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

Greetings to all the Lynx followers. We are currently under all plain sail heading South at 4 kts in a 10kt breeze to the Dry Tortugas. As of noon we were at 26 02.827′N, 082 40.728′W and have covered around 111nmi. We lost the wind late last night and had to motor sail through the night until the wind filled in from the East at Sunrise. The skys are clear and the seas are flat. We plan on making landfall at first light tomorrow. Everyone’s enjoying the peaceful quiet sail.

Cheers,

Captain Bob Nelson

Lynx is underway under all plain sail , stunsail and stbd split Course. We got
underway from Harborage Marina in St Petersburg around 1100 this morning. Winds
are light from the WNW and we’re making around 3.5kts. Next stop the Dry
Tortugas. Current position 027 30.8′N, 082 52.8′W. All aboard are having a good
time enjoying the sun and quiet under sail.

LYNX left our Winter home in Fort Myers Beach on Thursday morning for a week in St. Petersburg. It was a long wet overnight upwind slog with the wind on the nose for the entire trip. The trip was made worth while by the great welcoming we received when we arrived at Harborage Marina in St Petersburg.

Thanks to Captain Z and the M/V Full Moon, Sheriffs Boat, the Fireboat and USCG for the arrival parade.

We are currently at the Harborage Marina at position 27 45.608N , 082 38.080W.

The LYNX crew is well and enjoying the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Cheers,
–
LYNX Captain
Bob Nelson

7 June, 2011 – 2100 EDT

Day Eight: Lunenburg, NS to Ogdensburg, NY

1200 Pos. 46° 52.6′ N, 072° 15.1′ W

143 NM Run since 1200 on 5 June

Barometer at 1010Mb and falling

Breeze at Force 2, SW, overcast and hot.

Alongside Sector M-5, Upper Montreal Port

If you have ever had a long airport layover on an international flight, you know exactly how Lynx and her crew do right now. Having made our tide and gotten through “The Rapids” last night just before midnight, Lynx was not in a position to make Montreal before the close of business hours for the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority, and so is unable to continue her passage to Ogdensburg.

The Seaway Authority governs the use of the system of locks, canals and waterways between Montreal and mid-Lake Erie. As such, they need to inspect each vessel intending to transit the Seaway to ensure that the is no risk to the equipment or to navigation – a slowdown of traffic between the Atlantic and the American/Canadian heartland would have devastating effects on world commerce. Sailing vessels, particularly those with yards, are a great concern because while the ship may fit fine in the lock, the yards can overhang and do damage. So even through she has been through once before, Lynx must be re-approved for transit. This will happen tomorrow morning at 0800, alongside the approach wall for the first of the seven locks between here and Ogdensburg.

When first we realized we could not arrive in time to be inspected today, we had intended to anchor in a designated area near the lock. But the Harbor Master of Montreal was concerned about the holding ground in the 2 knots of current and pulse of 20 knots Southwesterly wind, so he offered us a dock in the commercial sector of the port. We accepted, but as we already cleared out of Canada and were not interested in all the paperwork associated with another clearance, we are confined to the ship. A layover, just like at an airport. Except there are not book stores, no food court and no duty free stores. There is only the promise of a good night’s sleep before we start the last and most vertical leg of our passage.

All best,

Jamie Trost and the ship-confined crew of Lynx.