If you've been down to Barrett's Cove lately, you've probably noticed something new on the water—a sleek aluminum barge gliding alongside our shells, with a rower (or two) finding their balance without a worry in the world. That's Lynx, our new training barge, and she's already changing how we teach and train at Megunticook Rowing.
We sat down with Meredith, the designer and builder behind Lynx, to hear the story of how Lynx came to be.
A Lesson from the Tanks
—Meredith Currier
Meredith's connection to Lynx goes back to her own first weeks as a rower in high school, when her team had access to indoor training tanks at Trinity College.
"My first three weeks were spent learning and then fine-tuning my stroke in those tanks with my coach at my side giving me immediate feedback," she remembers. "I wasn't the only one—he was able to walk down the line and give this same attention and guidance to each of my teammates individually."
That kind of focused, low-stakes feedback left a mark. "Looking back, I attribute my solid base in rowing and ability to grow as a rower to this valuable time," Meredith says. "Having the ability to 'master' the stroke without worrying about the set of the boat is a meaningful benefit when you're just starting out."
It's an experience most rowers at our club never had the chance to have—tanks are a rare and expensive luxury. But the idea stuck with Meredith for years: what if there were another way to give new rowers that same protected space to learn?
From Idea to Launch Day
The concept for what would become Lynx had been on Meredith's mind for a long time, but the real work began in November of last year. "Shop drawings evolved over the next few months around work and winter life," she says. Along the way, she met repeatedly with an experienced aluminum fabricator, folding his feedback and ideas into the design.
Final drawings were finished toward the end of March. Fabrication happened in April. Assembly took two to three weekends in May. And on May 31st, Lynx launched.
Despite the ambition of the project, Meredith says it came together smoothly. "Honestly, not really," she says, when asked about hurdles. "Using 3D design software, I was able to anticipate issues of construction and assembly before they arose. Proper prior planning made for a smooth construction process, and the support of everyone in MR made the whole project possible."
She's quick to share the credit: "I really want to thank everyone for their role in bringing Lynx from vision into reality!"
A Tool for Beginners, and a Surprise for Everyone Else
Meredith built Lynx with new rowers in mind, hoping to give them the same kind of patient, balance-free learning environment that shaped her own rowing. But almost as soon as Lynx hit the water, something unexpected happened.
"Since launch, I have heard from experienced rowers that Lynx can also be a great training platform for them as well, which I hadn't expected!" Meredith says.
That's reshaped how she thinks about what Lynx can do for the club. "I'd like Lynx to give us a new way to grow and expand our horizons as a team as we improve our skills together," she says.
And her measure of success is refreshingly broad:
"If Lynx can help people accomplish their goals in a rowing shell—whether that's performing at a high level at the Head of the Charles, or feeling comfortable when the wind comes up on the way home from the north islands of Megunticook—it will be a great success."
The Verdict So Far
A few weeks in, the response has exceeded even Meredith's own expectations. "I knew that the design would work, but I didn't know how fast it would be or how fun to row!" she says. "Lynx has far exceeded all my expectations, and I love hearing about all the positive experiences she's creating."
Whether you're brand new to rowing or you've been pulling an oar for decades, there's a place for you on Lynx!