With SaS from Bermuda to the Netherlands

With the School at Sea project, a class of students sail across the ocean and back again on a three-master for six months. EOC Varende Vrienden travelled with Danique, Isis, Jade, Marit and Valentine.

This time the report is by Isis and Valentine.

On 11 March 2025, we left Bermuda. We started the day early, with a sunrise walk to an old fort. From the eastern tip of the island, you could watch the sun rise beautifully. And since it was summer time in Bermuda by now, we didn’t even have to get up very early!

The mystery of the buoy

Then we left: untie the ropes and off we went! The mood on board was relaxed. The fact that we would be at sea again for about two weeks made a lot less of an impression than at the beginning of the trip. Everyone worked hard on the remaining schoolwork, made tests and enjoyed the last bit of land.

The first days after departure mainly consisted of the ‘normal’ rhythm of school and watchkeeping. The watches were quiet and due to the lack of wind, we unfortunately sailed a lot on the engine, so there was not much to do. During the watches, we played games like Black Stories, sang or watched whales and dolphins swim past the boat.

Twice we picked up floating trash: the first time something we still don’t really know what it was made of and the second time… a lost life buoy. That afternoon, we suddenly saw a large, red buoy floating on the horizon. Since it was windless and we had nothing to do anyway, we adjusted the course a few degrees and sailed towards it. It was a bit surreal and spooky: windless, flat sea, setting sun and this huge buoy that wasn’t supposed to be there at all. And then the buoy rang a bell too! The calm conditions meant we could all hear it clearly. Still, a goose-bump moment…

To the Azores in stormy weather

The weather remained changeable, this crossing. Sometimes the ship slanted heavily due to strong winds, sometimes we almost floated. We practised navigation with the sextant and made calculated guesses of our positions. A few days before arriving in the Azores, another ship takeover also began. Together with the crew, we sailed the last few hundred miles to our destination. It really was the perfect weather conditions for sailing. After another long crossing, we arrived on Faial, one of the islands of the Azores, on 24 March. The kitchen team had prepared a delicious, typical English Breakfast.

On Faial, we visited a whaling museum and learned the history of whaling, and enjoyed nature during our walks and leisure time. We also did some shopping, had coffee at local cafes and, of course, visited the famous Peter Café Sport. For the rest of the trip, everyone proudly wore their new jumper, shirt or hat, which we bought there.

The last miles to the Netherlands

We left the Azores on 27 March for the final leg to the Netherlands. As we sailed away, we waved to our new friends on the other tallships in the harbour. We noticed that this departure was different than usual. This was our last official destination and now our journey would truly come to an end. Although some were looking forward to going home, we were far from wanting to say goodbye to each other.

As a result, the atmosphere on board was ambiguous. We were looking forward to seeing family and friends, but we all also wanted to go on. The last few days were quiet and as most had finished their schoolwork, school soon became optional. As a result, the last time on board felt magical and also a bit like a holiday. A few more new dishes were put on the table in the kitchen, such as ‘cheese soup’ (made from all kinds of leftovers). As it got colder outside, the group felt closer and closer.

As much as possible was made out of the last watches and meanwhile we slowly counted down: thirteen more days, one more week… Everyone started to prepare for the last ship takeovers and all the other last times: one more time in the mast, one more time setting sails, one more time at the helm, one more time… Despite the freezing cold headwind in the English Channel, the ship takeovers went off splendidly, as everyone did their utmost to get everything out of those last days.

Waited for on the quay

So we looked back a lot in those moments. We realised what we had done, how much we had learned and how this trip changed us. We arrived in the Netherlands on April 12, tired but fulfilled, ready to conclude our adventure – and to look back proudly on six unforgettable months. Our parents were waiting for us on the quay. We disembarked one last time and just like that, School at Sea was suddenly over. At home…

Read the whole story in the EOC’s Sailing Friends newsletter.
Image: SaS.

Windassist sponsor