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Lore & Background

The Seafair Pirates were founded in 1949 by younger members of the Washington State Press Club's action committee, the Ale & Quail Society. These members then joined with other community leaders to create Seattle's first Seafair festival in 1950. Since that time, the Seattle Seafair Pirates have directed their energies and talents toward the promotion and production of Seattle's annual Seafair festivities. Every summer since 1950, the festivities have begun with the annual proclamation of Davy Jones' renewed warfare upon the so-called 'King' Neptune. The city falls and the Mayor hands over the keys to the city at the Pirate's Landing. In early days, the triumph often included the burning of Neptune's flagship, complete with fireworks, but that stopped when the supply of derelict ships became depleted. The Pirates are led by Captain Kidd, elected by the Ale & Quail Society, and Davy Jones, an honorary Seafair Pirate chosen from the Seattle community to sail with the Pirates for one year. In 1953, the Pirates heard of a fund established to ransom British subjects captured by pirates, worth well over a million dollars. In an attempt to collect, they 'kidnapped' the British consul and vice-consul. While mentioned in The Times (of London), they did not receive any payment.

In Their Own Story

The Seafair Pirates have traveled across the United States and Canada, as well as to Grand Cayman, Mazatlán, Kobe, and Taiwan. They formerly traveled to the Cayman Islands for Pirate Week. In 2007, Sports Illustrated was shooting its Swimsuit Issue for 2008 and the pirates appeared in full uniform with model Melissa Haro. The group entertains and raises funds for different charities all year. The Seafair festival is a monthlong festival that starts with the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki Beach in Seattle, usually during the first Saturday of July. Throughout the summer, the Seafair Pirates participate in approximately 40 local festivals as well as several hundred private appearances. The grand finale is the Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade that occurs in August. In 1999, the parade featured 4,000 participants on more than 100 floats and in bands and dance and entertainment acts. This parade is ranked the largest nighttime parade in the Northwest, with drill teams, community floats, regional and international bands, equestrian units, giant helium balloons, clowns and pirates.

Reader's Guide

The Seafair Pirates command two ships. The Moby Duck is a former DUKW from World War II which has been highly modified to resemble an old Spanish galleon. It has a Federal Signal Q2B siren. The Moby Duck was formerly amphibious but now sails only on dry land. In 2006, the pirates acquired a hydroplane, the U-37, better known as the Miss Seattle. The boat had a previous existence as the U-8 Llumar Window Film, and has won the 2005 Seafair Chevrolet Cup (and two other races outside Seattle) and also won the 2006 Seafair Chevrolet Cup. Jean Theoret will continue to pilot the boat in races. The boat's official owner is Billy Schumacher, a boat racing celebrity. The group is a dedicated group who take their roles as pirates seriously. There is a rigorous process to even being considered when joining the group, as they only want individuals who will dedicate themselves. They are present at the Seafair parades during the summer months, and the boom of their cannons warn the crowd that they are coming.

Did You Know?

• The Seafair Pirates were founded in 1949 by younger members of the Ale & Quail Society, which was the action committee of the Washington State Press Club.
• In 1953, the Seafair Pirates 'kidnapped' the British consul and vice-consul in an attempt to collect a ransom fund worth well over a million dollars, and were mentioned in The Times of London.
• The Moby Duck is a former World War II DUKW that has been modified to resemble an old Spanish galleon and now sails only on dry land.
• In 2007, the Seafair Pirates appeared in full uniform in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue with model Melissa Haro.
• The Seafair Torchlight Parade in 1999 featured 4,000 participants on more than 100 floats and is ranked the largest nighttime parade in the Northwest.