The Story of Lady Lynsey
Many years ago, when the Golden Age of sail and piracy came to the Caribbean, a young girl was born to a poor family that lived in the Virgin Islands. She was named “Lynsey”, and she would become one of the fiercest pirates to ever sail the seas.
But women couldn’t become captains in those days, let alone become part of the crew. So when she came of age, she dressed up as a lad, kidnapped her best friend Jack, and signed up as part of a ship’s crew.
Jack eventually became the ship’s cook and was nicknamed “Dusty” for constantly covering the ship’s mess with flour as he hastily prepared the crew’s meals. But headstrong Lynsey was never promoted to anything higher than a swab, relegated to cleaning the bilges and tidying up after the rest of the crew. Still, she never lost sight of her dream.
The Story of Lady Lynsey
Many years ago, when the Golden Age of sail and piracy came to the Caribbean, a young girl was born to a poor family that lived in the Virgin Islands. She was named “Lynsey”, and she would become one of the fiercest pirates to ever sail the seas.
But women couldn’t become captains in those days, let alone become part of the crew. So when she came of age, she dressed up as a lad, kidnapped her best friend Jack, and signed up as part of a ship’s crew.
Jack eventually became the ship’s cook and was nicknamed “Dusty” for constantly covering the ship’s mess with flour as he hastily prepared the crew’s meals. But headstrong Lynsey was never promoted to anything higher than a swab, relegated to cleaning the bilges and tidying up after the rest of the crew. Still, she never lost sight of her dream.
Then one day, they were attacked by a British ship. Their captain was killed in action and their whole crew captured by the Royal Navy. Lynsey and Jack were put in irons and dragged into the hold. Here, they made a startling discovery.
Chained to the wall was a strange young man—he had gills on his neck and fins for his ears, his eyes were the colour of coral, and his skin was green like the sea near white shores. He lay on the floor, dying of thirst.
Lynsey tried to offer him water from a cup, but the young man refused. With his remaining strength, he pointed at the barred window before passing out. Lynsey quickly understood. She lowered a bucket into the sea and splashed saltwater on the young man’s face.
To her delight, the young man slowly opened his eyes. “Thank you,” he said.
Then one day, they were attacked by a British ship. Their captain was killed in action and their whole crew captured by the Royal Navy. Lynsey and Jack were put in irons and dragged into the hold. Here, they made a startling discovery.
Chained to the wall was a strange young man—he had gills on his neck and fins for his ears, his eyes were the colour of coral, and his skin was green like the sea near white shores. He lay on the floor, dying of thirst.
Lynsey tried to offer him water from a cup, but the young man refused. With his remaining strength, he pointed at the barred window before passing out. Lynsey quickly understood. She lowered a bucket into the sea and splashed saltwater on the young man’s face.
To her delight, the young man slowly opened his eyes. “Thank you,” he said.
“Who are you?” she asked. He introduced himself as Olan, Prince of Storms and heir to the Deep Throne. The young prince told her that his kingdom had been attacked and he was left for dead near the surface. Eventually, the British found him and imprisoned him, planning to present him as a gift to the Governor of Tortola to win his favour and grant them passage.
Lynsey saw her opportunity. “What will you give me if I were to free you?” she asked.
“I’ll give you this ship, the winds for your sails for seven years, and marriage to a prince of the Deep Kingdom.”
She smiled and winked. “I’ll take two out of those three.” With that, she used her hairpin to pick the locks on his wrists, and set him and her crewmates free. Together, they attacked their sleeping captors and took over the ship. She claimed the name Lady Lynsey, pirate queen.
“Who are you?” she asked. He introduced himself as Olan, Prince of Storms and heir to the Deep Throne. The young prince told her that his kingdom had been attacked and he was left for dead near the surface. Eventually, the British found him and imprisoned him, planning to present him as a gift to the Governor of Tortola to win his favour and grant them passage.
Lynsey saw her opportunity. “What will you give me if I were to free you?” she asked.
“I’ll give you this ship, the winds for your sails for seven years, and marriage to a prince of the Deep Kingdom.”
She smiled and winked. “I’ll take two out of those three.” With that, she used her hairpin to pick the locks on his wrists, and set him and her crewmates free. Together, they attacked their sleeping captors and took over the ship. She claimed the name Lady Lynsey, pirate queen.
Olan thanked Lynsey for her help. “Come with me,” he said. “I will show you all the treasures beneath the waves. One day I will be king and you shall be my queen.”
But Lady Lynsey laughed and said, “I have no use for treasures that are given to me. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and fighting for it makes it worth having.”
