hurricane

Very few pirate events are hard core re-enactment. In my experience, even when they are, they have been very patient and very helpful in guiding others toward more appropriate clothing, footwear, hats, etc. Our group can do period correct, but we straddle the line because it's more fun for us personally. And that's really it - whatever you decide, it should be fun for you. I wouldn't worry much about whether you fit in with one camp or another. The pirate contingent in most places is fairly welcoming and fun loving. If you do want to improve your kit, hang out in Twill. There are some terrific people there with amazing resources. They can even pull up period pictures and photos of artifacts to help. Fair winds and why is it all the years I was in Washington, there were no damned pirates... and now they're everywhere. Taking it personally here in Florida :) -- Hurricane

By the way, if anyone wants to have an indulgent trip here sometime, Cypress House is the bomb. It is by far the best place to stay here in KW if you have the nickels. Great food, great hosts, open bar happy hour every day and I heard their Thanksgiving meal they served to everyone was out of this world. Just ask for Dave - the host with the most! A terrific guy. -- Hurricane

We have three dogs and have never hard a problem with them in battle. The safety (dog) needs to be physically engaged to stop firing - otherwise it is just out of the way. Dogs had a distinct advantage. With the dog engaged, a buccaneer could carry the gun loaded on his belt, ready to fire. It can be carried in the full cocked position. Pop the dog off and fire. Tougher (and far more dangerous) to do with a flintlock in the full cocked position. It's strange the other technology caught, flintlocks on - (Betamax vs. VHS) since the dog had a safety and so do modern weapons. Can't imagine a modern pistol without a safety. -- Hurricane

For those who haven't seen the championships, here's last year's contest, featuring Billy and D'ogge, William and some other familiar faces: http://www.digitalislandmedia.com/Walk_the..._the_plank.html -- Hurricane

The Walk the Plank Championships are from 3 to 4 p.m. on the Schooner Wolf. -- Hurricane

We currently have eight contestants of the 13 positions for the Walk the Plank Championships. As I am leaving for Key West Friday, I need the applications in ASAP. I believe the prize pot is getting bigger, but can't tell you what's in it yet. So far, Rusty Nell, D'ogge, Animal, Silkie, Blue Eyed Scott and our TV guy, Michael, are in the lineup of victims, uh, contestants. We also have two crew members from the WOLF. That leaves (counts fingers) 5 more spaces. It's your chance to be on TV, go for the glory, defeat D'ogge, and win the big prizes. Plus, you'll automatically defend your title next year. If you didn't get your application yet, download it here and send it in to me by email or fax it to: 509-931-0776. The application is at: http://www.piratesinparadise.com/walk-plank-entry.pdf -- Hurricane

Get yer app in chica. We leave Friday for KW -- oh, guess you can just bring it to me. We'll be at the Cypress House until Wednesday. -- Hurricane

Thanks for the invite. Diosa has a great new obsidian knife she's been anxious to use - the hammock sounds like a perfect place for her to enjoy the sunset. I know she'll be excited about your offer. Is there any soft dirt nearby? You know, something without a lot of roots -- easy to dig a pit into? Regards, Hurricane

The best view is on the ramparts of the fort, by the way. Incredible and no tourists! -- Hurricane

At you, we did. And you still didn't sink. Damned salt water. We have a lovely boat anchor for you this year... think of it as a handicap... like Tiger Woods would have, only a lot heavier. -- Hurricane

Absolutely no problem here... no desire at all, let alone over whelming... filming = work... been there, done it... too many times. Glad to hear the rest of the event will be going on as planned. Aye the kids are a bit disappointed about the contest being limited... perhaps next year when things get back to normal... It was a hard decision to back off the number of victims. But Diosa and I discussed last year's safety issues with all the life preservers going overboard and how many people she thought she could handle as a time doing the Safety Officer task. So we took a step backyard to a previous year when we had fewer people and worked out how many we could safely handle. I know, safety and pirates... what??? -- Hurricane

Deleted - duplicate of the above.

