hurricane

Here's a fun addition to this year's event: The Pirates in Paradise Festival and The Pyrates of the Coast will be hosting the 2004 National Walk the Plank Championships during the festival, Nov. 25 to Dec. 5 in Key West. This is a sanctioned event which will pit contestants against one another in four key areas: Costume/Attire; Style; Plea; and Splash. A panel of esteemed pirate judges will be officiating the event in which contestants will take their best dive into a watery grave. Only the best will be called upon to compete in the finals while those eliminated watch silently in shame. We're working on the exact date and trying to arrange a ship to add an element of unpredictability to the event. More soon! Valuable prizes and the honor of being the 2004 National Walk the Plank Champion goes to the winner. We're almost sure someone will buy you a drink somewhere because of the honor. (But don't hold us to that!)

I Aye more than argh! as argh! hurts me delicate vocal chords that I must save to yell at the likes of dogs like Nigel aboard the Blackheart. Lambasting the crewe is much more fun that argh!-ing the publik... Wouldn't ya agree, Nigel, lad!

Aye, our crewe is already a workin' hard at the cards. Used to do them in the olden days - but wanted to update the group now that the Pyrates of the Coast are many more. So look for them soon. Sir Nigel will be a doin' the illustrations of each of us...

I think a good keelhauling is in order for the rogue who spilled his guts. Or a good marooning. Obviously the lout is not a real pirate as he would have kept to the code... and I ain't meaning more like guidelines. While this is a public forum, some people should know better than to pass along discussions that are obviously to be kept amongst us. And if I run into the individual I'll run 'em through for ya. On second thought I'll have Diosa do it, she's a better aim...

Nigel, Nigel, Nigel. It's always about Nigel... Been ported in the Northwest waters for many, many years but found safe harbor in Portlando (Orlando to ye landlubbers) where me mates Diosa and soon Sir Nigel are billeted. Awaiting for Animal to be making his way down here soon as well... Expanding our crewe on the East Coast we are and setting sail for the Port of Mischief in these much warmer and more welcoming waters along with the likes of Deadly Aim (KWPirate)...

The festival this year will be particularly good for weapons as we have the fort at our service to do weapons demonstrations, including pistols and cannons. We will have a few safety officers on site to do inspections and to walk pirates through all the safety issues and rules. So you'll be wanting to check in with them. I know Cascabel will be one of them - as well as a few more that Festival Director Julie will be contacting. There will also be shoreside opportunities to engage in the sea battles along the beachside of the grounds.

They are having a time of it this morning - same as you - tons of duplicates in the ol' box, even after you unsubscribe. Wouldn't want to be in their office this morning....

Happy Birthmonth KW. Hoist a few too many for Diosa and I up here in Portlando. We miss ya!!!

Diosa, The Goddess in the Bodice, has a lot of pirate necklaces, rings, hair dangles, coins and more for sale. She'll also do custom work - email her at goddess@piratesofthecoast.com for information on custom stuff... Otherwise, go to http://stores.ebay.com/Unique-Encounters_P...displayZ2QQtZkm

So good to see that the Animal is once again going on account. Awaiting his arrival down here in sunny Central Florida - Portlando... This is a haven of piracy, lads and lasses - hundreds, nay, thousands of touristas to pillage and plunder and tell tall tales too. Can hardly wait for me mates up north to wisen up and jump ship, slip their anchors and head down to join Diosa and meself...

I'm definitely with the hysterically accurate side - crowds want to be entertained for the most part and I've never had one person in 20 years complain about apparel or accessories being historically inaccurate. You can be whipped up in your finest period threads and still not bring the essence of piracy to life - and that's what most commoners want. Now this goes for non ren/SCA/re-enactment type events. I stay away from those like the plague can it's too tough to play with the people... Huzzah! to those who seek historical accuracy. But give me a smiling child, his willing mother and his absent father any time and I'll show them what piratin's all about! (argh!)

I believe they need to be in a separate box from your luggage and tagged. When I shipped my swords and non-firing flintlock I told the folks at the counter, they tagged the box and it was inspected by the feds on it's way through, resealed and arrived fine. No powder can be packed, but there are locals who can get it for you. The fort is going to allow us a lot of gun and cannon fire there since we're not right in the middle of town. So it's worth bringing the weapons this year, for certain... Others who've shipped firing weapons can chime in...

I know that a couple of the Pyrates of the Coast will probably be at this event and we'll be wearing coats. We don't adhere to the rules of so called historical enactment groups -- we sail our own flag and make our own mischief... just like true pirates should. If the Sail Jax folks don't have a problem with what you want to do, don't worry about it. They're the ones you're "working" for there - to make their event more colorful and interesting. I think the real pirates of old would be rolling over in their graves with such silly rules. As for Hollywood vs. Historic, most of the public could care less as long as there is a good show to watch. Most of the public can't tell a rapier from a cutlass much less what is perfectly period or proper. Put on a good show and they'll give you coin. Put on a proper show and they'll give you nothing, by thunder.

I think we should convert it to a Home for Wayward Pyrates... it's larger than my current quarters and you could always lick the walls if ya be thirsty (hic!)