For seven years, Lady Lynsey plundered the Caribbean, robbing Spanish galleons, terrifying Portuguese traders, and capturing British ships to add to her armada. And for seven years, Olan followed in her wake. He would provide winds for her sails, and send storms to thwart her enemies. Thanks to his magic, she was never caught.
And every year, she and Olan would meet on the shores of St. Thomas, along the sugar white sands of the Great Bay. There he would ask her to marry him and join him under the sea. Every year she would always refuse; she wanted to live her life as a pirate, while he wanted a queen.
Olan thanked Lynsey for her help. “Come with me,” he said. “I will show you all the treasures beneath the waves. One day I will be king and you shall be my queen.”
But Lady Lynsey laughed and said, “I have no use for treasures that are given to me. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, and fighting for it makes it worth having.”
For seven years, Lady Lynsey plundered the Caribbean, robbing Spanish galleons, terrifying Portuguese traders, and capturing British ships to add to her armada. And for seven years, Olan followed in her wake. He would provide winds for her sails, and send storms to thwart her enemies. Thanks to his magic, she was never caught.
And every year, she and Olan would meet on the shores of St. Thomas, along the sugar white sands of the Great Bay. There he would ask her to marry him and join him under the sea. Every year she would always refuse; she wanted to live her life as a pirate, while he wanted a queen.
At last, after the seventh year, the contract was completed. Once more, Olan asked Lynsey if she would marry him. She simply shed a tear and did not answer. “Very well,” he said, with much regret, and bid her goodbye. He dove into the waves and did not return.
Three years later, Lynsey’s luck finally ran out. While attempting to raid the port town of Cruz Bay, her fleet was ambushed by a contingent of British ships. Her own ships were sunk, the crew killed, and Lynsey herself was captured.
Her trial was swift and merciless–she was sentenced to hang. On the dawn of her last day, the soldiers led her out beneath an overcast sky. The wind began to howl as they put the noose around her neck. And as the official read out her punishment, an immense storm suddenly came barreling towards the shore. And to the shock of those gathered, a young man with green skin and fins on his limbs rose out from the crashing waves.
With a thrust from his trident, Olan scattered the guards surrounding Lynsey, cut the noose around her neck, and proclaimed, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for!” And Lynsey threw herself into his arms, and the ocean took them away.
At last, after the seventh year, the contract was completed. Once more, Olan asked Lynsey if she would marry him. She simply shed a tear and did not answer. “Very well,” he said, with much regret, and bid her goodbye. He dove into the waves and did not return.
Three years later, Lynsey’s luck finally ran out. While attempting to raid the port town of Cruz Bay, her fleet was ambushed by a contingent of British ships. Her own ships were sunk, the crew killed, and Lynsey herself was captured.
Her trial was swift and merciless–she was sentenced to hang. On the dawn of her last day, the soldiers led her out beneath an overcast sky. The wind began to howl as they put the noose around her neck. And as the official read out her punishment, an immense storm suddenly came barreling towards the shore. And to the shock of those gathered, a young man with green skin and fins on his limbs rose out from the crashing waves.
With a thrust from his trident, Olan scattered the guards surrounding Lynsey, cut the noose around her neck, and proclaimed, “Anything worth having is worth fighting for!” And Lynsey threw herself into his arms, and the ocean took them away.
Lady Lynsey was never seen again. But her best friend, Jack Dusty followed in her footsteps. He built a new ship–this time a catamaran–that could sail faster and further than any ship before. He christened it in her honour: “The Lady Lynsey.”
But according to legend, Lynsey has not fully given up her pirate ways and has struck a compromise with her king. Every 23 years, a Lady Lynsey makes her final sail. Olan sends a hurricane to sink the ship so Lynsey may add it to her fleet under the sea. The name “Lady Lynsey” is then given to the next generation chosen by Olan and his Queen, each vessel faster and fiercer than the last.
So it was that in 2017, the last Lady Lynsey was returned to the sea by Hurricane Irma, giving way to the vessel you all sail on today.
Lady Lynsey was never seen again. But her best friend, Jack Dusty followed in her footsteps. He built a new ship–this time a catamaran–that could sail faster and further than any ship before. He christened it in her honour: “The Lady Lynsey.”
But according to legend, Lynsey has not fully given up her pirate ways and has struck a compromise with her king. Every 23 years, a Lady Lynsey makes her final sail. Olan sends a hurricane to sink the ship so Lynsey may add it to her fleet under the sea. The name “Lady Lynsey” is then given to the next generation chosen by Olan and his Queen, each vessel faster and fiercer than the last.
So it was that in 2017, the last Lady Lynsey was returned to the sea by Hurricane Irma, giving way to the vessel you all sail on today.