8th Annual Scavenger Careening Encampment (February 8th to February 11th 2024)

[Captain Jack Sawford]

--2024 EVENT SCENARIO-- 
It is early 1718. For the last two years the ramshackle and ruined port of Nassau Town on New Providence island has been home, not only to the crew of the Scavenger, but to the hundreds of other pirates that make up the Flying Gang. Nassau had been barely populated since the raids during the war more than a decade prior, that is until the treaty was signed. At first the flow of new arrivals was slow. Out of work sailors here, the occasional escaped indentured servants there, but after the hurricane in 1715, the influx of Spanish gold, and with it the appeal of easy riches the trickle had grown to a deluge. When the Spanish returned and chased the Flying Gang off their wrecks, the pirates quickly adapted, taking to raiding the lightly armed merchant vessels travelling North out of the Caribbean. Local officials had fled, abandoning the port and taking the rule of law with them. Though they had made appeals to the crown and the Admiralty, for the most part their pleas fell on unsympathetic ears. A sandy spit of land unfit for agriculture and dangerously close to Spanish Florida didn't much concern those in Whitehall, and for nearly two years the pirate republic of Nassau continued to grow. 

That is, until last Fall, when news of the pardon offered by the Hanoverian now sitting on the English throne reached Nassau. Suddenly, many fellow pirates once so sure they'd live a merry life and a short one saw renewed hope of a return to society where once they had only seen the inevitable dance of the hempen jig. 

Circumstances worsened some weeks past, when Vincent Pearse sailed into Nassau Harbor aboard the H.M.S. Phoenix, carrying further news of the Kings Act of Grace, promising to take the names of those wishing to accept the pardon when New Providence's new governor, one Woodes Rogers, arrived in a few months time. Suddenly, the cohesion that had bound together those that called this sandy spit of land home began to dissolve. Camps divided into pro-pardon and anti-pardon factions, and queues formed along the beach, comprised of men waiting in the rain to be rowed out to the Phoenix to make their mark, thus exempting them from the dire consequences that were to follow for those who refused to do the same. 

The Scavenger's crew were themselves divided, with arguments both for and against signing. However, with the Phoenix guarding the harbor entrance and Pearse's men growing ever more confident as they began to attempt to bring the pirates in line, the question of whether or not dissenters really had a choice began to rear it's head. 
Then, an opportunity presented itself when the Phoenix set sail on a brief voyage to escort a small contingent of merchant vessels to Jamaica. As Charles Vane and the rest of the anti-pardon faction once again took up arms and brought prizes into the harbor to loot and burn, the crew aboard the Scavenger held a vote. It was decided that come what may, this opportunity free from the watchful eyes of the navy should be exploited.  The Scavenger would be sailed to a suitable beach, tipped, careened, and made ready for their next hunt, a hunt that they all knew could be their last.

The bell had been rung, and the clock was ticking. A new governor was coming to Nassau, and he was bringing civilization and the rule of law with him.

 

WHEN AND WHERE
Thursday February 8th -  Sunday February 11th 2024. We strongly suggest arriving in Central Florida to meet up with our crew by Wednesday morning February 7th, 2024, and would plan to leave Monday February 12th 2024. The day before the start of the event many of us descend on central florida to condense gear into fewer vehicles and to pack the truck and the boat before all driving to a hotel closer to the event. We are scouting a new promising location in the coming months and further details will be added once they are confirmed. 

 

Arrive to the event in kit, or change when you get there, WE WILL NOT BE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE ACROSS DRESSED IN OR CARRYING WITH THEM 21ST CENTURY ATTIRE. Leave it in your car.
We will begin ferrying people around 8 AM Thursday February 8th in an effort to make the multiple crossings before the heat of the day. We will be breaking down camp late Sunday morning.


FEES
$50 registration fee for the event. Registration must be paid NO LATER and preferably earlier than Friday February 2nd 2024, no exceptions. This covers transport to the island from Caxambas Marina, food and drink all weekend, and coinage to game with. Details on payment will be added in the coming months, though paypal, cashapp, and venmo are acceptable.

