Jib

Thanks Mission! Some great stuff! I knew a little about ships in distress and making emergency landings. I also recall that Drake (long before GAOP) did a brisk business selling slaves to the Spanish but was forbidden by the Spanish government. Spanish coins where used in the English colonies long before and established currency was created.

Blackbirder, sequel to the Guardship!

HB2U!

Recently read about flip made with eggnog... a Christmas treat?

Love how you captured the setting around the fort.

I would imagine that the colonies would not need tobacco since it was locally grown. Curious about spices since that would be limited.

Jib -

Frenchman's Creek came in the mail yesterday (boy Amazon is getting fast).

Watched it last night. Good story but I didn't expect the ending.

Thanks for the tip on the movie.

Jas. Hook

I didn't either but I rather liked it!

A fanvid for the PBS mini-series "Frenchman's Creek", based on the classic romance novel by Daphne du Maurier, starring Tara Fitzgerald as Lady Dona St. Columb and Anthony Delon as the French pyrate captain Jean-Benoit Aubery.

that's the movie!

Curious if some of you special order your rum from a local liquor store or go on a "rum hunt".

I have seen Plunkett and MacLeane (and even own a copy on VHS tape) and enjoyed it! Be warned however that it is more of a fanciful tale told with some modern music and a romance. Does have some wonderful images of the hell that was New Gate prison.

Any fans of pear cider? I like Ace but love Magners! I have heard rumors that Strongbow is making a pear cider but have yet to see in the States.

Most of you pick up your rum at the corner liquor store?

Yeah I must admit there is a romance aspect to the film. That doesn't bother me, indeed it makes the story better!

This past weekend I watched a Master piece theater version of "Frenchman's Creek" from the late 90's. I really enjoyed the DVD. Purchased it from Amazon for under $15.00 USD. I don't know how period the costuming is but it looked wonderful!

Considering reading the novel having seen the movie.

What about the cheap calico cloth? Could/ would the colonists risk the chance to have it smuggled to them?

I was curious as to trade good such as molasses, chocolate (coco beans), tea, coffee, and spices would be thrown over the side in favor of more useful or easy to trade items such as perfume, silverware, furniture, glassware, etc...

A cargo of indigo dye might not seem of value to a pirate unless he does do a little smuggling on the side. Of course the rope, sails, barrels and other materials on a captured ship would have value.

With the Navigation Acts the English Colonies may have a desire for such luxury items cheap.

I had heard that pirate often threw over the side items they could not readily use. Smugglers however may find certain items of value in the colonies and elect to save such trade goods.

I've read that the Triangular Trade brought wealth into the fledgling English Colonies. Luxury items however appeared to be limited and heavily taxed. Such items would encourage smuggling operations to appear. What types of things were considered luxury items or in great demand during the GAOP in the colonies?

Helped me old shipmate Braze celebrate his birfday last nite.....

Did he have ice cream?

I suppose a weekend long pirate festival is a lot less full of drama compared to a renaissance faire that can last over multiple weekends. Of course perhaps you can squeeze a lot of drama into a few intense days!

Curious as to why thy have wrapped the sash around the baldric and why often the small sword is worn so low. I'd think you'd trip over the scabbard wearing a blade so low.

spatterdashes = spats? Much like in the first image Greg posted?

So maybe this whole piracy thing is more about the relationships you form???

I think I de-railed my own thread...

My very first pirate event was years ago at Port Washington, WI. With a few very notable exceptions, I felt like an outcast...

You're actually the third person I've heard say basically the same thing about that event. Curious. (I have never been, so I have no idea whatsoever. My impression is that it has more of a Ren Faire than a reenactor crowd. Rennies can sometimes be a bit cliquey from my experience.)

In my experience the Port Washington Pirate Festival is not a hard core reenactor event. 90% of the costumed Pirates are not period (either Buccaneer or GAOP). It is set in park off a marina and downtown region of Port Washington Wisconsin. They serve mini donuts and have a belly dance shows. Little is offered in the way of period vendors. The organizers are IMHO not on their "A" game. The last two years had no tall ships in attendance (although 2011 the ship had a break down). The event can have a weird feel about it, almost as if the festival doesn't know if it wants to be a street party, pirate circus or a cute small town flea market.

That said I have a great time! A good number of Pyracy Pub members attend (Cheeky Actress, Mary Sterling, Merry Death and the amazing Bilge Monkey!). They do have some living history with the local militia who does black powder demos. In the past the crew of the Forsaken has attended and set up camp (alas never when I attended!). The area is fantastic for pirate photos if you can imagine a huge freshwater lake as the ocean.

But it is the crowds that make it special! I am an entertainer. I'm only 10% historic. My forte is over the top dramatics and stage combat. The people who come to this free event love pirates! They want to be entertained and are easy to engage. The crowds want to play! Very few drunks and lots of families.

Do I think that a pirate surgeon would be a welcome addition to the event? Without a doubt shipmate! Do I think you could get a crowd interested in real pirate history? YES! Would i play with a pirate surgeon or anyone else interested in a little street theater/ demo? Oh hell YES! I think living history has audience at this event that has not been fully tapped.

If anyone wants to attend the Port Washington Pirate Festival in 2013 and meet a friendly face let me know! I can't promise good weather but I will promise not to wear my bucket boots!

PS: This past year I did not see ONE Jack Sparrow replica over the age of 11.