Jamaica Rose

You should of course visit the Castillo de San Marcos. The fort was strengthened and fortified as a result of an attack by pirates (written about in the March and May 2002 No Quarter Given issues). There's also the Spanish Quarter -- great for an historic atmosphere and background setting for portraits. To find out about all things pyratical in St. Augustine, Jacksonville and coastal North Florida, I suggest you contact Capt. Graybeard (Mark Tingen) at: Mark Tingen, 1198 Sandpiper Ln. East, Atlantic Beach, FL, 32233, phone: 904-247-1145, [Email: photo2u@attbi.com ] Have a great trip, --Jamaica Rose "Shoot first! Who cares about the questions?"

The cap'n and I won't be there this year, but have gone to each of these festivals in the past. You can see images from our visits at: North Carolina Blackbeard Festival: http://www.noquartergiven.net/ncbbfestival.htm Hampton Blackbeard Festival: http://www.noquartergiven.net/hamptonbbfestival.htm We had a grand time at each. The Hampton Festival has the re-enactment of the battle at sea between Blackbeard and Maynard, followed by a Mardi Gras type parade. A very rousin' time. The North Carolina festival has the resource of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, with artifacts from what is thought to be the shipwreck remains of the Queen Anne's Revenge. The museum also has puts on some superb lectures and presentations in conjunction with the festival, so it's very good from a factual/educational standpoint. Each festival has pros and cons, and each year the events change, hopefully for the better - so it's hard to say for sure which would be better from year to year. But, at either, you should meet up with many other brethren of the sea, and I can't imagine having anything but a grand time with so many other pirates about. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Forget the yo ho ho --- just gimme the bottle!"

Well, I certainly don't claim to a be a lady, be I am a female. And there are several of us female types here on this list. As for where to wear yer pirate garb, if ya come to Key West for Pirates in Paradise, ya kin wear it anywhere about the island and not feel too out of place, and usually quite in place. We found that pirates are very welcome, and often yer piratical garb will be a free ticket into places that make the commoners pay a cover charge. Now -- I didn't go into the Walmart (I don't think I've found one there yet), but I did go into the K-Mart dressed in all me saltiest finery. Drew a few double takes, but I can handle that. I've even seen the pirates riding the small scooter motorbikes about the town in their garb. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose

The cannonball doesn't roll on the water surface. It skips -- actually bounces off the surface of the water. If you've ever seen rocks skipped on the surface of a lake, it's the same thing -- only the cannonball bounced a lot higher. --Jamaica Rose

Actually --- I kind of enjoyed the recipes. They were like musical interludes between the chapters. Though I haven't tried any of them. I liked the stories that came with them. Regarding sharks, I've not encountered any pirate attitudes to sharks. But this was interesting. Where have you found this idea about not eating them? Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Raise your IQ. Eat gifted children."

Cap'n William is right for the most part. Cannons are usually fired blank - no ammo. But on one trip on the "Lady Washington", in consort with the "Hawaiian Chieftain" from Marina del Rey to Catalina Island - they set a 4'x4'x4' plywood box afloat (the Zodiac actually took it out aways from the ships). Then each ship started firing at it. Most of the shots missed. But, I did learn that cannonballs will skip over the water's surface, like skipping rocks on a lake. Most skipped at least nine times until they were out of sight or else finally plunged into the water. When they ran out of cannonballs, they brought up the frozen SPAM. They had molded Spam to the right caliber for the cannon, wrapped it in foil and froze it. This led to many jokes. But I figured this was more environmentally friendly than dropping a bunch of iron balls into the ocean. Eventually the box was retrieved, and found that it was only hit once with a cannonball. It left a clean hole, about 3 inches, in one side, out the other. From the angle of the hole, they thought it had been hit after the ball skipped once on the water, and was on the upward angle (I've heard that naval cannoneers often tried to do this on purpose if they wanted to sink a ship). There were also several small holes from the muskets that had been trained on the box. You can find gun ranges that allow blackpowder, and even cannons. We know of some here in S. Calif. So, if you'd like to target practice with yer cannon, it is possible. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "There is no problem that cannot be solved with the proper application of black powder."