$25 for an out of state salt water fishing license, if you want to fish, though that is up to the individual participant.

 

PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES

1. Participants may not portray any character that has already been established in popular culture (IE movies, books, television, etc). One may attend as a character or persona that they have created, as long as it is sufficiently different from pop culture characters.

2. In order to construct the illusion of a 1721 pirate encampment, any kit worn to the encampment should be based on period sources, whether they are written, illustrated, or photographs of surviving original clothing. They should contain NO Hollywood influence. This means NO LEATHER HATS, NO EYELINER, NO BUCKET BOOTS, NO STRAW COCKED HATS, NO ROPE SANDALS, NO STRIPED STOCKINGS, and NO HAIR BEADS.

3. The kit you prepare should be appropriate for the setting. One wouldn't expect silk or lace, for instance. You're portraying a pirate that's spent the last few weeks at sea, and are now camped on a sandy spit of land in a remote corner of Spanish controlled Florida. Do your best to look the part.

4. Clothing should be made out of materials as close to those of the period as possible. Linen, wool. No synthetic fabrics.

5. Tents should be made out of hemp or cotton canvas, whether you make a lean to from a "sail", or use the slightly less accurate wedge tent (Which admittedly does allow for more privacy). A simple canvas tarp (treated or untreated) draped over a rope is encouraged and preferred over a proper military tent. No modern tents or camping equipment.

6. Items in camp, from blankets, to mattresses, to lanterns, to fire equipment should be period. No modern camping equipment. If you’re bringing liquor, pour it into a period bottle before arriving on the island. No modern packaging of ANY kind. There should be nothing not period correct visible at any time. Medicines and toiletries are harder to do without, so keep them hidden from sight, and use them either in the privacy of your tent or out well away from camp.

7. Obviously modern tattoos should be hidden if possible, when possible, though this is up to individual participants discretion. Modern piercings, especially of the face (Nose, lip, eyebrow, etc), should not be worn to the event. Gauged ears with plugs are generally discouraged BUT acceptable as long as the jewelry worn is not a synthetic material or so colorful as to provide distraction. Essentially if these are worn they should not be immediately noticeable, and if they are they should be left on shore.

KIT STANDARDS
This is not an event for the public. This is an immersion event, so the idea isn't just to look like pirates from a distance. There is no audience. The goal is to LIVE like pirates. Participants may not portray any character that has already been established in popular culture (IE movies, books, television, etc.). One may attend as a character or persona that they have created, as long as it is sufficiently different from pop culture characters. In order to construct the illusion of a 1710s pirate encampment, any kit worn to the encampment should be based on period sources, whether they are written or illustrated. They should contain no Hollywood influences. This means NO LEATHER HATS, NO EYELINER, NO BOOTS, NO ROPE SANDALS, NO STRAW COCKED HATS, and NO HAIR BEADS. FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF INNAPROPRIATE KIT ITEMS SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM

SHIRTS
Shirts should be made of linen, linen osnaburg, or linsey-woolsey, with a banded collar, with one or two buttons, made of bone, wood, or thread. Clasp closures are also acceptable. Natural, white, indigo-dyed blue, or blue checked shirts are allowed. Unless shown period documentation, other colors are not permitted. NO "pirate" shirts, or other vendor shirts with grommets or neck lacing. NO black shirts, as they are not documented. NO Gingham pattern checked shirts. NO red checked shirts.

PANTS
English or French button fly breeches were worn, made from linen or wool. Plain metal buttons, cloth filled, and cloth covered buttons are all acceptable. Trousers were pants extending down past the calf, but ending above the ankle. Linen, with an English or French button fly. Plain metal buttons, cloth filled, and cloth covered buttons are all acceptable. Slops should be made from linen or canvas, with an English or French button fly. Plain metal buttons, cloth filled, and cloth covered buttons are all acceptable. NO kilts.

