PIRATE SAIL
PIRATES NEVER SAY "DIE"
But they do say Yarrr!
Our Flagship event - the Annual Pirate Sail takes place over the weekend closest to "Talk Like a Pirate Day" (September 19th).
For those new to this event: Every year on or near “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (September 19th) The Honey Badger Yacht Club organizes a group of “Pirates” to sail the Hudson River together. There is only one requirement, and that is: to be dressed like a pirate.
We chase each other around with water guns, and we do scavenger hunts, but most importantly, this event is designed to unite everyone on the water. We do this as a rogue or “pirate” event so that anyone from any club can play. Hell, you don’t even need to be in a club at all, we welcome all! Each year, we host around 15 pirate vessels of various make and size.
One thing to note: we continue to focus efforts of awareness on cleaning up the seas and waterways and promoting a clean earth. Our primary charity is Team Rubicon who helps to repair and rebuild communities in the aftermath of hurricanes and other natural disasters. While we’re out “pirating” we ask all participants to help keep the Hudson river clean and pollutant free.
PIRATE SAIL:
COLORFUL, ECCENTRIC, AND WILD
September 21, 2019
If you think pirates in the golden age of piracy weren’t as colorful, eccentric and wild as the stories suggest: you’d be dead wrong!
See, when young men and women chose the life of piracy, they were deliberately choosing an exciting lifestyle. They knew that there would be riches, rum, and free-spiritedness. Imagine getting to sail around and see the world, take from those who didn’t seem worthy, and basically do as you’d please. That’s what pirates did.
They did so knowing that they’d live a short but exciting life.
So, in a way, the annual Pirate Sail on the Hudson is taking a brief moment and sailing around carefree as a pirate would knowing that life itself is short.
The 2019 Honey Badger Yacht Club Pirate Sail was indeed a showcase of the colorful, eccentric, and wild!
As in pirate lore, a lot of stories are based off of the same characters… well, we had our “usual suspects” along for the ride in addition to some newbies as well.
For those new to this event: Every year on or near “Talk Like a Pirate Day” (September 19th) The Honey Badger Yacht Club organizes a group of “Pirates” to sail the Hudson River together. There is only one requirement, and that is: to be dressed like a pirate.
We chase each other around with water guns, and we do scavenger hunts, but most importantly, this event is designed to unite everyone on the water. We do this as a rogue or “pirate” event so that anyone from any club can play. Hell, you don’t even need to be in a club at all, we welcome all! This year, we hosted around 15 pirate vessels of various make and size.
Now onto the pirate organizers:
Cap’ One-Eye’d Gimp and his band of freewheelin’ freebooters who dangle a skeleton from their bow were once-again in full-force! As a matter of fact, two of his crew-mates learned well from their captain and won prizes for best-dressed male and best-dressed female pirate at the end of the night.
Cap’ Barbara “The Formidable Frenchie” and crew took a lesson from the past years and won BEST DECORATED pirate ship. They also put together a courageous scavenger hunt. “TREASURE!!!”
Cap’ Jolly Nitzan and crew of Veronica took to the seas which were to be taken. Alas, one of their crew members hit the deck pretty hard in the heat of battle and so we wish them well.
Cap’ Daggerboard Deborah – representing the pirates of the “North” a bit of a sea devil you might say! Brought two boats down the Hudson in search of booty.
Cap’ Caren Cutthroat Fitz fearlessly lead a group of privateers out of Hoboken this year. Bird in hat and all. They were a fresh group, but salty enough to hold their own!
Cap’ Saberin’ Spence – brought out a crew of young guns on his vessel Synergy always in pursuit of Liberty.
Senior Officer, Joel (ranking OF-5) of the Royal British Navy sought to police the waterways of the rest of the pirates, but alas, turned to the dark side by the end of the night and ended up pirating some rum with his crew after all.
And yours truly, Cap’ Daft-Daddy Duber brought Pirate Ship Gitana (1936) along with his first mate Ann-Anastacia Bonney into the parade. Along with a crew of Dutch Pirates, we smuggled an 8-year old gunner who graduated to helmsman in one fleeting afternoon.
I will say, watching an 8-year old shooting a water canon off of a boat to attack an enemy vessel is one of the joys of pirate life.
At the end of the night, the Pirate Con folks met up with us at our rendezvous point, Pier A.
Awards were awarded, and the grog was sponged up.
‘Til next year mateys!
- Cap' Daft-Daddy Dubarrrgh ☠
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MORE PIRATE PHOTOS and TALES BELOW!...
And if any of the above sounds like fun to you, we'd encourage you to check out some of our annual trips. The Honey Badger Yacht Club is a sailing collective of pirates and scalawags who sail the globe in search of adventure, merriment, and boat drinks.