So, is the filming schedule now taking precedence over the original event schedule? No, not at all. I think the gist of the point was not to overwhelm them with your desire to be on the show. Let them do their thing while you do your thing. There's always those who get stars in their eyes when cameras are around. Their primary thing is the Walk the Plank Championships... which will have a lot of competition this year -- even D'ogge will have a challenge to win again, guaranteed. :) Snicker -- Hurricane

I forgot to mention that the show will also be filming on Friday and Saturday for parts of the festival. Extra color with the host. I really put the sell on them. -- Hurricane

O.K. Before D'ogge pees his pants, here's the scoop. The National Walk the Plank Championships will be the featured event in a new show that resolves around Michael, pro athlete and comedian. He will be competing in quirky community events around the country. Our event is the pilot for the show, the first episode. Now for the fine print. We will be limiting contestants to 10 additional entries because we don't want the thing to last all day and eventually, darkness comes in the Keys. As defending champion, D'ogge is automatically in it. In fact, he will be working with the host on some things. Animal from our crewe is an entry as well. And of course, there's Michael. That gives us the lucky 13 for the 2008 National Walk the Plank Championships. How can you be considered? Easy! Fill out the attached entry form and fax it to us at 509-931-0776 or scan it and email it to us at hurricane@piratesofthecoast.com. At this point we just need the entry form page - not the liability waiver. That comes on the day of the event. We will review all applications and select the entrants from the pool of entries. It's kind of a photo and essay thing. The photo should be of you as a pirate and/or wench (hey, it's Key West). The application can be downloaded here: http://www.piratesinparadise.com/walk-plank-entry.pdf Selected contestants will meet at the WOLF at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. The boat leaves at 3 p.m. Aboard ship you will be briefed about safety, judging, etc. and we will draw cards for the order of jumpers. Since this is being filmed we may have to adjust the championship to accommodate the cameras and talent. But that's Hollywood for you. The WOLF will be anchored off the Pier House. Lots of spectator viewing along the boardwalk and on the beach. All pirates are encouraged to come watch so you can point yourself out in the TV show (hey, that's me next to Partrick). Pier House is at One Duval St. That's all there is to it. Fame, fortune, some cool prizes and possibly an appearance on the new show. Oh, this is an on the up and up competition. We have three impartial judges who will be judging the event and will not automatically be selecting the show host. He wants to compete fairly and squarely in every event thrown at him in the show.

That is sooooo cool Harry! Congrats to you and the Bone Islands for seeing that his wish comes true. And kudos to the business community for stepping in to help. That's just so Key West. It is an honor to be friends with you and this great crewe of pirates that thinks of others so often. -- Hurricane

That's no unusual with airlines these days. The frequent flyer seats cost them money and since they're bleeding dough, they are pulling back on everything that costs them money -- peanuts, pillows, and frequent flyer trade-ins. Spirit! did the same thing with us going to Port Royal. Thankfully, they didn't end up charging our mileage plan once we finally worked everything our so we got two free trips to Jamaica in the space of two months. Woohoo! -- Hurricane

Things are definitely at a fever pitch at the Pyrates of the Coast HQ! We have another work party today to finish stuff for our period pub, the wine bottles, signage and packing the Whale for the journey. We also have fire show rehearsals to go over (not for PiP). Diosa and I head down next Friday to begin work on the National Walk the Plank Championships -- lots of cool stuff to share about that soon. -- Hurricane

Congratulations! There's nothing more satisfying than having your own walls, floors and roof! -- Hurricane

Have you tried here? http://www.greatcabochons.com Or here? http://www.firemountaingems.com/faceted-gems.asp?navsrc=2 If Fire Mountain doesn't have it, chances are no one does. -- Hurricane Journeyman Designer for Diosa

I would continue the bidding down there -- it will raise the price quite a bit to have a chance at your head..... oh hair, that is. Think of it as a public auction. I'll be happy to be the auctioneer. Do it all the time for charity. -- Hurricane

It would be here. Pirate Ship -- Hurricane

We have the ham too, but we're don't call it 'country' here because we're already in the country. Just ham. No snow... ever. -- Hurricane

'fraid everyone was at St. Arrrgustine that weekend. Met folks from as far south as the Keys and as far north as North Carolina there. -- Hurricane

We can't wait to come back up and see our old and new found friends there and will definitely let you know when we'll be back up. I told the crewes that organized it that there are events 10 years in the making now that aren't as good as this first effort. It was amazing and everyone deserves a big huzzah for an event that promises to become a "do not miss" on everyone's calendars. We too did an amazing amount of education work with casual pirates and there was quite a bit of interest to improve their representation for the coming year. That makes it all worth while. Plus, I can never complain when I can just fire my dog all I want on a range. It was nice of NASA to light the candle under the shuttle while we were there too. Never seen it from the north side of the launch complex. Ah, magical times. -- Hurricane