Photo: S Ash
On Saturday, 20 September 2025, a whole town came together to celebrate the opening of summer sailing season as POYC hosted our Opening Cruise pirate festival.
As parrots were cackling rum-songs and cannons fired, the loot was shipped along the Berg River and out the Laaiplek harbour mouth in a Pirate armada of more than 35 vessels, decked out in more Jolly Rogers than you’ve ever seen!
But first each vessel had to pass the scrutiny of the judges lined up alongside Rooibaai on S/V Aragon as the captains and their crew each offered the salute to the Commodore – well, Chief Pirate Bruce Quayle was so hairy and burly and piratey that we not only struggled to recognize him, he also palmed the prize for best dressed male at the evening’s Buccaneer’s Banquet, so we’re not even sure whether we actually saluted the Commodore or some mutineer instead!
After the mutinous crew on Point Blank hung their Capitan from the yard arm – the poor fella’s hands turned green from seasickness – nobody dared offer the prize for best decorated vessel to anyone else, lest they be made to walk the plank.
Luckily, Honeychile managed to stave off the Original Pirates (GOAT aka Point Blank) with her “Weapon of Mass Destruction” permanently-firing canon on board as rumours circled that Point Blank was secretly planning on capturing the hostage maiden tied to Honeychile’s bowsprit and stealing her booty and crates of rum loosely tied on deck.
The whole affair was so piratey that no less than five vessels even sailed over from Saldanha Bay to join in the banter and fun!
How proud were we when we spotted, through our far-lookers, of course, a whole crowd of people gathered along the shores and the jetties at Rooibaai to view the spectacle and offer support from the sidelines! There must have been well over 100 – 150 people that came out to watch and cheer, some equally well dressed in pirate attire.
But highest praise must go to the hundreds of pirates on board who, despite their burly looks, humbly took a few minutes to honour a fallen hero, John Titterton, in a special ceremony and scattering of ashes in the Bay. Your journey has ended, captain John, but like the river flows to the sea, your spirit is now free to sail the vast ocean of eternity. Fair winds and following seas on your final voyage. We’ll always keep you in our hearts.
Thank you to so many people who came together to make this one of the most memorable Opening Cruises our club has celebrated to date. There are too many to try and mention without inadvertently leaving out some.
Without you, our members, there would be no POYC and no fun, piratey Opening Cruise. Here’s to a magnificent sailing season ahead! Ahoy!! ARRRRR! 
