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Ship's Log

The Ship's Log is a Blog for posting a public log entry for raids that have been completed by the crew
  • 09-Jun-08 20:52 | john
    while not a sanctioned event, two crew members braved the chesapeake and headed out to tangier for their 400th anniversary of discovery on board the Explorer by way of our friends at the Deltaville Maritime Museum. lets see... we were explorers, pirates, settlers, and pilgrims. the kids were a ball to work with and the island trully opened the doors for us. For anyone who has not made it to this remote region- do so before they are gone. the island population continues to shrink and this rare glimse into the bays history will be lost for ever.
  • 03-Jun-08 13:05 | Pernell Taylor (administrator)
    Well Belayed to old and new Crew Members alike!!!

      The 9th Annual Hampton Blackbeard Festival was a huge success! Blackbeards Crew began this years festival with a new leader.  Cap'n Pern otherwise known as Garret Gibbens, Boatswain of the Sloop Adventure.  Our old crew members worked hard to get the new crew members involved in skirmishes and skits throughout the weekend.  We tried some new ideas with the "Bunch of Grapes Tavern" and the "Path of History".  Both of which I believe are great ideas and will be focused on for the future.  Some new plans are afoot for improving next years festival already as it will be the 10th Anniversary.  The weather for the weekend held out even though we had some warnings that resulted in canceling the fireworks display.  The Explorer from Deltaville was excellently coxswained by our very own Dutchman.  The Explorer's presence was especially helpful as the Devilman of Cape Fear scheduled time the following weekend and couldn't make it...  We had a new period dinner in camp this year that was planned by our very own Cookie.  I felt the dinner taking place in the camp made for a more personal experience by the participating pirates.  The Camp Mum worked hard to make sure the paperwork was handled and the Camp ran like a well greased spinning wheel which made an appearance this year.

      We were accompanied by old friends of the Crew of the Vigilant led by Duncan McGuyver.  The crew of the Vigilant helped out with Camp Design and the creation of the Path of History and setting up all the living history displays.  Duncan McGuyver and the QM helped out with rowing the Explorer of the Deltaville Maritime Musem on several successful raids of the Towne of Hampton.  Feather and George from the Devilman of Cape Fear came out and brought with them Talon who helped out everywhere they could and even stayed on Monday to help clean up the camp.  We will see more of them at Beaufort.

      We had new visiting crews this year.  Captain Sterling and the Crew of the Arch Angel, The Pirate Hunters,  The Arch Angel crew helped out tremendously by portraying the Dock Master and providing militia to help rid the Hampton Waters of dread Pirates.  We will be working next year to bring them back again.  We were visited by Captain Spike and the "Bone Island Buccaneers" of Key West.  Although not yet period authentic They helped out by providing roaming skirmishes in strategic areas.  They brought with them gifts of Cigars and Rum to show their respect at the way our festival was run and are in charge of Pirates in Paradise in Key West.  We may have an opportunity to send a contingent to Key West this year.

      I am so honored to have had this opportunity to lead Black Beards Crew during the 2008 Hampton Blackbeard Festival and look forward to a prosperous season of raids now and as long as the crew wants me to continue to lead.  Oh and Kai thanks for telling me I am the best Captain you have ever served even though it was scripted:-)

    Carry on!!!
  • 20-May-08 10:00 | Randy Gnatowsky (administrator)

    Between the 15th and 18th of May 2008 a small contingent of the crew that consisted of Constable Heartless, Black Ross and Lady Olive traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to assist a number of other pirate crews on a very successful raid on the town and harbor of Charleston. 

  • 18-May-08 17:26 | Pernell Taylor (administrator)
    A wonderful time was had by Blackbeards Crew in Downtown Hampton on May 17th.

    About a dozen of the crew came out to serve Ale to the public.  We setup teams for the bottled beer serving line and the Beer on Tap serving line.  I believe we served in excess of 1500 beers in a period of about four hours.  No one had much chance for a break as the crowds need for refreshment was never ending.

    Everyone pitched in and turned too to make this a great event for us.

