The Lynx "America's Privateer" is a 122-foot square top sail schooner that sailed into the Savannah River yesterday! This tall ship is preparing for a five year mission, and has decided to port in Savannah after traveling from Hawaii and California. The reason? To celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner! Savannah is actually their first stop on the East coast.

I spotted the Lynx first at Old Fort Jackson! The Fort fired their cannon to welcome the tall ship to Savannah, the Lynx fired theirs in return. After the cannon firings, we heard from the ship, "Big cheers for Old Fort Jackson. Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray!" It was great to hear the excitement from the shipmates, along with the crowds that had gathered.

It was then a race to River Street, in hopes of seeing the Lynx come sailing into port. Success! The crowd gathered on River Street was a bit larger than the crowd at Fort Jackson, yet the excitement was equal and obvious as cameras were flashing and people were chattering about this special, tall ship. Making the experience even more exciting, I ran into a few close friends including, the Savannah Riverfront Association team, WSAV's Meredith Ley, and employees of Visit Savannah! The closer the ship sailed, the more people gathered. As they sailed past us, they hollered, "Cover your ears!" Then, a cannon was fired, followed by three more. There was a bit of commotion as women screamed in surprise and the crowds scattered! (I must admit, it was pretty funny!) After the firing of the cannons, they let down the sails as they looped back around to make docking a bit more convenient.

The overall experience was exciting and memorable. My favorite part was the "Hip-hip-hooray!" cheer that the shipmates chanted as they sailed past Old Fort Jackson. If you missed the Lynx Grand Arrival, don't fret! The Lynx will be docked on River Street until the end of March, and will also be offering tours. For a full schedule of Lynx tours and more information, CLICK HERE.

A few interesting facts:

• The Privateer Lynx was hired to train the cast and crew of the hit film, Pirates of the Caribbean.
• The Lynx (114 ton!) tall ship is an interpretation of a privateer from the War of 1812.
• The Lynx crew wears period attire and operate the ship in the maritime traditions of the early 19th Century America.

By: Brianne Baggett