About Lynher
The Lynher is a Tamar river barge with a unique history. Originally intended for transporting cargo, she has found herself as a World War 2 bombing target, been abandoned for years in a muddy grave, excavated and eventually transformed into a coastal cruiser through the tireless patience of one dedicated man.
She is now in the hands of the Lynher River Barge CIC, and is available for sail training and events. This funds her future as a community boat, used to teach young people about renewable energy and sustainability, outdoor classroom curriculum from history and geography to STEAM subjects as well as practical sailing and traditional boat maintenance skills.
The barge is in the process of becoming a successful business trading along the rivers and Plymouth Sound thus providing a unique heritage asset, restored to a better condition. As with all wooden boats, maintenance efforts and finance requirements are never ending therefore any surplus raised through our commercial operations is directly re-invested in the betterment of the barge’s equipment and machinery and in the enlargement of the community participation activity offer on the Plymouth waterways.
Educational Workshops
Lynher River Barge CIC provide several excellent educational workshops suitable for children and young people, covering a range of topics such as:
— STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics)
— Renewable energy
— Biodiversity
— History
— Geography and more
The Lynher barge can also provide on-demand traditional seamanship courses onboard with professional, experienced and certified teachers.
The Gymnasium
Built in 1899, the Gymnasium was originally called the Impregnable Drill Shed and was owned by the Royal Navy. Today, the Gymnasium is used as a maritime hub with the aim to:
— Promote local maritime heritage;
— Engage and encourage new people in the industry through sharing knowledge and delivering training;
— Support other community projects.
Sail Trade South West Project
In December 2022, Lynher River Barge CIC was awarded nearly £250,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the 1930 Port Mellon lugger Ibis FY519 and create the Sail Trade South West project. This project focuses on educating coastal communities on the benefits of creating a net zero carbon circular food economy, and will enable young refugees, asylum seekers and coastal communities of the South West to connect with maritime heritage and learn new skills, such as boatbuilding, seamanship, digital skills, cooking and dancing. The project aims to end in August 2024.
School children from the Plymouth area will learn how food used to be sourced and transported under sail. Young people with disabilities will have the opportunity to learn the tale of Ibis FY519 and interpret it into a dance workshop and performance. Finally, the project will create volunteering opportunities for young refugees to learn boatbuilding and seamanship skills and provide a safe space for asylum seekers to be together to cook and share their kitchen culture using fair trade produce transported under sail.
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