This was passed on to me by me good friend Joe Row. --Jamaica Rose "Why We Love Sailing" PRESEASON REFRESHER COURSE To best prepare yourself for the sailing season I recommend these time tested exercises: 1. Buy a case of beer, sit it in a very warm place for a several hours, then drink it. 2. Apply sunscreen to your face in streaks and sit in front of a sun lamp for two hours. 3. Sit on a bench with large metal screws, bolts and other fixtures that protrude into your butt and legs, stare straight up into the sun for two hours. For a more robust workout, invite 4 friends to come over and yell at you the whole time. 4. Go to bank and withdraw $1,000 - then light it on fire. Repeat as necessary. 5. Take a large duffel bag. Fill it with enough clothes for a weekend, then fill it with water. Put on and take off every article of clothing in the bag while standing on a rocking chair. 6. Take your wrist watch, pound it repeatedly against a metal pipe and drop it into the sewer, then try to fish it out. 7. Pour ice water in your lap and give yourself a wedgie, Now alternate between hopping on and off a rocking chair. 8. Put on rain/foul weather gear. Lay down in the driveway. Have a friend spray a garden hose at full blast at you while you roll up and down the driveway for a hour. Stop. Attempt to take a nap for 15 minutes with the hose still on you, then repeat the exercise. 9. Make 12 sandwiches on white bread with bad meat and cram them into a bread bag. Leave them in the sun for 12 hours. Then, eat them all at once washing them down with the beer from Number One. 10. Tie ropes to rear bumper of friend's car, hold on tightly, but allow rope to slip through fingers as car drives away. TIP: works best without gloves and rope lengths in excess of 50'. 11. Upon completion of previous 10 drills - sit down and drink 14 Mt Gay Rum drinks, any flavor. Without brushing your teeth, attempt to strike up a conversation with anyone who accidentally makes eye-contact with you.

I have to bring the rum!??! All the way from europe?!!?? I thought that was the part of the world where it is made And for the gunpowder... I don´t know what the airlines will think of me if I bring explosives on the plane Actually Jamaica is one of the best places for buying rum. I got a huge bottle of Appleton's rum for J$300 (before you panick -- divide that by $42 Jamaican dollars per US dollar). That's just a little over $7. I saw the same bottle stateside for over $30. And I got some wonderful Coconut Rum for $450 Jamaican -- if I remember correctly. Prices in Key West won't be so good, but you'll certainly be able to find rum. As for gunpowder -- yes -- the airlines do frown on that. Just slightly. Usually we find you can arrange with one of the locals who are coming to the event via land (or water, but not air) to bring extra powder for you and you can reimburse them. You should still be able to bring weapons, even flintlocks, on the airlines. We have travelled four times now to pirate events since things have tightened down after 911. But it was still the same policy for our weapons on Delta Airlines. Just put the guns in a hardsided, locked box (remember -- no ammo, or powder). When you check in at the counter, let the airlines representative know about the weapons. We had to fill in an orange tag, open the box, affix the tag to the weapons, and lock the box again. We also put all swords, manacles, and other possibly suspicious hardware in the same box, just so we didn't panick the baggage inspectors. And if for some reason the box wasn't allowed to come, at least it wouldn't hold up our bags with costumes (we would just then be weaponless). Call your particular airlines to double check on their policies. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "I'd rather be training cabin boys."

I actually don´t like this book at all. When I first heard about it I got really excited cause I thought it would have new angles and theories on the issue. But I was deeply dissappointed when I realized how bad they listed their sources. Whenever they had an interresting thing to tell, anything new, the sources were missing. I agree with Booga. Klausmann, et al, make some fantastic claims in "Women Pirates", but don't give references to back them up. The most fantastic claim is that they say Bartholomew Roberts was really a woman! The best evidence they give is that his manners were feminine. The section on Asian pirates seems decently done though. However, the book is an interesting read. They write in a very accessible manner. So you might read the book just for entertainment, but don't take it for Gospel truth. Also -- you need to watch out for a fairly heavy-handed feminist agenda (though it's not as bad as "Bold in Her Breeches" (which at least gives references). And yes, yer hearin' this from a female-type pyrate. I enjoy learning about female pyrates, but not when cast with a "politically correct" feminist bent to it. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Strip him, bathe him, and bring him to my cabin!"

