Storming ashore before the storm: Seafair Pirates’ Alki arrival

(UPDATED 9:13 PM with 15 more photos, including 3 more aerials!)

(Aerial views of Pirates’ Landing by Long Bach Nguyen; click each photo to see a larger image)
The Seafair Pirates have landed!

(That photo and next 2 are by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
More than anything, their annual Alki arrival is about the kids. And the photo ops. And more kids.

And the occasional politician.

LOTS more photos and video to come, of course. And though a cloudburst has dampened things post-landing, the beach festivities are scheduled to continue for a few more hours – the sun might just make a comeback.

P.S. Before they landed, the pirates tell us, they took time to remember last year’s Captain Kidd, the late Rusty Harper, with a wreath thrown toward the briny deep of Puget Sound.

ADDED 3:01 PM: Thanks to Alki photographer David Hutchinson for the next three views of the Pirates’ boisterous beach approach:

Still adding more. The Pirates will be back in West Seattle for the Grand Parade on July 19th, by the way … if not sooner.

ADDED 9:13 PM: So much more to see. Here’s the crowd on the ground:

(That photo and others from here are by WSB’s Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
Here’s another view from the sky:

(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
Even with all those people, there were some singular moments – like this pirate fan who wanted to be first out in the water to greet them:

Others were more content to sit and wait … and sit some more:

The clouds menaced:

One pirate was ready:

Another just stuck with the sword:

And then there were some modern, uh, weapons:

Back up on stage, was this the key to the city?

Or maybe the ignition key for Moby Duck?

All over the beach, people were making new friends, like this possible future Hi-Yu candidate who posed with royalty:

This one too:

All the while, the battle for Alki raged … we think:

Some watched from a distance:

(That photo and next by Long Bach Nguyen)
And one last look at that crowd – note the pole-vaulting east of Alki Bathhouse:

Tomorrow, the Pirates will be part of the Pride Parade downtown.

Larry June 28, 2014 (3:51 pm)

I don’t see Kiwanis’ pirates hats on any of the people in the pictures. What happened to that tradition?

WSB June 28, 2014 (3:56 pm)

They were unable to do it this year, according to their webpage. They continue helping with charity as able, though (and as noted in another WSB story today, were out volunteering at Walking on Logs last Saturday).

ocean June 28, 2014 (7:35 pm)

Long Bach Nguyen, thank you (as always!) for the wonderful views!

Kathy June 28, 2014 (8:13 pm)

Did anyone see the drone hovering overhead? Was that for taking aerial photos? Who’s drone?

WSB June 28, 2014 (8:33 pm)

Patrick texted me that somebody with a drone “got kicked out.” Don’t know if it was whatever you saw. All I know is SPD got rid of theirs!

Kevin June 28, 2014 (10:02 pm)

There is nothing on the books (to the best of my knowledge) at the moment that prohibit the use of drones. They still seem to be considered “model aircraft” by the FAA.

evergreen June 29, 2014 (8:07 am)

Don’t mean to be inappropriate, but there is something sexy about some of these pirates. *ahem* Also appreciate the good service they are doing for the community and charity.

Kathy June 29, 2014 (8:27 am)

Here’s a recent news item about commercial use of drones:

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/blog/real-estate/2014/06/faa-rules-could-slow-the-use-of-drones-for-real.html

Cranky Westie June 29, 2014 (9:07 pm)

Drones AND the the dreaded shock troops of the new world order, the so called “Seafair Pirates”: I ask you West Seattle when will it all stop? Help us Obi-Wan Kenobi!

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