With the sun facing us and the Sea air flowing past out booth, we pirates braved all sorts of unpredictable weather and numbers for the Tall Ship Festival known as Sea Vancouver.

Since Pirate weekends are a hit at the Renaissance Festivals we chose to attend Sea Vancouver as Pirates and even though the ships were docked out of reach, the atmosphere was perfect for piracy. We constantly took turns running about in the public eye to not only hand out our own promos but help create an atmosphere and convince people to visit us (and the other merchants in the one corner). We were tucked by the Marine Museum, surrounded by the henna and hair wrap booth as well as the free Cadbury handouts, not to mention the Global cash giveaway. Talk about easy booty. To top it off free coffee was near by (provided by Starbucks for two days and Melitta the other two days) so by the end of the four days we were heated up by the sun and high on coffee and chocolate. What a rush.

At the very beginning it was too quiet in our little corner so we tested out our fencing swords. They are just practice swords but they put on a lovely display. Now... I think, as actors, we definitely need some practice and a proper trainer. This is something I am looking forward to having for the festival itself. Skilled combat performers can really increase the entertainment value not to mention provide wonderful exercise.

We posed for plenty of pictures and used some stereotypical pirate talk. We're even thinking of doing a party for talk like a pirate day. I do think we confused a few people when we threw them in the stocks and not ourselves. I guess they thought pirates were the bad guys and were disoriented by the experience.

There were plenty of compliments and interest. We met a high number of people who are regulars at California's Festival who seemed the most delighted by the thought of adding another festival to their Renfest Circuit list. You could tell a rennie from a mile away. They see you, they smile, their eyes grow HUGE and they head straight for you with questions like 'When?' 'Where?' 'How much?' or cries of 'YES!' 'Man oh man.' and 'Please, please, please....'

The big drawback was that we were prepared for a larger turnout. It seems Sea Vancouver didn't get anywhere near the attendance they expected. I supposed this means we just have to find plenty more opportunities (festivals and the like) to go to in order to hand out more flyers and take more pictures.

Well, me mateys. Next year we take one of those ships as our own. I say we head for the Lady Washington. By then those pretty boys (Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom) should be done with ye.

Arrrrr.

Links of interest.

Sea Vancouver

Canadian Horse Society

We talked at length with one of their people. The horse in the middle of our crest is a Canadian Horse

so drop on by their page and read up on the newest official Canadian Animal.

More soon as I receive them....

Did we talk to you? Did you promise to send an email with a link address and have not done so?

Were you near us on the grounds or entertained us but we never got a card from you?

Let us know and we'll add your link to this page.