Disposable Camera Tour  
Maiden Voyage of Privateer Lynx
October 26, 2001
Portsmouth, NH
Read about the creation of Lynx 
Read about Lynx WEB SITE 

Lynx arrives in Portsmouth, NH for its maiden voyage from Rockport, ME after a glorious sail parade from the mouth of the Piscataqua .

In opening ceremonies the mayor issued Lynx a letter of marquee to board any enemy ship, and a group of UNH shanty singers performed. The following day the ship was opened to its first tour audience .

Over 500 visitors boarded Lynx in its first of two tour days in port, traveling every inch of the newly built ship. Here the ship's cook stands by as visitors tour belowdecks.

Here the bos'n explains how privateering ships overwhelmed their prey by challenging, boarding and capturing enemy merchant ships, usually without even a fight. Privateering vessels were authorized by the US Congress from 1796 to 1815 to act as a private navy in defense of Portsmouth and other seaport towns.

Lynx owner/builder Woodson Woods says hello to SeacoastNH.com who helped promote the visit of his $2.5 million tall ship. "Woody" told us that he selected Portsmouth as home port, in part, because of the city's important connection to privateering -- and because of NH's tax free status .

Off to defend the nation as an ambassador for freedom and against tyranny, Lynx left Portsmouth for a sail treaining journey to the Carribbean, the Panama Canal and up the West Coast of the USA.  She'll be back in her home port in two years.

Copyright © 2001 SeacoastNH.com

All photos by J. Dennis Robinson.
For previous visiting ships see The Shipyard
For more historic visits see Disposable Camera Tours