Dear Readers, As you may know, I’ve been working on a book about Privateer Lynx. She arrives in Portsmouth on Memorial Day Weekend. Prior to her visit the PMC has asked me give you the "backstory" on the boat and the book. It’s a one-time event. The book will be out next year, but the schooner is on her way (continued below) .

The Discover Portsmouth Center and the Piscataqua Maritime Commission (PMC) take great pleasure in presenting an informal talk about Privateer Lynx by J. Dennis Robinson on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 7:00 pm, at the Discover Portsmouth Center, at the corner of Middle and Islington Streets in Portsmouth, NH. The PMC will host the tall ships Privateer Lynx, fashioned after a War of 1812 letter-of-marque, and HMS Bounty in Portsmouth over the Memorial Day Weekend.

UPDATE: LYNX BOOK NOW AVAILABLE (Signed copies)

A well-known Portsmouth historian, Robinson will speak on "The Making of Privateer Lynx". He spent the last 18 months working on a book about Lynx that is scheduled for publication next year. This will be his first public talk on the topic. In his informal presentation, Robinson will discuss the making of both the historical and modern Lynx and the "lonely voyage" of writing nonfiction books.

In 1997 West Coast businessman, Woodson K. Woods had a dream -- literally. He woke up one morning and decided to build a tall ship. Fascinated by the War of 1812, Woods spent $3 million to create a wooden boat designed after the swift, rakish, privately-armed schooners built in Baltimore during "The Forgotten War". The historical Lynx was a "letter-o- marque" built at Fells Point and captured by the British in 1813.

Woods’ goal was to build a modern schooner, inspired by the original, to teach children about history through active sail training aboard a real wooden sailing ship. This living museum was completed in 2001 and to date has welcomed over 10,000 students aboard for adventure sails, sail training and dockside tours.

The modern Privateer Lynx was built at Rockport, Maine and visited its official homeport of Portsmouth, NH, in October, 2001. After eight years touring the West Coast, Canada, and the Hawaiian Islands, Lynx is now back east to celebrate the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial. She is currently en route to a tall ship celebration in the Great Lakes.

J. Dennis Robinson is editor and owner of the award-winning web site SeacoastNH.com and history columnist for the Portsmouth Herald. His hardcover books about Wentworth-by-the-Sea hotel and Strawbery Banke Museum both received national history writing awards. Robinson’s latest book is an overview of child labor exploitation in America designed especially for young readers. He has also written biographies of outlaw Jesse James and Maryland founder Lord Baltimore for middle-school students. He is a frequent lecturer for the NH Humanities Council.

The Discover Portsmouth Center is focused on enhancing awareness and appreciation of Portsmouth’s historical, arts and performance venues. The Piscataqua Maritime Commission is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the maritime heritage of the Piscataqua River Basin. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.