JACKETS AND COATS Short jackets and/or frock coats should be made from linen or wool. Plain pewter buttons, copper buttons, cloth filled buttons, and cloth covered buttons are all acceptable. Waistcoats must be of an early 18th century style. They should be made from linen or wool, with plain pewter buttons, copper buttons, cloth filled buttons, or cloth covered buttons. They should hang below your belt a few inches at least, with pockets on the front bottom, and possibly a tie closure part way up the back.

STAYS
Must be an early 18th century cut. ABSOLUTELY NO METAL GROMMETS. NO CORSETS.

SHIFTS
White linen, calf length, with 3/4 length sleeves. NO TIES. NO MENS SHIRTS IN THEIR PLACE.

PETTICOATS
Should be linen or wool. Should extend to between the calf and ankle.

FOOTWEAR
Footwear can include brown or black leather shoes, with tie or buckle closures, with a low tongue. Must be the small, plain buckles typical of the late 17th and early 18th century, not the larger ones that gained popularity towards the middle to end of the late 18th century. Stockings should be above the knee, and a solid color, preferably white, off-white, or an earth-tone. Ideally they should be made of wool, or on the very rare occasion with silk with a seam up the back. Cotton however is acceptable but should eventually be replaced. NO boots NO rope sandals NO striped stockings, whether with horizontal or vertical stripes.

BELTS
None of the giant, hand forged buckles so common at pirate events. A waist belt shouldn't be any wider than 2 1/2 inches at absolute widest. The most common buckle was the “spectacle buckle”.

BALDRICS
None of the giant hand forged buckles so common at pirate events, spectacle buckles are encouraged. Must be based off of a period example.

SWORD BELTS
None of the giant hand forged buckles so common at pirate events, spectacle buckles are encouraged. Must be of a reasonable width, and based off of a period example.

HATS AND CAPS
Cocked hats were not common among seamen, though they are documented. That being said, whether cocked or uncocked, hats should be made from wool felt, and shouldn't be covered in feathers, pins, and adornments. Perhaps a cockade if you wanted to signify a particular political leaning, but not much more than that. Cocked hats made of straw are very common among reenactors, but they are NOT documented to the 18th century, so should definitely be avoided.

WEAPONS
Swords should be cutlasses or hangers, and should be based on period examples no earlier than 1680 at the very earliest, and no later than 1730. Firearms should be based on period examples no earlier than 1680 at the very earliest, and no later than 1730. If you have a firearm that is slightly EARLIER than this, contact Captain Sawford (Donald Ridenbaugh) and depending on style and date an exception may be made.

TENTS
Tents should be made out of canvas, whether you make a lean-to from a "sail", hang a stretch of canvas. A military wedge tent is acceptable but discouraged. Ideally your tent should be a stretch of canvas hung over some rope, or if you want to go to the trouble to make a sail to sleep under, feel free. Giant wall tents are NOT acceptable. No modern tents or camping equipment. Tents aren't even necessary, you're more than welcome to sleep out under the stars if you'd like.

CAMP ITEMS
Items in camp, from blankets, to lanterns, to fire equipment should be period. Hemp or cotton canvas tarps, stretched over lines, and tied to trees work best. A frame tents aren’t as ideal as they are more a military tent. No Oilskin tarps. Waxed tarps, or tarps with paraffin are not correct, neither are brown or red dyed tarps. You can use hemp or cotton canvas and treat with linseed oil or a linseed/turpentine mixture for waterproofing your tarps. NO pavilion tents. Medicines and toiletries are harder to do without, so keep them hidden from sight when period correct ones are not possible. If you have any questions, please ask.