Scott laddie, I haven't been exactly to that area. On my trips to the East Coast, I've been as far south as Southport (Cape Fear) in North Carolina, which I don't think is far from Myrtle Beach. There is a North Carolina Maritime Museum there, with an exhibit about Stede Bonnett. Also a plaque at Bonnet's Creek, where tis told he was captured. See an image of the plaque (and the creek), and learn more about North Carolina pyracy at: http://www.noquartergiven.net/ncbbfestival.htm Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Saint Anne Bonney -- Prey for Us"

Now, if you lads and lasses aren't familiar with the name of Red Maria's "Pirate King", you should be. Robert C. Ritchie is the author of "Captain Kidd and the War against the Pirates", 1986. He's also been seen as a "talking head" on some of the recent pirate documentaries seen on A&E, Discovery, etc. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Cargo Acquisition Coordinator"

CaptCat, I was about to suggest the very same to Scott. Thanks for passing the word about the crew listings at No Quarter Given. It always helps to have others helping promote the cause of piracy! Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Proud member of the Jolly Roger Boarding Party & Glee Club"

I am slightly modifying my earlier answer of mosquito repellant with DEET. I was thinkin' it might be better to take some Skin So Soft from Avon. For some reason, it's a great mosquite repellant even though it doesn't have DEET. It also works for ticks I hear (you know, those dreaded red-spotted jungle ticks), plus it would keep my skin nice and supple - my hands get especially dry when I'm out on the salt seas. Blue skies, --Jamaica Rose "Damnation seize my soul if I give quarters or take any!" -- Edward Teach

Capt. William, you might let yer Baratarian know that No Quarter Given has a list for crews looking fer new recruits. His crew (and any other crews) is welcomed to be located on that list as well. The crew listing, and details on how to be listed, can be found at: http://noquartergiven.net/crews.htm Fair wyndes, --Jamaica Rose "How many pieces of eight does it take to get a date with Seven of Nine?"

Well, laddie, doncha know, they had rum back then, at least startin' in the early 17th century. The French and English colonists learned right quick you could ferment the molasses that was left over from extractin' sugar from the sugar cane. So ya don't need to go bringin' it back from the 21st century, lessen' ya want something special like Cap'n Morgan's Parrot Bay or even better Sanger's Coconut Rum. And I bet you coulda had a song in yer heart back then as well, ... no need to import that either. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "RUM -- not just fer breakfast anymore!"

I'd want mosquito repellant -- give me lots of DEET! In "Memoirs of a Buccaneer" by Le Golif, there's a great part where he gets married to one of the French girls the governor had shipped in to Tortuga to help "tame" the buccaneers (it's a hilarious story) -- afterward the wedding feast, he takes his new bride up to the room he's rented for the night at the local tavern. But the mosquitos drive her nuts so she's not willing to take her clothes off. Out of desparation he takes her in the shore boat out to his ship for an evening of romance, because the mosquitos don't go out over the ocean. Fair wyndes, safe harbors and sleeping sentries, --Jamaica Rose "Sometimes yer th' ship's hull ... sometimes yer th' cannonball!"

Yes -- the music is very reminiscent of the old Erich Korngold soundtracks for the Errol Flynn swashbucklers. I was just resting my eyes, when I heard the CutThroat Island main theme coming from the magic story-telling box (tv). I opened my eyes and discovered there was a commercial for the new X-Men movie -- but using the Cutthroad Island theme. That proves the music is good!! They are re-using it! Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose PS -- Just in case you aren't aware, we sell the CutThroat Island soundtrack CD's through NQG. We have a limited supply and there's not many left now.