    The Quartermaster and Shipwright set up a display for the Colonial Seaport Foundation consisting of The Jolly Boat, a table with photos of Luna and her line drawings, some assorted shipbuilding tools.  And a new banner that the Colonial Seaport Foundation had made.

    Well done by all!!!!!

    Cap'n Pern
  • 03-May-08 23:19 | deleted user

    While most of our cohorts were raiding Yorktown, a contingency of 4-6 pirates shared their love of all things buccaneerical with an educational tent set up for a crowd of 1000+ Norfolk Academy students and families. After solving a rather bothersome encounter with a very loud non-period generator, we demonstrated life on land and sea, sharing examples and stories of shipboard foods, weapons, clothing, knot tying, life on land and sea, and so forth, occasionally sounding the battle rattle to startling effect. A new demonstration was added, wherein Malyson dressed willing young recruits in appropriate period garb from the slop chest, a fun and photo-worthy hands-on activity that I would recommend incorporating into future events. We were pleased to also have maritime storyteller and boatbuilder Joseph Filipowski next to us, who added an extra nautical point of interest, demonstrating period boat building and wood carving while working on his wonderful small-scale boat project.

  • 03-May-08 21:14 | Pernell Taylor (administrator)
    WELL BELAYED TO ALL CREW MEMBERS PRESENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    A Fantastic Invasion!!!!

    Blackbeards Crew set up the largest encampment to date.   A somewhat new campl configuration was used.  Keeping in mind that "We are here to capture your imagination" we set up the camp to create an environment that the public had to walk into to feel as though you were taking a trip back in time.

    A very good turnout of crew pitched in to show Yorktown what Black-Beard was all about.  We had Weapons and Tactics demonstrations walking the crowd through all the steps necessary to capture a prize.  Display tables were set up for Weapons, Seamanship, Navigation, Apothecary, Carpentry, and a feasting table.

    Many photo opportunities were fulfilled.  The Pillory was set up and manned throughout the day. 

    Two Schools for Skallywags were conducted.  I think the largest classes we have had to date.

    The Lohse's moved the Serenity over to the dock closest to the encampment so we could
    use her as prop for the invasion.  Two boarding parties were sent aboard the Alliance to assist in a battle between the shore pirates.  Singing and interaction with the passengers were enjoyed by all.  Captain Lohse extended an invitation to the crew to join them any time we are in Yorktown in character or not.

    Roving musicians visited the local vendors to attract attention to the shops that contributed to bringing us to Yorktown.  A couple of new twists were added.  We used a cup with songs on a stick that were randomly chosen by the patrons,  Then we sang the songs they chose.  The other thing that we did new was a little dance session in the patio area.

    Another new thing that was done was playing colonial games with the patrons.  It was a lot of fun for everyone and a big hit to be done in the furure.

    Below is a letter from the York County Representative:

    Cap'n Pern,

    On behalf of the Riverwalk Landing Business Association, I'd like to thank you and the rest of Blackbeard's Crew for a great day of activities and pillaging this past Saturday at Riverwalk Landing on the Yorktown waterfront. I'd also like to extend my appreciation for the care you all took in ensuring that the event was as safe as possible for our patrons and guests.

    The professionalism displayed by you and your fellow mates throughout this experience has been well-noted. Needless to say, we look forward to the opportunity of hosting Blackbeard's Crew again in the future, perhaps on an annual basis. I hope you all enjoyed your visit to Riverwalk Landing in historic Yorktown, and am hopeful that you'll return to take part in our many offerings.

    If I can be of any service to you, please do not hesitate to let me know. Thanks and best of luck with the rest of your invasions this year!

    Chad Edmondson

  • 27-Apr-08 22:43 | Pernell Taylor (administrator)
    The Oxford Day invasion was a great Success!!!  8 Members of Blackbeards Crew and 3 members of the Vigilant Crew were involved in the raid.  The Encampment configuration conisted of One wall tent with a fly to cover the feasting table.  One Fly was set up to cover the Seamanship and Navigation table.  One fly was set up to cover the Weapons and tactics demonstration.  The shipboard gun port was assembled and displayed to teach about the use of guns aboard ship.  Two schools for scallywags were conducted.  36 new skallywags were trained in the art of piracy and will make great future blackbeards crew members.  Some of these students were exceptionally enthusiastic. 

