Shipping: Yes, Bermuda, there is a Virginia

The schooner Virginia arrives in Bermuda today after her latest trans-Atlantic voyage.

The ship is a re-creation of the last all-sail vessel built for the Virginia Pilot Association.

That ship, which served in the Chesapeake Bay between 1917-1926, held station off Cape Henry.

She was used to train apprentice pilots in seamanship and navigation.

Caribbean

The re-created Virginia was launched in 2004 and offers educational programmes for students and adults while sailing among the Caribbean, Bermuda and Canada’s maritime provinces.

The schooner sailed through Town Cut this morning from Norfolk and is due to remain alongside at Penno’s Wharf.

The ship and her crew are due to stay in Bermuda until the weekend, when they will head back to Norfolk.

At the other end of the island, the Summit and Norwegian Breakaway arrive this morning as well, for their usual two-night stopovers.

Later this week the cable ship Wave Sentinel will return to Bermuda.

She’ll be based out of Dockyard for the next couple of months to deal with any cable issues in the area.

Cruise ships

This weekend looks likely to be a busy one in the West End.

The Explorer of the Seas arrives on Saturday morning and will be followed in the next day by the Norwegian Dawn and the Grandeur of the Seas.