Many can have such an opportunity. There are many tall ships out there looking fer volunteer crew. It does help if you live near one of our coasts -- the Pacific, Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico, for that's where most of the ships reside. If ya go to the NQG Port's O'Call page, http://noquartergiven.net/ports.htm and scroll down to the "Tall Ships" section, you'll see links to many of the ships out there. Many of them welcome volunteer crew. Some give details about volunteers on their websites. If ya (or anyone else) tell me where yer anchored at now, I might be able to direct you to a ship nearby. Even if yer not on the coast, as Bilgemunky tells, there's even tall ships on the Great Lakes (another beautiful one that plies the Great Lakes is the Brig Niagara, homeported in Erie, PA). Some ships might charge trainees a modest fee until yer up and running and pullin' yer own weight, others do not. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Never spit to windward!"

Cap'n Weaver m'luv -- you have certainly not gone off topic or time period. First --we have no stated time period here. And we do have another topic about the Baratarians, which are later in period than the Napoleonic Wars. And you can discuss piracy whether 'tis the navy or the pirates a'doin' it. However -- technically speakin', if you turn over a portion of yer prize to the state you answer to, especially if you have permission ahead o' time to take the prize, then it's privateerin'. So, 'tis quite possible some navy types at times might not fess up to the PTB (powers that be) that they might have "acquired" somethin' er 'nother, so in that case, they would definitely be pirates -- or at least thieves! In my view, true pirates answer to no government, though some might respect certain nationalities, and perhaps not attack fellow countrymen or their allies. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Now take Sir Francis Drake, The Spanish all despise him, But to the British he's a hero And they idolize 'im. It's how you look at buccaneers, That makes 'em bad or good, And I see us as members of a noble brotherhood." ---Long John Silver from Muppet Treasure Island

If you are familiar with the N.C. Wyeth illustrations for "Treasure Island", it's fun to watch for where they have staged them in this version of the story. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose PS -- Worst version of "Treasure Island" is the straight-to-video version done with Jack Palance as LJS (and I like Jack Palance in general). They completely changed the ending, and a lot of the story too!

Huzzah -- Capt Scarlett is the 100th salty rogue to wander into this here pyratical pub. Welcome in Capt. Scarlett. Come by the fire and warm yerself whilst ya enjoy a rum. This crew has grown quickly, and is still growing. Tell yer shipmates all to drop in and to enjoy the rollickin' fun. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "Abso 'floggin' lutely!"

Alright now, I have the Pirateer game, and played it a time 'er two. I'll have to try some of these rule variations that have been posted. But can someone tell me what is different/special about the 25th edition from the regular game? A hearty thanks to whoever can explain this to me. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose No Quarter Asked. No change given.

I'm workin' on it, Captain Admin, m'luv. The guys have just got back recently from St. Vincent. Jerry just got back online today (and was going to check out this Pyracy Forum today but got distracted with something else). When I can pin them down on a specific time period, probably a week night for about 90 minutes or so, I'll announce it in the Forum, as well as through the No Quarter Given email newsletter. Safe harbours and full tankards, --Jamaica Rose "I have to find my inner pirate. I must confess he's coming out much more easily than I thought." -- Geoffrey Rush on his role as Captain Barbossa for Pirates of the Caribbean.

Yer in luck lad! No Quarter Given is planning to start up a new webpage with listings of those lonely sailors looking fer a little love (. . . or lust ) in their life. If innerested -- send a portrait of yerself (preferably in piratical, swashbuckling, or historical type garb) and a description of yerself as well as who you might be lookin' fer. Also need to include an email address so those interested can reply to you. Blackheartedly yrs, --Jamaica Rose "In lieu of true love, I'm lookin' fer bodices to rip and wenches to ravish ."

Welcome aboard Captain Bayle. 'Tis good to see another hearty soul here. The more the merrier. We are getting closer to have ONE HUNDRED members of this here Pyracy Pub crew. Huzzah!! --Jamaica Rose