Keeping with the fun the night progressed from an amazing dining experience into a full blown casino, needless to say their guests were given a great treat and fun was had by all!

Congratulations Jayne & Alex! x

Day 11 – Wednesday August 18, 2010 – Arrival at Lunenberg

Up at 4am for watch, my first watch as a watch leader in training and a good start, it was busy and extra attention needed due to the low visibility. By 5am, just off of Halifax a thick fog rolled in which cut visibility down to about 100meters. By 3pm we were entering the Harbour under full sail and the weather was near perfect, crystal clear and the city popped with vibrant colours, the fog had magically lifted and unveiled beauty all around. Again we entered the port making our presence known, a shot from the cannon and all eyes were on us. Tourists and locals alike flocked to the dockside to watch us sail in through the narrow channel and professionally drop all the canvas. The rest of the day was spent with free time exploring the new location along with some great evening light.

Day 12 – Thursday August 19, 2010 – Lunenberg

I was up for the sunrise exploring the town, a somewhat hazy but beautiful morning. A great way to start the day and such a treat to be awake and experience the town come to life! The rest of the day was spent at the museum and finishing up at the Dory Shop. An educational day and lots of good pics.

Day 13 – Friday August 20, 2010 – Departing Lunenberg

We were up early for morning exercise and after cleanup and a quick tour of the Bowman we were off under sail in light winds. The canon was again loaded and we let off a shot as we left the harbour, another great departure.Calm seas welcomed us as we head out to sea and the late afternoon brought us some whales! Fin whales were briefly spotted and what an awesome sight!

The past two weeks have just been truly amazing, not only for the stunning beauty and never ending photographic opportunities but for so much more. I made some great friends and experienced something that very few people will ever get to do. Sailing to such amazing, historic and influential destinations in what can only be described as a magical ship. Spirit is such a spectacular vessel in every way, she commanded attention and invoked looks of awe for all that saw her. The pride felt by the crew as we sailed into port was something that just can’t be put into words. She looked after all on board and all on board looked after her, through heavy seas and freezing north Atlantic salt spray she pushed on, never slowing. A truley remarkable ship indeed and one that all Bermudians should be proud of.

Thank you very much to the Crew of the Spirit of Bermuda, everyone at the Bermuda Sloop Foundation and all of the participants on board. You made the last two weeks of my life very special and gave me an experience that won’t ever be forgotten. I only hope the images I was fortunate enough to capture can convey what a remarkable experience this was.

We motor sailed through the night from Sable Island and arrived just outside the harbour of Louisbourg a beautiful quaint fishing town. Just off of the lighthouse we prepped all the canvas and came into port proudly under full sail, with a shot from the cannon made our presence known. We later found out that pretty much the entire town of 1200 people were all watching and very impressed with the show!

Day 8 – Sunday August 15 – Louisbourg

I was up at the crack of dawn and walking around the town, camera in hand, a lovely morning with stunningly clear, crisp weather.By 9am we were headed for the Louisbourg fortress. The fortress was impressive indeed, massive and a very interesting history lesson, all reenacted and reconstructed from the original 1740′s establishment.

Day 9 – Monday August 16 – Departing Louisbourg

Up early again, exercise, breakfast and boat detail. By 2pm the boat was fully rigged for sail and we left the dock with no engine and under sail with a large crowd watching that had gathered. We headed out of the harbour into the wind with an impressive series of tacks, 3 cheers and a cannon shot culminating just off the fortress with another shot from our cannon, Awesome! Thanks Louisbourg for an amazing experience!

Sable Island is an amazing little island located 120kms off of the Nova Scotia coast. Approximately the same size as Bermuda and with a similar shape it lays perched in a precarious location and has claimed many a ship since it’s discovery. The island itself is a protected national park that at any given time may have a handful of scientists living there. During our visit there was a total of 9 residents!

The winds had dropped and by 10am the ship’s anchor was down. We anchored on the north side in of the island about 8knts of breeze and 20 feet of water. The tricky part came when it was time for the surf landing, there are no docks on the island so the only way ashore is on the runabout (rescue boat) on the beach, the problem however is the beaches are quite a heavy surf. To say we had a rough landing would be an understatement, swimming in Canada, check! Did I mention that the waters are home to the largest population of Grey Seals in the world and therefore also home to many Great White Sharks, with lots of seal carcasses to prove it!! The rest of the crew made it relatively easily but not after jumping in up to the chest in icy cold water.

