4 Kinds of Caribbean Cutthroats
Welcome back mates. In this lesson we are going to explore the differences between four types of seafaring scoundrels. They are pirates, privateers, buccaneers, and marooners. When we are done, you'll...
View ArticleYou Want Me to Sign Your What?
Well mates, as promised, it is time to discuss ship's articles. Before you can join a pirate crew, you'll have to sign their articles. It doesn't really matter if you can't read them or even if you...
View ArticleFive for the Gallows Pole
If you are still interested in being a pirate, then you should know what the job entails. It's not all boarding ships, counting booty, and drinking rum like you might think. A great deal of hard work...
View ArticleThe Next in Line to Hang
In this second part of a three part lesson dealing with the crew positions aboard a pirate vessel, we are going to look at the responsibilities of the Sailmaster, the Carpenter, the Cook, the Surgeon,...
View ArticleHang the Musikers, Too
Hail Mates! Simon has returned from the war. I yet live, but it took me a while to recover. Perhaps sometime when we're not busy with learning about Pirates, I'll tell you about it over a cup or two of...
View Article. . .And a Bottle Full for the Chantyman
Welcome back my mates. In this issue of the Pirates Primer we will be discussing sea chanties. A chanty (or chantey or shanty) is a song sung by sailors in rhythm with their work. A chantyman is the...
View ArticleThe Navigational Cross-Staff
For over 20 years I have been heavy into historical re-creation and research. The following piece details the construction and testing of a navigational cross-staff that I entered into an SCA Arts and...
View ArticleThe Styles of Swordplay
During the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, several different styles of sword fighting existed. The times and customs made the sword and swordplay almost common place. Schools and fraternities...
View ArticleLouis XIV's Magnificent Machine at Marley
Louis the XIV, the self-proclaimed "Sun King", had a passion for art and architecture. While he was building up the fantastic palace at Versailles, he became keenly aware that there was not enough...
View ArticlePink
I bet most of you 'lubbers are thinking by the title of this entry that it has nothing to do with pirates, etc, but you would be wrong. A Pink is a ship with a very narrow stern. It comes from the...
View ArticleGreat Pirates Were Amateurs Once, Too.
In my last entry, I mentioned Captain Edward Lowe. Ned Low, as he is sometimes referred to, was one of the most bloodthirsty pirates in history. His cruelty was written about by Sir Arthur Conan...
View ArticleThe Origin of Cannibals
I'm sure that you know what a cannibal is, but where did the word come from? Do you know? I will give you a hint, the fellow that gave us cannibals is celebrated with his own holiday every...
View ArticleBaggywrinkle or What I did 7/11/2010
This is a picture looking up the mainmast of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle taken from her temporary dock at Tampa while she is in town for the 2010 Parade of Sail . I went with family...
View ArticleZombie Friday Night 7/30/2010
What a great weekend I just had! Friday night, we had friends over. We watched Shaun of the Dead and Army of Darkness while playing Zombie Dice , Battle Cards and Forbidden Island. If that doesn't...
View ArticleA Hot August Night in Tampa
Four players new to the game, Judge(Skyler) ,Tequila(James), Mad Dog(my son) and Sam Sei(me) rolled up to the warehouse. It was Thursday night; our usual time. Tequila killed the engine and we all went...
View ArticleBuried Treasure
Here's a little treasure map for you. I drew this up to celebrate finding this blog again. It really is like a buried treasure to me. I had forgotten all about this little blogger blog that I...
View ArticleA Brief Primer on Ships
A: Capital Ship, B: Barque, C: Brig, D: Schooner, E: SloopTo be a pirate you must know about ships. Pirates spent their lives on ships. They ate, drank, slept, worked, fought, and often died aboard...
View ArticlePirates Like to Eat Things
I am in the middle of re-reading William Dampier's books and I am struck by how much ole' Bad Bill (as I like to call him) liked to eat. In some regards I understand this because in my younger...
View ArticleThe Black Shark Swims Free
Above is the logo for my new business, Black Shark Enterprises. I'm done with fear of what might happen if I do not put myself out there. I'm done with cowering in the dark always believing "Hey, I...
View ArticleCaptain Morgan Had Many Crumsters
One of the things I treasure most about studying pirates and their ilk is the rich language they left behind. Sailing has a language all its own and crumster (also crompster or cromster) is an...
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