elcome to the web site of Schooner Lavengro, a classic gaff-rigged Biloxi Schooner. The proud Biloxi Schooner fleet once sailed the Gulf of Mexico harvesting oysters and shrimp. In the 20th century, the introduction of marine engines and changes in oyster harvesting laws caused these beautiful crafts to disappear. Lavengro is the last original Biloxi Bay shrimping schooner and she now sails the waters of the Pacific Northwest as a lovely charter and sail training vessel.

Lavengro was built in 1927 as the “Helen” by noted Biloxi shipwright Jack Covacavich. Lavengro has had many lives since then: as a family live aboard, a Coast Guard sailing trainer during World War II, and a charter boat in Hawaii. Most recently she has been donated to the Northwest Schooner Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and use of classic wooden sailing vessels.

Schooner Lavengro is operated by the Northwest Schooner Society which uses historic ships to demonstrate the power and exhilaration of teamwork. We harness the wind, giving our students-of-any-age a new perspective on their own strengths and weaknesses.

In January of 2010 the Schooner Lavengro underwent a major refit which included the refastening of her planks and removal of the tropical sheathing she aquired during her years of operation in Hawaii. The 83-year-old schooner is fit for another century of sailing.

The Northwest Schooner Society provides a unique opportunity for teens and adults to experience a piece of American history. It's a non-profit, tax exempt organization, founded in 1994 to allow more people to experience the excitement and challenge of old-fashioned seamanship, twenty-four hours a day.

For more information on the Schooner Lavengro, please email