Spirit of Bermuda facts for kids
The modern Spirit of Bermuda in Hamilton Harbour
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Quick facts for kids History |
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Bermuda (UK)  |
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| Name | Spirit of Bermuda |
| Owner | Bermuda Sloop Foundation (BSF) |
| Port of registry |  Hamilton |
| Builder | Rockport Marine, in Rockport Maine |
| Launched | August 2006 |
| Identification |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Sail training vessel |
| Tonnage | 88 GT |
| Length |
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| Beam | 23 ft 0 in (7.0 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) |
| Installed power | Diesel engine |
| Propulsion | 385 hp (287 kW) |
| Sail plan | Bermuda-rigged Bermuda sloop/Ballyhoo schooner |
The Spirit of Bermuda is a special sailing ship built in modern times. She looks like an old Bermuda sloop from the past. Her design was inspired by a painting from 1831 that shows a Royal Navy sloop-of-war. Today, she is used to teach young people about sailing and Bermuda's history.
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History of the Bermuda Sloop
A Bermuda sloop was a type of small sailing ship. People built them in Bermuda from the 1600s to the 1800s. These ships had special sails, like the Bermuda rig. Bermudian traders, privateers, and sailors used them a lot.
These sloops were very good at sailing, especially against the wind. They were also fast and easy to steer. Because of this, other countries and navies wanted them too. Bermudians built many of these ships for their own trade and to sell to others.
By the end of the 1900s, there were no Bermuda sloops left. Many people in Bermuda had forgotten about their island's long history with the sea. This is why the Spirit of Bermuda was built. A group called the Bermuda Sloop Foundation started it. Their goal was to teach young Bermudians about sailing and their island's rich maritime past.
Building the Spirit of Bermuda
The original Bermuda sloops were mostly made from Bermuda cedar wood. They were built using an old method called 'plank-on-frame'. This meant building a skeleton of the ship first, then adding planks.
The Spirit of Bermuda is built differently. She uses woods like Douglas fir and teak. She was also built using a newer method called 'cold-molded'. This method uses layers of wood glued together. The ship was built in the United States. It was made for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation. Her main job is to be a sail training vessel for young people in Bermuda.
Old Bermuda sloops could have one, two, or even three masts. Today, a 'sloop' usually means a ship with only one mast. But in the past, the word 'sloop' meant a small warship. It also meant the ship's captain was not a very high-ranking officer.
Ships with one mast and huge sails were hard to sail. They needed many experienced sailors. The Royal Navy often preferred ships with more masts. This was because they often did not have enough trained sailors. More masts also meant more space for cannons.
The Bermuda Sloop Foundation chose a three-masted design for the Spirit of Bermuda. This was for a good reason: it is easier and safer for young, new sailors to handle. They also chose the Bermuda rig for the sails. This is a very common type of sail in Bermuda.
The ship's design was created by Langan Design Associates. They are a company in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Bermuda Sloop Foundation
The Bermuda Sloop Foundation started in 1996. It was founded by Malcolm Kirkland, Alan Burland, and Jay Kempe. For eight years, the foundation worked to raise money. They also decided on the ship's design. Bermudian singer Heather Nova even recorded a song to help raise funds.
Rockport Marine, a company in Rockport, Maine, built the ship. Construction began in 2004. The Spirit of Bermuda was finished in August 2006. She sailed to Bermuda in October of that year. Since then, she has been used for sail training trips. These trips happen both near Bermuda and in other countries.
The Spirit of Bermuda is named after a much smaller boat. This original Spirit of Bermuda was a 15-foot sloop. It had Bermuda-rigged sails and oars. In 1935, two cousins, Eric Johnson and Carl Holmes, sailed this tiny boat from Bermuda to New York City.
They left Bermuda on May 27 and arrived in New York on June 15, 1935. Many important people and large crowds saw them off. A big crowd also greeted them in New York. The cousins thought the trip would take about a week. Instead, they faced three storms over 19 days.
On their first night, both were seasick and could not steer. They tied the steering handle. On May 30, a strong gust of wind flipped their boat. Both men fell overboard. But they managed to get back on board and set the boat right.
After six days of good weather, they hit the worst storm on June 10. It lasted for two nights and a day. Waves washed over the deck. They threw overboard anything they did not need to survive. Even after fighting the storms, they arrived in New York with food and water left. Later, they sailed their Spirit of Bermuda to Toronto, Canada. It was shown at the Canadian National Exhibition.
Gallery
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This 1831 painting by John Lynn shows the Bermuda sloop of the Royal Navy that inspired the Spirit of Bermuda.
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The Spirit of Bermuda sailing for the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.
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The Bermuda Sloop Spirit of Bermuda at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.
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The Spirit of Bermuda during a visit overseas.
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This is the back part (transom) of the Spirit of Bermuda, made with Bermuda cedar.
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