students at Dellwood Middle School and never looked back.

“I really enjoyed the first stage,” said Mr Samuels, who went on his first voyage with Spirit in 2011. “The same summer I did an overseas voyage to Canada and I’ve been hooked ever since.

“I really enjoy working on a boat. I have a real passion for it and really believe in what the Bermuda Sloop Foundation is doing for the youth of Bermuda.”

The scheme takes M2 students on a five-day voyage on Spirit. The journey on the sail training vessel separates them from their family and all creature comforts to help them learn and grow in a new environment. Students then have the opportunity to go on follow-up voyages over the summer.

Mr Samuels, a recent graduate of the Berkeley Institute, went on trips with Spirit to the Canadian Maritimes and Belfast, Ireland. He then volunteered with the programme before becoming a watch leader this year.

“I lead a group of children on ship,” he said of his new role. “I teach and guide them in sailing and mentor them as well. I’ve enjoyed it so far.”

The 18-year-old said he had no idea what to expect before his first voyage. Spirit has fed his fascination with the maritime industry ever since.

“There’s always something new; there’s always a challenge,” he said. “I will [continue as watch leader for] a year or two before I head out to school. I’m trying to head off to a maritime school so I can get a captain’s licence.”

He gave the following advice to youngsters who might not be so enthusiastic about signing up for the experience: “If you’re apprehensive or second-guessing the experience, I think it’s always good to try something new. Go with an open mind and enjoy the time that you get.”

Berkeley Institute graduate Mr Perret has numerous maritime qualifications under his belt and went on Spirit voyages to the Turks and Caicos, Bahamas and Florida.

The 26-year-old first served as watch leader in 2009, for a leg of the tall ships race from Bermuda to Charleston, South Carolina.

Fellow watch leader Mr Bean went on his first Spirit voyage with a bit of an advantage. He’d sailed optimists with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club from the age of six.

“We were the honour guard for Spirit,” he said. “We would sail out to it — as far as Two Rock Passage and back in. So from being [involved] as a kid I kind of knew what to expect.

“I did it at first because I enjoyed it and then through school. I was involved with the WaterWise Project at Dellwood.”

The 20-year-old travelled to Haiti with Spirit of Bermuda and is working under the ship’s engineer so he can take over his duties whenever necessary. “I’m really trying to get my yachtmasters certificate done so I can work on superyachts,” he said. “Our motto is changing lives, one voyage at a time. I think it’s worth a try to do it. It really does change lives, it’s basically a big eye-opener.”