Scuttlebutt

Aparticularly important voyage will take place next year when the Tall Ship Atyla embarks from its home port of Bilbao in Northern Spain on 24 April to arrive at Torbay in time for the Brixham Pirate Festival.

The 100 foot long, two-masted schooner is operated by the Atyla Ship Foundation, a Spanish charity that promotes life skills through adventure sailing experiences, but flies the flag of Vanuatu because the Republic allows traditional wooden sailing ships to navigate freely across the world’s oceans.

The trip costs between 690-1,050 Euros and those taking part will stay on board during the Festival, whilst taking part in all the shoreside activities.

Atyla will then sail to Plymouth before

By Tall Ship to Torbay Atyla during one of the Tall Ships Races. returning to her home port in Spain.

Pirates visit Old Harry Russell’s car will fight cancer

A boat party of pirates from the Isle of Purbeck set out on a foray from Swanage Pier to Poole Quay this Summer, but decided to abandon any idea of mayhem as they approached Old Harry Rocks due to the effects of strong drink and equally strong sunlight.

The famous landmark is supposed to have gained its name from either Poole-based pirate Harry

Tim Crabb (left), Vicky Horton (AKA Raven Red) and Kevin Haines (AKA Cap’n Teague).

Paye, a local smuggler also called Harry or the Devil – the top of the nearby cliff is known as Old Nick’s Ground. It was once linked to The Needles on the Isle of Wightby a line of chalk hills that eroded away during the last ice age. A group of like-minded people, who gather to raise cash for charities and good causes, Plundering Pirates of the North East (PPOTNE) have been around for a few years and are particularly effective in raising money for Berwick’s Cancer Cars, which provides free transport for cancerrelated hospital appointments. The crew’s latest event was an all-ticket 80s Disco, which completely sold out.

A car recently purchased for patients fighting cancer, a Mitsubishi, was named Russell in honour of much-loved PPOTNE pirate Russell David Toward (1960-2021), who gave a great deal of his time and was especially active in support of this worthwhile charity.

Acommon belief in the reason why pirates wear gold earrings is that when they died by accident or in a fight (rarely of old age!), the value of the gold could be used to pay for their burial. Historians claim that the pirate’s home town engraved on some earrings indicated where they wished to be laid to rest.

It has also been suggested that pirates dangled a wad of wax from the hoops to act as ear-plugs during cannon fire.

A more likely explanation, however, is that pirates needed to protect any wealth they had acquired and as it was easy to snatch a purse, they wore their gold as accessories. In fact, much of their jewellery consisted of coins. These had holes drilled through them, so they could be worn around their neck or as bracelets.

It’s a fact

Dial up Darkblade

Customers of Darkblade, which has specialised in the creation of belts, baldricks and accessories made from the finest leather for over 20 years, now has a new contact number: 07986 335478.

Based on the edge of Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District National Park, it also offers a quality range of clothing and weapons (see advert on page 19).

A new heavy leather pirate captain’s belt is introduced by Darkblade on page 18.