May 29th Update from the Lynx Crew

Lynx 1300ADT position 45-08.4N 061-07.1W, or about 9nm WSW of
the Canso Separation Scheme. Motorsailing (ugh)in very light air. Wx fair, but
cold- water temp in the low 40s, and it feels every bit of it standing on deck.

May 26th Update from the Lynx Crew

We’re almost across the frigid Gulf of Maine, approaching Brazil Rock and the Nova Scotia Coast. 1225 EDT position 43-24.3N 066-34.6W or about 40 miles W of Seal Island. Wx lousy- v cold, rain, fog. Had been sailing since noon yesterday, have had to fire up for a brief bit to overcome current and sea state at the mouth of Fundy. Ought to be able to shut down and fall off on a reach once round the corner. ETA Lunenburg midday tme. Crew cold and tired but hanging in, stove finally behaving itself.

May 25th Update from the Lynx Crew

Lynx 1000EDT position 42-30-0N 068-51.0W Course 085M Speed 6 kt. Motorsailing at 1200 RPM under fore and staysail. Wind S 10-15, seas 4-6, rain and fog with vis approx 300 ft. Frontal passage last night and encroaching Low brought 25 gusting 30 from the NE instead of the North 20-25 forecast. Sloppy slow going in big breeze and confused sea, calmi…ng this morning but forecast to get lively again as Low passes overhead tonight. Fair breeze and better conditions expected Sunday into Monday. All is well save stove still troublesome- we’ll solve it, dammit, but I’m wondering if Taylor Allen might have input, design drawings, etc. Bob and Kaari report backdrafting irksome throughout, most likely to do with damper removal.
250nm approx to Lunenburg. ETA Mon AM. May 26th Update from the Lynx Crew

North Atlantic Ocean
Approximate Position: 34′ 41′N, 075′ 17′W

The crew of Lynx would like to pause on our voyage North to honor and
remember the two crew members, Claudene Christian and Captain Robin Walbridge,
of the H.M.S. Bounty that were lost last October when she sunk during Hurricane
Sandy.

Captain Walbridge devoted much of his life at sea with the tall ship Bounty.
No one can doubt his dedication to this great ship. Robin is now one with the
sea where he spent most of his life. Claudene lost her life doing something she
loved. She had a passion for the Bounty and life, it ended all too early.

As crew of the Lynx we may not have individually known these dedicated
sailors but we know them. We know what makes them love this life and accept the
dangers of a life at sea. We know deep down what it takes to take on a life at
sea on a Tall Ship. We all know them.

We cast this message of remembrance into the vastness of the sea. This
message will drift in the waters where Bounty’s memories lie everlasting.

Claudene and Robin, may you rest in peace.

Captain Bob Nelson and the crew of the Lynx.

08 May, 2013
Day Ten: West Palm Beach (Peanut Island), FL to Mystic, CT
1200 Pos. 35′ 50.588′ N, 074′ 48.136′ W
180 NM Run since 1200 yesterday.
Barometer at 1015Mb steady
Breeze at Force 2, NE
Seas: 2-3′ swell out of the NE.
Motor Sailing between 6-8 knots on a Starboard tack under Fore, Main, Staysail,
Jib and Foretop.

It’s been motor sailing, motor sailing and more motor sailing since 1200
yesterday. Motoring with light winds around the compass rose none of it enough
to sail with. Light rain on and off throughout the day. We hove to at the 0800
watch change and paid our respects to fallen Bounty crew members Claudene
Christian and Robin Walbridge off of Cape Hatteras. We sent a message in a
bottle as a remembrance.

Lynx is currently looking for fair winds to carry us North.

Cheers,

Captain Bob Nelson and the crew of Lynx.

07 May, 2013
Day Nine: West Palm Beach (Peanut Island), FL to Mystic, CT
1200 Pos. 33� 40.102′ N, 076� 48.735′ W
148 NM Run since 1200 yesterday.
Barometer at 1014Mb steady
Breeze at Force 3, N
Seas: 3-5′ swell out of the SW.
Motor Sailing between 5-6 knots on a Port tack under Fore, Main, Staysail, Jib
and Foretop.

It’s been a mix of motor sailing, sailing and motor sailing since 1200
yesterday. Motoring with light winds almost dead aft, then early in the morning
the wind clocked West and built so we could sail until the sun came up and the
wind clocked to the North and died so back on with the motor. The Schooner
Virginia left Charleston about two hours after we did and we saw her AIS until
early morning when we lost contact with her. Lots of other sailing vessels left
when we did, all headed North, we see them from time to time.

Lynx is currently looking for fair winds to carry us North.

Cheers,

Captain Bob Nelson and the crew of Lynx.

06 May, 2013
Day Eight: West Palm Beach (Peanut Island), FL to Mystic, CT
1200 Pos. 32′ 42.235′ N, 079′ 32.890′ W
20 NM Run since Departure 0830 today.
Barometer at 1015Mb steady
Breeze at Force 3, SW
Seas: 3-5′ swell out of the SW.
Motor Sailing between 6-7 knots on a Starboard tack under Fore, Main, Staysail,
Jib and Foretop.

The Schooner Lynx departed Charleston, SC around 0830 this morning after
waiting out the North Easterlies for 4 days. We headed for Charleston on the
afternoon of the first as conditions started to deteriorate and stayed at the
Charleston Maritime Center waiting for the blow to pass by.

Conditions are much better today. The winds are light and there’s only a bumpy
sea left behind from the last four days of heavy wind.

Cheers,

Captain Bob Nelson and the crew of Lynx.

Greetings,

Lynx is currently motor sailing along the East Coast of Florida at position 25 38.901′N, 079 54.051′W. We’ve been in rain squalls with occasional water spouts for the last few hours. We also had heavy rain around midnight at the change of the watch. Even with the rains and light winds when it wasn’t raining we have made 140nmi since we left Key West thanks to the Gulf Stream. Looking forward to some Easterlies later in the day so we can do some sailing.

Everyone had a good time in Key West.

Until next time from Peanut Island.

Captain Bob and the Crew of the Lynx

Lynx currently lies at anchor (24 37.275′N, 082 52.839′W off Fort Jefferson on
Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas National Park. We arrived outside of the park
boundry at first light and were anchored by 0930. We are in 30ft of water on our
fourth cast with the anchor. The first three times we found lose corral and
sand. The last time we dug into some hard sand. Just for insurance (we are lying
to a lee reef) we also put out the Danforth to Starboard. We covered about 90nmi
since yesterday at noon. Sailed when we could and motored when the wind died
completely mid day yesterday. Now it’s off to tour the Fort and do some
snorkeling on the reef around the Fort. We decided against an early swim call
when we saw sharks circling under the boat.

Cheers,

Captain Bob Nelson

Read the article here:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-tophat-tall-ship-20130416,0,7404467.story