The Lynx. Photo courtesy Lynx Educational Foundation.
Historic Schooner Winters in Fort Myers, Florida— Open for Visitors 1812, being one of the first ships to help evade the British blockade of American ports. The ship was eventually captured by the British, but the privateers were known for their rakish look and superior sailing abilities, and they influenced ship design for many years. The current Lynx was built in Maine and launched in 2001. The boat was designed to be a sailing training vessel and is today used for educational purposes. It is offered for charter and viewing dockside to help pay for its expenses. The Lynx educational program meets California curriculum standards and is an officially approved venue for field trips in the Los Angeles school district.
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he Lynx, a 122-foot wooden square topsail schooner, is wintering in Fort Myers Beach, FL, this year. The Lynx is an education vessel and is owned and run by the Lynx Educational Foundation. Its mission statement says the foundation “is a non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization, dedicated to hands-on educational programs that teach the history of America’s struggle to preserve its independence. The maritime challenges during the War of 1812 are taught aboard the American privateer schooner Lynx utilizing a comprehensive, interactive program designed to enrich personal achievement through teamwork and the discipline of sail training.” The ship made a stop at the Harborage Marina in St. Petersburg, FL, in late January. The boat was open to visitors to view the boat during its short stay before heading south on Feb. 1 to Fort Myers Beach. The Lynx is an “interpretation” of an actual privateer built in 1812—named Lynx—which served in the War of
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March 2013
SOUTHWINDS
Lynx Specifications: Port of Registry: Portsmouth, New Hampshire LOD: 76’ LOA: 78’ LWL: 72’ Beam: 23’ Draft: 8’ 6” Displacement: 98.6 tons Height of mainmast with jackyard: 94’ Mainsail: 1219 square feet Foresail: 865 square feet Total Sail Area (includes misc. other sails):4,669 square feet Construction: Southern pine, Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Angelique The Lynx will be at Nervous Nellie’s Waterfront Eatery at Snug Harbor Marina, 1131 First St., Fort Myers Beach, through late March. The boat is available for dockside deck tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and for public sailaways from 3 to 5 p.m. Adults $6 donation for tours (12 and under free), and sailaways: adults $65, and $35 for 12 and under. Reservations and information at (866) 446-5969. www.privateerlynx.org.
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