(WSB photos by Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
So how do pirates wind up with the key to the city? Particularly pirates who storm ashore with a roar – and a trident?

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
All in a day’s work – make that, a day’s plunder – as the Seafair Pirates sailed through an armada of onlookers on the water and on the shore at Alki Beach this afternoon, amid a haze of cannon smoke:

Once a few shots were fired at sea, not much resistance – in fact, it was Mayor Ed Murray (former Alki resident) himself who handed over the key:

We did glimpse a dagger here and there:

More in evidence: Stickers:

Perhaps that helped draw in the youngest pirate recruits:

Others were in danger of being spirited away when the Pirates made their landlubbing escape via Moby Duck:

But we have it on good authority that the West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and Miss Seafair are safe:

Same goes for this year’s Miss Seafair contenders, last seen taking refuge in the Alki Bathhouse:

That’s Lorelei McFadden, last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Queen, second from right in the back row. We’ll find out on Seafair Torchlight Parade night in four weeks who wins. Meantime, today, it seemed as if everyone won:

If you don’t recognize that scalawag – it’s Oliver Little, event manager extraordinaire, who not only wrangled this 66th annual Seafair Pirates Landing, but also will be making things happen as tens of thousands storm The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest July 10-11-12. As for the Pirates:

Last seen off to scowl and saunter elsewhere – but they’ll return to West Seattle for the Grand Parade three weeks from today, 11 am Saturday, July 18th – more on that as we get closer.