Ahoy there dear friend! Happy salutations to me mate up in the Northwest waters and Cap'n of the West Coast crewe of The Pyrates. Still not older than I lad, but that's not something to be shooting for either. Hope your treasure hunt in the inland waters of Denver were fruitful and that you plundered yer guts out. And I'll hoist what's left of the Coconut Rum tonight to ya in yer absence... Oh, and Roxie and Michael and the rest of the Rusty Cutlasses said hi to you... their advice: move down soon!!!!! Happy Birthday and may we sail to seas together for a very long time! Yer Mate...

We have been working with the various cruise lines that will be in port during the festival and will be cluing them in this year... we want them to make their guests aware of the event and its ties to KW historically and culturally. We're also working on shuttles to run back and forth from Mallory Square...

Diosa, the Goddess in the Bodice and I toured the upcoming fort space with KW Pirate and festival director Julie. You'll be pleased. Vendors and those camping in period gear will be able to set up under the trees within view of the beach. Food and eating areas are just down the way. There is also plenty of space for fight circles. The beach area will allow anchorage of two ships, The Schooner Wolf among them. And pirates will be able to row ashore from sea battles in period skiffs to the beach. And the fort is hoping some of us rogues will be willing to scale the walls of the fort after crossing the moat. There is tons of parking and the fort has easy access through the Truman Annex. Oh, and the pirates get their own part of the beach, the water is amazing and there's plenty of space to stretch our sea legs. I think you'll find the spot is better than any other faire space you've been to. It amazed us! --

Thanks for the nod to me Sir Nigel, oh mighty pirate captain of the Western Alliance of The Pyrates. 'Tis true I am now in Orlando. I have heard tales of this venue and have received the same mixed reviews. Perhaps we should all take it over in mutinous fashion and populate it with natural hams who love being pirates. It would make a mint. 'Tis also true that Diosa, the Goddess in the Bodice and I be workin' on a piratical dinner theater play that may debut at PiP. Lots of fun it is - good against evil, pirates against the crown - and Sir Nigel has a starring role in it, though I have not yet had him sign the articles to do so. But he is a centerpiece of the plot. So learn some lines Sir Nigel and one day Diosa and I will sneak into the pirate show here and report back. In the meantime, I highly recommend the Adventurer's Club on Disney's Pleasure Island for a fun evening of fun in a strange 1937 club with quirky characters and there is a really good improv theatre across the plaza as well. And for any true lover of piracy, Disney Quest's viritual pirate game where you shoot and loot is an absolute blast. We spent 6 hours in there playing games alone...

Ah, we be working on shaghaiing Sir Nigel by way of Orlando. We're keepin' an eagle eye out for opportunities for him to join his other mates, myself and Diosa, down this way as it's just a short hop (compared to the port of Seattle that is) to our favorite place, the Keys. Perhaps we should all join forces to convince him that Florida should be his home waters. Then we can all share him...

The Pyrates of the Coast had the pleasure of staying at the Southernmost last year and they love pirates. The rooms are very nice, the beach is across the street as well as a bar and restaurant and there's a convenient vendor with cuban coffee and bread, a liquor store and supermarket just a block a way. Can't beat it as a hideout - and it's not a bad walk up Duval to everything - we did it every day.... I give it five skulls!!!!

Thank ye kindly, Paisley. No offense taken. Me mate Nigel has that way about him and his golden mane is hard to compete with...

Ahoy Captain Nigel... Seems your fans down here are calling you... nice to be wanted, eh? These waters are truly brimming with opportunities for a rogue such as you. We have a bunk available any time...

Aye, I'll be setting me course for the fest. Already on the crewe calendar and lookin' forward to it since it's so close now. Will have to see if I can get Sir Nigel out here from up North.

Paisley, Sir Nigel has been pressed into service as Captain of the Northwest contingent but he will be coming down here regularly to play with the Florida gang. He has some schooling to finish up North but we hope to convince him to join us down here permanently once that's through. So drop him a note and tell him how much we all want him. And he will be in Key West again this year, definitely. We're planning a road trip from Orlando down that way for the PiP festival...

Ah, Spitfire be part true and part incorrect. While I am at anchorage without much of me Northwest crewe, Sir Nigel has graciously volunteered to step up to the helm of the Seattle Pirates of the Coast crewe and will be running the ship up there in concert with me down here. He is looking for some new rogues and lasses to sign on with him to keep up with our commitments there and I will be doing the same down here. And many of our members, including the wonderful Water Rat, Lollypop and Texas Tallships, will continue their duties in the Orlando waters, planning to sail in on a moment's notice. And our adventures will continue to be recorded at piratesofthecoast.com... Some of the Northwest crew has changed recently, including the departure of Spitfire for personal reasons. She joins other lost comrades who've been with us over the years, such as Long Gone John, Buckwheat, Animal and Black Bart. But the Pirates of the Coast has been ol' Hurricane's port of call in its many incarnations for the last 20 years. And I am anxious to sail with the many fine rogues and lasses that sail the southern waters as the Blackheart drops anchor in Florida. You'll find our pirate's band and band of pirates out and about soon. We've already scheduled some events for the coming months with many more to come. So stay tuned to the web site to see where will be and feel free to sign on to sail with us. So, if you live in the Northwest, contact Sir Nigel, and if you be east of the Mississippi or in Florida proper, float me a note...