Lynx (tall ship)

History
Name: Lynx
Builder: Rockport Marine, Rockport, Maine
Launched: 28 July 2001
Homeport: Newport Beach, California
Status: Training vessel
General characteristics
Type: Schooner
Displacement: 98.6 long tons (100 t)
Length:
  • 122 ft (37 m) sparred
  • 76 ft (23 m) on deck
  • 72 ft (22 m) w/l
Beam: 23 ft (7.0 m)
Height: 94 ft (29 m) at mainmast
Draft: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Sail plan: 4,669 sq ft (433.8 m2)
Armament:

Lynx is a square topsail schooner based in Newport Beach, California. She is an interpretation of an American letter of marque vessel of the same name from 1812. The original Lynx completed one voyage, running the Royal Navy blockade; the British captured her in 1813 at the start of her second voyage and took her into service as HMS Mosquidobit.

America's Privateer Lynx

The replica of Lynx sailing today was designed by Melbourne Smith[Note 1] - International Historical Watercraft Society, based on historical data, and built by Taylor Allen and Eric Sewell of Rockport Marine at Rockport, Maine. She was launched on July 28, 2001 at Rockport, making her a new addition to the tall ship community. Her port of registry is Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Today, instead of fighting the British like her original counterpart, she serves as a sailing classroom. Lynx offers an early American history program as well as a life, earth and physical science program to schools. She teaches seamanship and history to those who step on her deck. Notably, Lynx is known for her summer program where she sails to Hawaii with students. Along the way students learn about sail handling, navigation, seamanship, leadership and learning to face unforeseen challenges.

Her four carronades and two swivel guns usually get their exercise during weekends when another tallship is in port, such as Californian or Lady Washington, where the tall ships engage in "Battle sails", using actual battle tactics. Although the battling tall ships use actual black powder, they shoot blanks, not cannonballs. Members of the public are able to book passages on these three-hour battle sails.

Lynx is guided by the maxim "be excellent to each other and to your ship."

The Lynx Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America's struggle to preserve its independence.

Lynx being "fired upon" by Lady Washington, part of welcoming a tall ship into port celebration.

Notes

  1. ↑ Smith also designed Californian, Pride of Baltimore, the Brig Niagara, Spirit of Massachusetts and Federalist.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lynx.

References

  • Robinson, J. Dennis. (2011). America's Privateer: Lynx and the War of 1812. Lynx Educational Foundation. ISBN 978-0-578-09075-7.
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