BLACK JACK SHALAQ Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 » More From The Plain Dealer News Aargh! Boating fest invades Cleveland with pirate raid Saturday, June 05, 2004 Tasha Flournoy Plain Dealer Reporter As a shot from a pirate ship's cannon echoed across Cleveland's North Coast Harbor Friday morning, 2-year old Dylan Froelich and his mother eagerly watched. Decked in pirate shirts and bandannas, the two drove from Willowick to see the mock pirate invasion of Cleveland, the opening event to the fifth Annual Lake Erie Boating and Fishing Fest this weekend. Advertisement "My son lives, breathes, and eats pirates," said Shari Froelich, as Dylan brandished his plastic hook. "He think he's Capt. Hook. Capt. Jack. All we do is sword fight." About 20 volunteers dressed as pirates took the 77-foot Red Witch tall ship around the harbor off Pier 32, fired cannons, and sailed back to the pier. The original Red Witch was captained by Juan Eduardo de Rivera, a Cuban pirate who in 1783 grew tired of the competition for riches around the Gulf of Mexico and sailed north to the Great Lakes. In 1787, the predecessor to Cleveland - the New Connecticut Western Reserve - was touted for its riches, beautiful women and abundance of rum. An ideal location, it would become the site of De Rivera's most famous daytime raid, said the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council. When Friday's simulated raid ended, the Froelichs were not able to take a boat tour, but said they would return Sunday. Organizers expect about 10,000 to 20,000 to attend the fest. Shawn Fergus, the event's spokesman, said the first fest started out as a boating safety event and has now grown into an opportunity to introduce children and families to fishing and boating on Lake Erie. "A lot of people haven't experienced Lake Erie even though they live on the lake," Fergus said. "Lake Erie is a natural resource for everyone who lives near the water." The fifth annual event, put on by the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council, will have boat rides, perch fishing for children, in-water boating demonstrations, music and tours of boats that range from the Red Witch schooner to the Grandon fisheries research vessel. Rob Boehm, who plays Capt. De Rivera this weekend, believes the event not only will focus on fun activities on the lake, but educate Greater Cleveland children on the area's history. "If more youth are ready [for boating and fishing] at an early age, the better the future of Cleveland will be." To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tflournoy@plaind.com, 216-999-5739 YER ANKLES WILL LOOK LOVELY BEHIND YER EARS LASSIE! HAR! HAR! HAR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KW Pirate Posted June 13, 2004 Share Posted June 13, 2004 lived up that way for 20 years and never heard much of anything about pirates on lake Erie. Good for them for getting the word out! Deadly Aim Key West Pirate pil'-lag-ing It's like looting, but the shopkeeper is watching from behind some hastily contrived shelter. Rum Wench - Pyrates of the Coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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