Rumba Rue

Well, I sure don't remember putting a skull and crossbones on my post (s), but I will say it's amusing. Would like to see some more fun ones.

RumbaRue

**I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges**

Al is a long time good friend of mine. We met years ago in another group. In fact it was me who got him to join PRP. I'm sure he probably talked your ear off, if not about pirates then about UFO's his other 'love'.

RumbaRue

**Rabble-rousing, my kind of fun**

Thank you kindly. I finally recieved the info I wanted on another message board. I posted it here in case anyone else was interested.

RumbaRue

*In the vessels cited as examples, they are modern representations of

the various shades of traditional "barking" (one ingredient used) that

varied in colours from yellow ochre through various brick reds to dark

brown and black. Now days people use tanbark coloured sails either to

imitate the traditional colours, or because they reduce the glare when

you're squinting at them in the bright sunlight. My own 18 ft gaff

knockabout, FEATHER, has red-tanned sails.

Traditional sails were commonly made of linen flax, cotton canvas,

wool, hemp, jute, and even nettle fiber. They all tended to rot or lose

strength to one degree or another when wet. Hence, in Europe and America

(the areas I'm familiar with the history of) sails, especially on fishing

boats and small craft, tended to be "tanned" with various mixtures of

boiled bark, tallow, ochre (for colour effect) and other ingredients. "Maritime Traditions" recently ran an article from the Roskilde, Denmark

Viking ship museum on making and using wool sails (a living tradition in

Norway until a century ago) which mentions one method of tanning sails;

Edgar March in "Inshore Craft of Great Britain in the Days of Sail and Oar"

describes other traditional techniques and colours used by British

fishermen.

The significance of colour that comes to my mind would be availability

of ingredients, relative cost, and wealth of the sailor. I believe in

Caesar's time the Romans complained of the Illyrian pirates that they were

so arrogant that their oars were silvered and their sails made of silk dyed

purple (an imperial colour at the time).

So, if you're in it for the long haul, and have a small boat, tanning

your sails will make them last enough longer that it will more than pay for

itself in the savings of buying or making new sails. If you want to flash

your wealth, dying sails for show would be one way of doing it. I'd say

most pirates wouldn't bother tanning their sails, but might have captured

or stolen a small vessel that already had tanned sails. In larger vessels

it's unlikely due to the cost, and the fact that most ship-owners tend to

be cheap, and would discount the long-term cost savings of tanning versus

the probability of the sails being damaged on a long voyage due to weather

or mis-handling by a hired crew. Ships commanded by their owner, or crewed

by owner and family, as happened in small coastal traders as well as

fishing vessels would be more likely to tan their sails. It's their

investment, and they are more likely to treat the sails carefullly enough

to benefit financially in the long run.

Of course, successful pirates might dye their sails as the Illyrians

did, but in the 17th and 18th centuries they seemed to be more concerned

with personal adornment and small arms rather that tarting up their ships. After all, their ships were usually stolen, and another could be acquired

the same way. Likewise, pirates were frequently known to take sails, cloth

and other ship's stores from a capture whenever they needed them.

Glenn,

Black Douglas,

Master of the

Sloop-Boat

FEATHER

and the

Terror

of

Scow Bay

Unfortunatly PRP doesn't do the Ren-fair in San Bernadino. In fact they cut out the Sea Dogs (the only group that came close to pirates) several years ago. Basically they don't want any pirate types in their ranks.

Well phooey on them! They are too politically correct - gasp you'd think it was Disneyland!

The other fair in Corona is pirate friendly, but since I only went one time, I have no idea what it's like now.

PRP has several members in the San Diego area, myself included. Hey, don't be afraid to check us out. We may be of an older generation than the youngsters out there, but we play better!

RumbaRue

**The older the fiddle, the sweeter the tune**

Now here's an interesting question for you history buffs.

Is there a reason why some ships had red sails?

(There are some tall ships here on the west coast that do also)

RumbaRue

**I've hoisted that, I've hoisted this, but the best hoist is above the waterline**

I'd take a big roll of toilet paper!

(A good reminder to those empty portapotties at events that run out quickly)

RumbaRue

**I'd rather be training cabin boys**

Aye, it weren't hard to miss PRP or any of the other piratatical groups, as they were shoved into a box canyon o're near the food booths, that most people didn't bother to wander over to see. Me hopes this might be corrected the next time.