    Our boarding party proudly led the parade.  When we finished the parade route we found out the parade was only partly over, so in the true spirit of Blackbeard we returned to the parade only in reverse.  As we marched toward the marching band their confusion as to why pirates were walking toward them showed as they began to waver.  Next Cap'n Pern led an attack on a civil war brigade.  They returned the attack with 16 to 20 bayonets which outnumbered us 3 to 1.  So we thought that it would be smarter to run  and live to fight another day.

     Thom Ivey and Black Ross, showed exceptional skills in Seamanship and Navigation.  Jessee the Cutter talked bout medical care of pirates, Mr. Thyme incarcerated many hapless victims in the Pillory, Constable Heartless showed many the parts of weapons and the repair of said weapons when they malfunctioned, Madam Grace as always led the Cutlass drills during the school for scallywags with unmatched skill.  Lady Olive managed the Sales Booth to provide Cutlasses and Flintlock pistols to the skallywag recruits.

    Our visiting pirates Duncan McGuyver and his daughter Paige, and Nicodemus added flavor to the days attack by performing Canon demonstrations, Paige being only fifteen did a fantastic job interpreting pirate weapons.  During the Musket Drills Nicodemus was used as musket fodder and shot down by the new recruits.

    Long Thom questioned the Captains procedures during a Scallywag school and was promptly placed in the pillory by Mister Thyme.

    A very well belayed event!!!  A Hearty Huzzah goes out to all members that participated.

  • 26-Apr-08 18:40 | deleted user
    Malyson Haight, Barnabee Wylde, Willoughby Caught, Red Jay Barbarossa, and Ginny Tonic raided this family event at Millpoint Park on the Hampton waterfront, April 26, 2008.

    We sang many chanties, harassed many boaters and patrons, handed out many cards, posed for many photos both for patrons and the VASC, ate many crabcakes, spread the word about the upcoming Blackbeard Pirate Festival, and shared information about the Luna and the Colonial Seaport Foundation,http://www.colonialseaport.org/. There was a good turnout and we made our presence well-known, at one point commandeering the stage away from the band to invite everyone to the Festival.

    A priceless moment occurred when Barnabee charmed a little girl and her parents, when this saucer-eyed child could not stop staring at the Long-Haired, Heavily-Armed, Big Scary Pirate (Barnabee that is, not Willoughby). When Barnabee put a pirate band-aid on her knee boo-boo (the child's, not Willoughby’s) her little face just lit up (the child's, not Willoughby’s); it was just so precious !

    Your Most Intrepid Servant,

    Malyson

  • 21-Apr-08 21:20 | john

    This was indeed a busy week as the crew was split in many directions. Ten members sailed for the warm shores of New Orleans to attend the annual Pyrate convention. Rums, ales, and fine foods were sampled in many historic establishments along Bourbon Street and the French Quarter.

    Crew members were pressed into service as lecturers, photographers and historians for the convention.  The crew indeed set a standard thanks to our fine musicians and by the end of the trip crew members seemed to be the go-to folks for a small but lively group of historically minded folks who hope to have a larger presence next year. 

  • 18-Apr-08 10:09 | deleted user

    Pirates from varied ports made their way to the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center's Pirate Party.  They were well recieved by the pirates of the Center.  There was drinking and merry making amongst all.  Even stopping for portraits to be painted!  Treasures were shared, including tools to find new treasure.  Stephan led a few rounds of song for both entertainment and sing and response.  He was also able to gather, teach and lead a roguish band of percussianists.  This all provided for much dancing.  The evening was capped off by a few songs by Blackbeard's crew.

    A very well belayed party by both pirates of the Center and those of Blackbeard's own (Lady Olive, Black Ross, Miss Morgan, Headshot Jones, Singing Stephan, Bleed'n Bart and Killer Kai).

    Yours Truly,

    Killer Kai

 

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