2008 Festival Schedule

[hurricane]

Ahoy all!

I just posted the tentative schedule for the 2008 festival on the PiP site. This year, the entire festival runs Sat. Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 7.

Check it out at: http://piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html

-- Hurricane

[William Brand]

If I may, I heard a critique on the Walk the Plank Competition last year from at least a dozen different people...

The crowd complained that we jumped off the wrong side of the Wolf. Jumping off the side facing away from shore meant that few people, apart from those on the boat, could see and photograph the event.

Now, I understand if this is a mooring issue for the Wolf herself, and perhaps a safety issue, so if you need to discuss the matter with them first before answering, that would be fine. After all, the event was very fun. Even more than expected, though swimming in full clothing is as tiring as a boarding action.

[Capt. Sterling]

After all, the event was very fun. Even more than expected, though swimming in full clothing is as tiring as a boarding action.

Oh no a boarding action is far less tiring...the excitement gets the adrenalin flowing before you even commence. Thus tons of energy. The adrenalin doesn't kick in with the Walk the Plank contest until you realize..."damn thanks to these clothes, I'm going to drown!" By that time its too late and you are already completely worn out.

And where was the full clothing??... none of us had on shoes, coats, gloves, waist sashes and we were Not carrying any weapons... hmmm maybe next year.

[William Brand]

Remeber the guy who said he was going to swim with his boots one and seven people screamed "DON'T!' at the same time? It was funny to hear so many yell it simultaneously and the guy just looked up and said "Why not?". After an explanation, he tossed them aside with no more questions.

I'm glad the whole thing was filmed.

[Capt. Sterling]

Aye that was great... it would not have worked out better if it had been rehearsed.

[theM.A.dDogge]

OI!!...Who said .none of us swam with weapons!!?!?!... ...i can think of 2 of us who did!!!!... ...yeah thats right...i had to swim with 2 swords...damn brother went and pulled the whole "well theyre YOUR swords and i only have 1 lung" routine......this year we're thinkin about duelin with CANNONS.... ...how the hell am i goinnna swim with 2 of those??

[Capt. Sterling]

Aye but where was yer coat, breast plate and helmet?? Back at the camp...

[William Brand]

Wow...the breast plate. I don't even want to imagine how hard it would have been to go after you at the bottom.

[Capt. Sterling]

Well Maddogge's plan is to practice holding his breath... the weight of the armor will pull him right down to the bottom and he will just walk to the ladder along the harbor floor. Tough bastards those marines...

[William Brand]

The plan has one flaw. The danger of giving half a dozen heart attacks to the bystanders. apart from that, it's brilliant and reckless.

[Capt. Sterling]

Aye, he just might win back the title of FB #1!

[Rats]

Yeah but I would have figured that the one lung thingy would have made him more boyant......????

That means he would float better for those scratching their heads:rolleyes:

[hurricane]

That's what was good about the old days. Didn't matter if you were prettied up, had booties on or looked good jumping in... you were going to drown anyway... that was the purpose. I can't help it if modern day pirates know how to swim...

The mooring changes from year to year.

The first year it was held off the shore of the fort along the beach line. The wind was fierce that day so it was tough to anchor the boat and we almost lost two swimmers who didn't understand that the currents were strong there.

The second year we moved over to the Pier House. That was an ideal place. We anchored so the jumpers went inland and everyone could watch from the wharf area.

Last year, the Pier House was under renovation, so we moved it next to the Mohawk. Securing the vessel safely required us to dock up on the quay.

This year, we hope to move back to Pier House. It gets maximum exposure to tourists, has good viewing and the swim to the beach is an easy one, as there's no current to deal with. It's like a big bath tub there. We will know sooner as the event grows near.

By the the way, the first year our group donated the first prize - a complete outfit from Cutthroat Island. A little trivia for ya'll.

-- Hurricane

[William Brand]

Cool. We should record all of the trivia for a pamphlet and for the website.

After last year's Walk The Plank we talked about all the good and bad possibilities of it and one interesting suggestion was the employment of period style floatation devices like a tarred cask. Symbolic of throwing out the bad rum with the rummy. Like all ideas, there's a cost factor, but if i can find some inexpensive little barrels, I'll let you know. Then we'd have a safety device for the victi...um...swimmers and you could use the casks as set dressing for Port Royal the rest of the time.

[hurricane]

That's a great idea! I'll tell the crewe about it. Much better than a bright orange life preserver.

-- Hurricane

[William Brand]

Just a thought on cost, but you might offset the expense by finding a local place to flip the bill in exchange for a period style imprint of their business on the casks. Nothing overtly obvious. Just some period style text with a name. A local pub would be the ideal supporter for this while being a fitting establishment to print on a cask as well. Again, just thinking out loud. If they get a little advertising at Walk the Plank and in the fort, you might not have to spend a single dime on this.

[Pirates of the Sand]

Ahoy,

Can anyone suggest who I might contact for the Pirates in Paradise Festival?

We are looking for space to create a "Pirate Sandsculpture". This doesn't have to be on the beach......we can bring sand in anywhere.

We have had great success with other pirate festivals drawing huge foot traffic and media coverage...... but, can't find the right person to talk to for the Pirates in Paradise festival....any thoughts would be greatly appreciated......

Thanks in advance......

Bill (aka Commodore)

[Capt. Sterling]

Try Harry, he's in charge of the fort... he's a member here and he goes simply by Harry

[hurricane]

The most recent incarnation of the schedule can be found in the Overview section of the PiP site. There's a few new events earlier in the week.

And if you don't have the most recent schedule for setting up and breaking down at the fort, it's on the home page of the fort section of the site.

-- Hurricane

[Patrick Hand]

Just a quick question.... The events at the Fort don't start until Friday Dec. 5th....

"Bone Island Pirate Fest, Pirate Pub and Village Thieves’ Market and Fort Zachary Taylor. Features living history pirate encampments; His Royal Majesty’s Military Forces; period clothing, arts and crafts; pirate treasure and black powder weapons demonstrations; and kid’s games."

So when are the camps setting up?

[Captain Jim]

Rules state that we can set up on Wednesday, December 3, so that's when I plan to be there.

[hurricane]

We'll be setting up on the 3rd as well. We will actually be there for the whole festival but will be living a lavish lifestyle at a hotel until we're allowed to move in to the fort.

-- Hurricane

[RedJessi]

I plan on arriving on the 4th at this point - likely early evening since I have class in North Miami Shores until 4pm. I will be going from from class to KW.

[Animal]

We'll be setting up on the 3rd as well. We will actually be there for the whole festival but will be living a lavish lifestyle at a hotel until we're allowed to move in to the fort.

-- Hurricane

I Capt'n, I should be pulling in around *AM. Plan on leaving here at one in the morning. Can't wait to get there already.

Animal

[Mary Diamond]

Mark and I are planning on being there as early Wednesday as possible. Plan to be driving in from Miami...

Will post as plans are solidified.