Piracy is alive and kicking in the Solent

Who doesn’t fancy a day out dressed as a pirate, hunting for treasure and battling on the high seas?

Professional Pirates, which is based on the Isle of Wight where smuggling was once a way of life, is launching a pirate fleet for days out, corporate adventures and general pirate-related shenanigans!

The organisation will start by building two small vessels, 19 ft Yawles, which are open, pulling sailing boats. These will ultimately form part of a fleet, but will initially assist the enterprise to begin operating quite quickly and enjoy all the fun and games.

It will begin its

The unspoilt waters of King’s Quay Creek between Wootton Creek and Osborne Bay on the Isle of Wight.

operations in the Solent where there are many opportunities for adventures in the various creeks and inlets that make the shoreline so interesting. There is, of course, a long history of piracy in this area and a number of the revenue cutters that Professional Pirates ultimately expects to build were based in the Solent in the 18th Century, following the Seven Years’ War.

Shares in these beautiful vessels can be obtained for £500 and there will be 64 shares per boat. As well as the benefits that come with a secured investment, shareholders will have special ‘Pirate Privileges’, including ship’s articles and annual adventure days when they can meet other pirates, hunt for treasure, recreate battles and go on pirate quests.

Bookings are expected to be taken for Spring, 2023, so potential pirates should make haste to contact professionalpiratesltd@ gmail.com More information from www.professionalpirates. co.uk

Festival focus Tall ships at Plymouth Pirates Weekend

The beloved family event, Plymouth Pirates Weekend, took place for the first time since 2019 on 7-8 May, the two previous festivals having been held virtually. This year, with tall ships, a treasure trail and live music, family members of all ages enjoyed a rip-roaring weekend on The Barbican and Sutton Harbour.

The event, run by Plymouth Waterfront Partnership Business Improvement District (PWP BID), offered an impressive line-up of free entertainment, including pirate puppet shows and storytelling, demonstrations of cannon and musket firing, mermaid encounters, stilt walkers, arts and crafts activities, face-painting and appearances from that lovable rogue, Captain Jack Sparrow.

Two tall ships, the three-masted Grayhound and the topsail schooner Johanna Lucretia, docked alongside Quay Square and visitors were welcome to jump aboard and explore the ships for free.

This year, ten talented local shanty bands performed at different locations throughout the weekend to entertain the crowds. On Saturday, a number of the bands also played in nearby pubs after the main events had finished for the day.

On Sunday, awardwinning circus company, Pirates of the Carabina, and Barbican Theatre presented a familyfriendly circus show called ‘Pirate Taxi’ on Commercial Wharf. This took place in, on and around an old-school London taxi and featured extraordinary aerial performances, plus hulahooping, acrobatics and juggling.

A fine crew line-up at Plymouth (picture courtesy of Dave Batten).