The island itself was amazing, stunning and so untouched. We spent half of the day walking the beaches, watching the horses and seals. The other half was spent touring the research stations which conduct some of he most exclusive research in the world, everything from weather to hardcore physics.

An amazing day that was finished off with a great sunset and a brisk sea shower on deck!

The immediate are is a rich oil ground

Flying the courtesy flag

Dropping the sails as we arrive

Captain scoping land…

Our welcoming party, 2 of 9!

The wild horses of Sable Island, introduced 250 years ago they have thrived and make the island their home

South Beach, hundreds of seals watched from the water, some not so lucky!

Check the huge shark bite in his rear, he made it ashore but never survived

This little fella had bite marks on the other side and unfortunately we frightened him back into the water…

A Minkie Whale skeleton washed ashore years ago.

One of the instruments located on the island, this one measuring the sun’s intensity

The locals! All 9 along with their supplies live here.

Us on the beach.

Another Grey Seal carcass

Sable at dusk

Day 1 – Sunday August 8 – Depart Bermuda late afternoon

After a rainy, tense start to the day we departed Dockyard by 10:30am in very windy, bleak conditions and headed up the North Channel to anchor off in St.Georges Harbour where we cleared customs and continued orientation and safety procedures. Lunch was served and the students had their first lesson which covered the history of ocean travel. The decision was made to head out and get ahead of the stalling storm (Colin) to our south. The ship was fully prepped and by 6pm we were hurtling through town cut at 10knts which was amazing. We maintained that cruising speed for all of the night and then each watch took their turn on duty, 4 on 8 off. This includes, helm, bow watch and boat checks. The seas were quite rough and most of the participants on board were suffering with seasickness to some extent, sleep was not easy at first but eventually the fatigue was too much. The stars and clarity at night were absolutely stunning, coming out on watch at midnight with the boat blazing along at 10knts, silently through the night, just the sound of rushing water and the twinkling of an infinite number of stars above… amazing!

Day 2 – Monday August 9 – At sea

A glorious day on the ocean, the winds are down slightly but we are making good time with an average speed of 9knts, the seas are also calmer. Spirits onboard are good and for the most part everyone is settled in routine with ship duties and watches progressing well.

Day 3 – Tuesday August 10 – At sea

A blustery day with winds of 25-30 and heavy seas. Good sailing and progressing well at 11knts avg. Currently approx 380 NM North of Bda.Very unsettled weather in the evening with the wind dropping off.

Day 4 – Wednesday August 11 – At sea

Today started off cold, wet and raining, on top of that no wind. By sunrise the rain had stopped and the clouds started to lift. By lunchtime it was a beautiful day, still no wind though!!! Whales were spotted off the Port bow but were too far out to be identified.

By the afternoon the weather had completely lifted and spirits were higher than they had been to date. All were noticeably more happy and in good spirits. Dolphins were also spotted at least twice but never stayed around long enough for a shot!

I got to have a little play time on the bow spirit!

Day 5 – Thursday August 12 – At sea

A pretty boring day at sea, we were flogging it into the wind so on engine for the whole day. Arrival at Sable should be by first light tomorrow, can’t wait! Stay tuned….

All retailers, Pulp & Circumstance (both stores) as well as the Craft Market and BSOA will be fully re-stocked and should have any print you would need. For custom orders or other enquiries please send me an email and I will get back to you after the 23rd.

Meanwhile the Harbour Nights booth will still be there every Wednesday so pop on by!

Watch this space as well as the Facebook page for updates from the voyage (once we hit land, and internet access!)

Thanks,

Gavin.

Congratulations Tracey & Steve!

Current circulation of Sport Diver Magazine is 175,000 internationally and it is the official publication of PADI (the world’s largest scuba diving and training certification agency)

You can also check out the additional gallery of Images here: www.sportdiver.com/bermudagallery

A GREAT article for Bermuda and an honour to have two full page images of mine featured to represent the Island in such a major international publication!

Check out the magazine for the full article!