Me however, had a fine and dandy time sellin' me wares.

I'm not sure I'd a recognize ye, since I don't know who you are, but I 'twas the one with the fancy parrot feathers and chocolate sharin' a booth with Miss Dawn who sells gorgeous freshwater pearl necklaces and such.

Lots o' people showed up, and on Sunday, it 'twas just darn crowded!

Well likes I said, I had a fine time playin' with all those men! Ah, what a nice dream I did have that night....oh excuse me, I did forget where I was fer a moment....

So the next event fer PRP and me will be Ojai Ren-faire, May 10 and 11th.

I'll be with the group this time. Don't be afraid ta be searchin' me out, I'm a right nice gal with long blond hair that the men just adore, an a smile that'll make ye wonder.... what ye say? Ah, ye'll just have ta find out!

RumbaRue

**Save the whales, collect the whole set**

What a beautiful ship! You are very lucky, regardless of where you might be sailing her.

RumbaRue

**The fair winds will always bring you to wonderful and distant shores**

Hell, I'LL sign the Artikles, Mates! Wot the 'ell, they are so mixed up as to not make any sense anyways, which is exactly what sea lawyers like mesel' WANT; that way, we can argue that they mean whatever we want them to mean!

But here be a serious questions about real pirate articles: why do you suppose that real pirates would have been willing to sign Articles, considering that seizure of same would make for such a damning prosecution exhibit against them at trial?

Cap'n William

Hell, I'LL sign the Artikles, Mates! Wot the 'ell, they are so mixed up as to not make any sense anyways, which is exactly what sea lawyers like mesel' WANT; that way, we can argue that they mean whatever we want them to mean!

*Ah fer the life o' me I'll never understand ye wayward pirates, obviously yer goin' against the wind with yer unfurled sails!

But here be a serious questions about real pirate articles: why do you suppose that real pirates would have been willing to sign Articles, considering that seizure of same would make for such a damning prosecution exhibit against them at trial?

*Not if'n they were followin' their lawyers advice ! Run away! Run away!

RumbaRue

**99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name**

Well just informin' all ye, that the Escondido Renaissance Faire in north county of San Diego, CA., at Felicita Park will be comin' the first weekend of April. To be exact as on the map, the 5th and 6th.

The Port Royal Privateers will be there, so be lookin' fer us!

Come an' join us, with yer pirate garb and join in the fun! Hopin' ta meet some o' you fine people!

RumbaRue

**Smile an' wave yer colors proudly! **

Well fer yer infermation ye steamed clam, I do have better things ta be doin'. Besides, havin to nurse a recently sugically operated hand, has slowed me down a bit.

Besides havin' recently awaken from a drug induced stupor thanks to that surgeon, I did notice it took ye a few days ta see the post in the first place.

As soon as I'm healed, I'll be back ta workin' on me fine artistry and there be no need ta deal with a fried clam. Which come ta think 'bout it, are mighty good tastin' 'specially in a nice ale batter.

RumbaRue

**Member of the Jolly Roger Boarding and Glee Club**

Me thinks ye be 'workin' the system'.

It be called cheatin' and us bloodthirsty pirates be more'n happy ta stretch that tiny skinny neck o' yours and steam ye in some hot water.

RumbaRue

**You there, go hoist something**

Oh my goodness! Jus' did a quick trip inta the chatroom jus' ta see how it works. Interestin' that the posts do show up at the top. Fer the longest time I twas lookin' at the bottom tryin' ta figger out where I was - guessin' that comes from peerin' at the male bottoms too much...

RumbaRue

**I'd rather be trainin' cabin boys**

OoooooH! I just LOVE shrimp!

Too damn expensive ta buy though...

RumbaRue

**Ladies of Tortuga Keelhauling Society**

Well me hearty lads, I can tell ye be men (only men would write such gibberish) now fer the 'ladies' , I jus' say, "aw the heck with it! Rules? We don' need no stinkin' rules!

I says' we jus' drop a fine lady and dangle her in fron' o' yer faces, and ye all turn to blubberin' jellyfish.

Pay? I get paid? I gotta give ye me goods? Not on yer life Mr.! Personall' y' I perfer to keep what I earn, an' ye ain't gettin' none of it! HA!

Beside's, ye gotta catch me first!

RumbaRue

**Nine out of ten men who have tried camels, prefer women**

:)