I
was recently asked, “How came the fleet?” Well shipmates, I never intended to end up with a fleet. Me aim was simply one boat and a pirate boat at that being as I was now dressing as a pirate and going to pirate events, so I felt it was better to be the Captain of a ship – even a small one. I started to construct a pirate boat despite having no knowledge of sailboat design or even small boat building skills. ‘Sea Dragon’, as I named her, was to be a two-masted craft that could be sailed by one man. Some-one said it would be just a raft sporting a pole and flag, with oil drums to keep it afloat, but it wasn’t. A pirate boat emerged from me pile of timber and it was a grand sight. I needed to know if it would float and not keel over and sink with me in it. Imagine the shame and humiliation should that happen before the eyes of curious landlubbers and the TV crew reporting on the launch of me first ship. I therefore decided to make a test model so that any faults could be ironed out. It was no small thing when completed, but nearly keeled over when I put her in the water. It was all a matter of there not being enough ballast and also a problem with the masts, but that was easily put right and when the full size boat was put in me
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big test pool, the modifications I’d made confirmed that it was now perfectly stable when afloat. An invitation arrived to take a boat to Matlock Bath Pirate Mutiny. This was an opportunity to demonstrate me craft, but there was no slipway for launching from a trailer, so a lighter boat was now required that could be carried down steps and launched by hand. Once ‘Sea Dragon 3’ was finished, I climbed aboard to test her in the big pool. The fleet continued to expand with the addition of larger models for use in a film me friends in the Pirate Brethren and I made of our adventures. ‘Sea Dragon 7’, another large model fitted with a removable centreboard, proved to be a great success when towing her up the river at Matlock Bath. I then spotted a derelict rowing boat abandoned in a local boatyard, which I rescued for the fleet. The next project will be to convert a small boat into a raiding craft and use as a tow boat for the unmanned ‘Sea Dragons’. When complete, this will enlarge the fleet to ten craft, including two manned boats, three salvaged conversions and five large, unmanned models. Most boats require a trailer, so I can move them around me yard when working alone, but there’s also other equipment, such as oars, outboard motors, covers and items necessary to maintain and support the fleet. However, I’ve also discovered that the most important thing at the end of the day is the helping hands of your crew. Cap’n Frank Sharman Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts
Thank you so much for the pirate magazine, always an enjoyable read. Keeping my fingers crossed that so many of the planned events mentioned can go ahead this year. Christine Wadey Fareham, Hampshire
10/11/2020 08:12
