Seafair Pirates Landing 2012 at Alki: They’rrrrrrrrrrrrrrre here!

(Photo by Gary Jones)
With a chorus of cannon blasts offshore, onboard a vessel bearing the name of West Seattle’s own Global Diving and Salvage, the Seafair Pirates landed on Alki minutes ago. Some waded ashore – others hopped a ride on other vessels (including a tribal canoe). One of the first pirates ashore walked along the beach suggesting the crowd cheer on his fellow scalawags with “Row Row Row Your Boat”:

As the Pirates’ “ship” approached shore, it passed the fleet of sailboats – with occasional cannon blasts:

The celebration continues with bouncy toys, vendors, live music, and more, for a few more hours.

ADDED 2:34 PM: A closer look as the Pirates storm ashore – next four images are from WSB contributor Nick Adams:

Ah, the thrill of conquering the beach! Once, of course, you’ve reached it:

As usual, authorities had to make sure the Pirates had a clear path ashore:

And they made a splash:

ADDED 4:14 PM: Though the Pirates were the stars of the show, it had quite a supporting cast. Including West Seattle Hi-Yu and Seafair royalty. It was a most cordial meeting:

(That photo and next two, by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
We also spotted Hi-Yu Senior Court Queen Kayli chatting with some of the Pirate-watchers:

The pirate hats, by the way, were courtesy of the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle – who handed out so many, they ran out around noon. They had a concession stand, too:

Pole vaulters showed their stuff (the competition continues till after 5 pm):

(That photo and the others below by Gary Jones – except for one credited otherwise)
What Pirate scene is complete without a parrot .. or some kind of bright and beautiful bird?

And furry mini-pirates:

(Photo courtesy Paul P)
Back on the water, we’re afraid the entire fleet off Alki was seriously outclassed to the west:

The Seafair Pirates are due back in West Seattle at least once more this summer – for the WS American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade on Saturday, July 21st, just two weeks away!

19 Replies to "Seafair Pirates Landing 2012 at Alki: They'rrrrrrrrrrrrrrre here!"

  • Colleen July 7, 2012 (2:00 pm)

    Did the Craigslist posting thing actually happen?

    • WSB July 7, 2012 (2:32 pm)

      Colleen – not so far as we could tell. Only people in T-shirts we saw handing something out were members of the Seafair street team. I never heard so much as a hint of what it was supposed to be … maybe one big bluff? – TR

  • Harold Reems July 7, 2012 (2:31 pm)

    Finally, summer has started!! Nice to see a Seattle institution that is still around…..

  • boy July 7, 2012 (2:44 pm)

    I know this is off topic but does anyone know what is with all the sand bags on the cornner of sw 100 and 35 sw?

  • miws July 7, 2012 (2:50 pm)

    Did they smell good? ;-)

    .

    Mike

  • Mike July 7, 2012 (4:01 pm)

    Fantastic showing of people, SPD and Seafair associated people (Pirates included there ofcourse).
    .
    Fun for everyone, good times!

  • pam July 7, 2012 (4:02 pm)

    Look at the faces of those kids in the bottom picture – looks like it was a long wait for the Pirates to arrive!

  • miws July 7, 2012 (4:28 pm)

    Beautiful bird!

    .

    Sun Conure, I believe.
    .

    Mike

  • Rebecca July 7, 2012 (4:43 pm)

    Great pictures!

  • April July 7, 2012 (4:45 pm)

    Love the pics of the pirates Nick Adams shared!

  • Jiggers July 7, 2012 (6:32 pm)

    The real pirates in Timor Sea are laughing at this…

  • sam-c July 7, 2012 (7:07 pm)

    this was my first time going to see the pirates… but,is it always that … anti-climatic? it seemed like so many of the pirates were afraid of the water and had to be ferried from the large boat via little dragon boats. if you’re going to volunteer to do that.. go all in! don’t be afraid to run through the water.
    the pole vaulters were more interesting to watch….
    still had lots of fun in the sun though!

  • gina July 7, 2012 (7:46 pm)

    There have been many a sprain, strain and broken bones through the years for the pirates as they have come to shore. Wise pirates know their limitations.

  • Cranky Westie July 7, 2012 (7:56 pm)

    Sweet God People- The Seafair Pirates are the shock troops of the new world order! They are the Illuminati, the Bohemian Grove Group and The White Center Bowling League rolled together into one oppressive, totalitarian burrito of fabulously over art directed costuming! Fight back! Did you not see “Independence Day?” ( I tried to rent it from Red Box but I am lifetime banned from 7-11 because of the the Slurpee Machine incident in 1997)- I’m sure it’s sort of like this though! We are spiraling ever closer to the Abyss (great movie, I did see that before the above mentioned slurpee incident) It is the apocalypse! WAKE UP! Between this, and the ziplining in Lincoln Park (ask yourself!- “Would Abe approve of his birthplace being used as a crass commercial extreme sports whorehouse”?) We are lost! The mayor has a pirate beard! The former mayor has a pirate beard! I beg all able bodied West Seattlietes (but not those who have lived her longer than me or have arrived after me) to gather around this moment as a catalyst for change and DEMAND A NON BINDING CITYWIDE REFERENDUM ASKING THE SEAFAIR PIRATES TO DISBAND (OR BE MORE NICE). God is watching. So are the coyotes.

  • brin July 7, 2012 (9:01 pm)

    Makes me proud to be an ex-WS resident.

  • cjboffoli July 7, 2012 (9:39 pm)

    Excellent images! And at 508 pixels too! How luxurious. :-)

  • Wet July 7, 2012 (9:56 pm)

    I loved the pole vaulting. In the first round a girl (sorry can’t remember her name)beat out even the boys! She rocked!
    So impressive to see the Elite team too. I couldn’t stay to watch but did the woman who was trying to qualify for the Venezuelan team make it?

  • ~~HockeyWitch~~ July 8, 2012 (4:47 pm)

    This was my first year going down to see the Pirates come a shore. I was a little disappointed as I expected them to come running of the landing craft to the shore, not stand around on the boat because they didn’t want to get wet. I was told by another spectator that was standing in front of me, that the tide was a little higher this year, than past.. and that its not generally waist deep… But still… I can understand the Pirate in Red not wanting to ruin his costume.. that was pretty fancy… Still had fun though. Was a good day. Got a little too much sun and turned pink, but ran into some really nice people and some awesomely cute dogs. The 8wk old Australian Shepherd puppy stole my heart.. He he.. Will go again next year if I am still around here… can’t judge it completely til you have a couple landings under your belt…

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