I was told by a friend the other day that he thinks that I am actually a Pirate and sometimes I dress up as a normal person. It is true that I have a summer and a winter pirate outfit but you’d be surprised at how often they come in handy! On the same day I was criticized by another friend for not taking my commitment to Pirates far enough as I hadn’t cut my leg off and replaced it with a peg leg – people are so fickle!
21st July was Hastings Pirate Day – an annual
event where the town dresses up and embraces all things Pirate. Being that I am
originally from Hastings and still having family and friends there I often pop
down to visit and Pirate Day is one of my favourite events to support. Last
year we successfully beat the Guinness World Record for the most people dressed as a Pirate in one
place (which was then held by the Pirates of Penzance). Family and friends were roped
in and dressed up and carrying two props as specified (when do you not have a
4ft inflatable parrot with you as well as an eye patch?!) we got herded into
pens on the beach in the scorching (but lesser spotted) summer sun for the allocated
15 minutes for the count. Results came out that we almost doubled the previous
record as we had 14,321 pirates! 
No such excitement this year as we still hold the record so
the day is focussed on just having fun. I made a slight error in getting there
early and parking quite a way away from the action as the sun was shining and I
thought a walk through the park would be nice but no-one else was in fancy
dress so I was a lone girl in a costume looking very out of place. I got
‘ahoyed there’ by a couple of groups of guys and walked past another guy who
was Popeye (although I don’t recall Popeye having his own face on his backpack)!
Sometimes I’m accused of living in a parallel universe and it could be true! 
I felt much better once I reached town and a lot more fellow
Pirates were around. The crowds and their costumes are the event and no expense
is spared in the dedication to the cause. The town puts on music and
entertainment, the shops all get themed and there is no shortage of people
selling tenuously Pirate linked goods. Even the helium balloon seller had a
Spongebob Square Pants balloons that showed him wearing an eye patch!
There was a skydive where the jumpers had the Jolly Roger flag flailing
behind them while they came into land on the beach.
The town centre had some exciting swashbuckling action aboard the ship that
was donated by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to celebrate our world record winning
attempt from last year but the best part was the Pirates of the Caribbean themed
area where there were more Captain Jack Sparrows than you could shake a hooked
hand at. They were hilarious as they embraced the character and his mischievous
ways, I did walk away with one of their phone numbers but only because you can
hire him for events – nothing more sinister I promise! The Captain Jacks and
his wenches were collecting donations (legitimately - not in Pirate style
fashion!) for the ever so amazing Great Ormand Street Hospital.
I was very glad of my ‘summer’ Pirate outfit especially my tricorn as it
kept the blazing sun off, Pirate day is always supported by the hot weather and
I felt for those wearing more extravagant outfits but they did look amazing! Adults and kids all embraced the action and there was a lovely atmosphere where piracy type violence and crime was replaced with swashbucklingly high amounts of community spiritand good cheer.
Pirate Day was yet again an outstanding triumph, I caught up with friends and family while singing and dancing along to sea shanties “and all that without a single drop of
rum!” as Captain Jack would say. And as I pack up my summer pirate outfit I know we are one day closer to getting out the winter one to join the Bonfire Processions as one of Eastbourne Bonfire Boys for the Sussex Bonfire Parades that kick off around Guy Fawkes time. I love East Sussex! 
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