NOT PERMITTED

-boots
- striped stockings, whether vertical stripes or horizontal

-pirate wigs

- Any clothing made of modern materials

- sandals

-wildly feathered hats

-hat pins

-shirt pins

-hair beads

-eye liner

-percussion weapons or post 1730 style firearms

- water bottles

-toy or model firearms or swords

-shirts with big collars or laced collars

-black red or other brightly colored shirts

-clothing with metal grommets

-wide Howard Pyle/Jack Sparrow sashes

-modern jewelry

-modern eyeglasses or sunglasses

-skull and bones iconography

-belt mugs or other dangly accoutrement

-"bicorn" hats

-"McKay" style hats

-wax treated hats-cocked hats w/ sides pinned up with an "x"

-workman's caps made of 4 triangular panels

-Straw hats


WHAT TO BRING

Canvas tarp to sleep under

Canvas tarp for a ground tarp

Wool blanket or blankets

Natural rope/lines to set up tarp or.

Iron or wood tent pegs

Bug Spray may not be needed as bugs in the winter are minimal, but it’s something to consider. If you bring some, it MUST be kept in a period container (Like a corked glass vial or some such)

Sunscreen should be brought if you burn easily. However, it MUST be kept out of sight and applied away from camp or in private.

Main meals are provided. If you bring extra food for yourself, bring only what would have been available in period, make sure it’s out of packaging or plastic wrap. If it must be wrapped, it can be wrapped in cheesecloth/brown paper. Things that need refrigeration aren’t permitted. There will be bread, biscuits, cheese, and some fruit that would have been available in Caribbean markets available throughout. Cooked meals are freshly butchered chicken, rice/beans, peas, and other food items that would have been available to sailors.

If you intend to bring liquor or wine, it MUST be brought in a period correct green glass bottle. Either an onion bottle, or a case bottle. Mallet bottles are acceptable but advised against as they didn’t become common until the 1730s. Absolutely NO modern bottles of any kind are permitted. Fear not though, registration covers liquor and wine for the weekend.

Period correct pots/pans. I don’t know what will be available or what other people are bringing, only what our crew provides, which is more than enough to cook the main meals for the event, though that means they will be constantly in use. So, if for some reason you need other cooking implements, coordinate with others coming or bring your own, but they MUST be period.

Period utensils/Plate/Bowl for yourself

Tankard/Mug/cup. Obviously not attached to your belt as is so often seen. Must be a documentable style, circa late 17th century/early 18th century. We have a couple extras if you forget yours or are otherwise unable to bring one but they are very limited so plan accordingly.

If medications and toiletries are brought, they must stay hidden, out of sight or concealed in a period container or both. Toilet paper and wet wipes will be provided and kept in a burlap bag for use away from camp. If you have any questions as to whether something is or isn’t appropriate, feel free to ask. This will be updated as needed.

Edited February 26, 2023 by Captain Jack Sawford

[Stynky Tudor]

On 2/26/2023 at 1:43 PM, Captain Jack Sawford said:

-Straw hats

So what's the problem with straw hats?

[Mission]

They're not considered strictly accurate for golden age of piracy period sailors. They existed before then and can be found in pre-period and early period images, particularly being worn by tradespeople, but all the examples are land-based and not truly relevant to sailors. (It's kind of like saying there are examples of native people wearing beads in their hair before or during the golden age of piracy and saying that means Jack Sparrow's beads are period accurate for a sailor.) 

[Stynky Tudor]

5 hours ago, Mission said:

It's kind of like saying there are examples of native people wearing beads in their hair before or during the golden age of piracy and saying that means Jack Sparrow's beads are period accurate for a sailor.

I think your example is a bit on the ridiculous side, but I get your point that they're considered more of a lubber tradesperson lid. 

[michaelsbagley]

Images of folks wearing straw lids can be found "within the era"... but yeah, mostly on "townsfolk" (the 1690s "Cryer and hawkers of London" by:Laroon has a few)... ive always felt it was a thing that if "allowed" would likely be abused, but always felt flat-out banning them was equally foolish

[Mission]

It was an extreme example made that way on purpose, although people have actually proposed that argument to me Paul. (And they can do it with every part of Sparrow's outfit.) 

I believe the event is closed to the public and takes place on private property, so the rules are the organizer's prerogative. (You certainly can't say you didn't know what to expect if you decide to participate.)