It's a rare day in the 21st century when a new privateer arrives in its home port. The recondstucted Lynx had such a day in October, 2001. Owner and builder Woodson Woods selected Portsmouth, NH because, he says, of its history as a privateering port -- and for its tax free status.
The stunning $2.5 million ship now carries the Portsmouth name on its global journey. The age of privateering (1775 - 1815) was an exciting chapter in Seacoast NH history. Many of Portsmouth's best known families -- Ladd, Langdon, Whipple, Salter, Shaefe -- grew wealthy on the spoils of war. This income led to the peak of the local economy and created many of the historic houses standing today.
Private ships, licensed by the US Congress, played havoc with the British in the Revolution and the War of 1812. Now those tales can come to life with the arrival of a new tall ship.
And this one's a keeper. Not only is the newly-built Privateer Lynx making its maiden voyaage to Portsmouth, but Lynx has officially named Portsmouth its home port. Launched July 28 in Rockport, Maine, the $2.5 million reconstruction typifies the sleek, efficient ships so familiar in the Piscataqua around 1812.
Designer Melbourne Smith (Pride of Baltimore, Niagra, Spirt of Massachusetts) is a well respected naval architect. Woodson K. Woods is executvie director of the company that made Lynx possible in record time. The ship, uperating under sail or modern diesel engine, carries a crew of 15. Early in 2002, two Portsmouth students will join the crew for a month-long sail training cruise to Panama.
The 2001 Lynx is an interpretation of two historical square topsail schooners classes as Baltimore Clippers. The ship is armed with four six-pinder cannons. Often compared to pirates, privateers were sanctioned as a private wing of the fledgling US Navy and overtook only ships from "belligerent nations." The government’s "Letters of Marquee" were a license to hunt, and crews and captain were paid from a percentage of the spoils taken. -- JDR
All pictures courtesy of Privateer Lynx, Woods Maritime.
Visit the Official Lynx web site
All pictures courtesy of Privateer Lynx, Woods Maritime.
Visit the Official Lynx web site
Calendar
Greenability Lecture & Soup May 12, 2008 EXETER -- Blue Moon Natural Foods, 8 Clifford Street, Exeter, celebrates its thirteenth year with “an intergenerational green initiative” that includes three different cooking series running through May. The anniversary schedule of events promoting h...
Sea Dogs: Celebrating 15 Years May 13, 2008 PORTLAND -- Charlie Eshbach, President/General Manager, Portland Sea Dogs, will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Sea Dogs with the publication of a new history of the team, “The Portland Sea Dogs: Images of Baseball.” FREE
LIVESTRONG Day May 13, 2008 EXETER -- Wear yellow. Honor and support people affected by cancer in our community. Enjoy a new exhibition of art by cancer survivors. Learn about the Lance Armstrong Foundation's programs to unite people to fight cancer, and meet a member of the LAF s...
Be a Herbal Apprentice Course May 14, 2008 CANTERBURY -- Fee: $175, members $160
Drive away the winter blues by delving into herbology. This course provides hands on experiences, making tinctures, soaps and herbal salts, for example, to connect you with the early spring. We will also concentrat...
American Independence Museum's Opening Day May 14, 2008 The American Independence Museum opens for the season in Historic Exeter, New Hampshire. Museum hours are 10am to 4pm, with the last tours at 3:30pm.
Veggie Teens and Raw Food May 14, 2008 EXETER -- Raise Your Vibe Wednesdays at Blue Moon. Blue Moon Natural Foods, 8 Clifford Street, Exeter, sees this spring as an opportunity to explore what each of us can do to make healthful choices for people and the planet. Some of these solutions com...
Writer Louise Erdrich May 14, 2008 PORTSMOUTH -- One of the most gifted, prolific and challenging of contemporary Native American novelists, Award-winning novelist Louise Erdrich will be a part of our Writers on a New England Stage series on May 14. Her new original novel The Plague of D...
Meteors, Meteorites and Comets May 16, 2008 CONCORD -- Planetarium Educator Bob Veilleux will explain why you can collect meteorites - but not meteors or comets. Learn about these fascinating solar system interlopers, where they come from, how you can see them, and how they are related. See and...
Lighthouse Buffet Dinner May 16, 2008 The main event this evening will be the American Lighthouse Foundation's first “Lighthouse Trivia Challenge.” This will be a Jeopardy-style competition, complete with buzzers and sound effects. The winners of the early games will compete in a final roun...
Mother Courage May 16 - 17, 2008 Our mainstage season wraps up in May with the Senior Youth Repertory Company production of Bertolt Brecht’s epic masterpiece Mother Courage and Her Children. Through Brecht’s stark vision, the play relentlessly questions the distinctions between war, bu...
The stunning $2.5 million ship now carries the Portsmouth name on its global journey. The age of privateering (1775 - 1815) was an exciting chapter in Seacoast NH history. Many of Portsmouth's best known families -- Ladd, Langdon, Whipple, Salter, Shaefe -- grew wealthy on the spoils of war. This income led to the peak of the local economy and created many of the historic houses standing today.
