The Pirate Handbook

by Pat Croce

  CAPT. HARRIS IN ANOTHER OF

  TUNS: 150

  GUNS: 25

  MEN: 107

  CAPT. BOURNAMO

  TUNS: 90

  GUNS: 6

  MEN: 86

  CAPT. SAWKINS

  TUNS: 16

  GUNS: 1

  MEN: 35

  CAPT. SHARP

  TUNS: 25

  GUNS: 2

  MEN: 40

  CAPT. COOK

  TUNS: 35

  GUNS: 0

  MEN: 43

  CAPT. ALLESTON

  TUNS: 18

  GUNS: 0

  MEN: 24

  CAPT. ROW

  TUNS: 20

  GUNS: 0

  MEN: 25

  CAPT. MACKET

  TUNS: 14

  GUNS: 0

  MEN: 20

  BASIL RINGROSE,

  The Dangerous Voyage and Bold Attempts of Capt. Barth. Sharp, Watlin, Sawkins, Coxon, and Others, in the South Sea (1684)

  Despite their advantages, larger pirate ships also have their drawbacks. Because of their size, there is a scarcity of ports where they can dock, and even fewer safe shores where they can be beached and careened. And since the deep-drafted vessels cannot hide up rivers or within inlets as can shallow-drafted sloops, they have to be manned at all times, with a watch crew left on deck while the rest of the crew goes ashore for fun and plunder, oftentimes fostering an air of resentment and dissent among those who stay behind to mind the store.

  bring to!

  CHAPTER

  EIGHT

  SHIP-SHAPE SPEED

  “Had you fought like a man, you need not be hanged like a dog.”

  ANNE BONNY

  Without question, the ship is the most important tool in the pirate’s repertoire. Not only does it serve as our home—a floating, mobile domicile—it is also the means by which we earn a living. Bottom line: Pirates’ survival depends almost entirely upon the ship. Therefore, the vessel needs to be fast, agile, and, above all else, durable. And it also needs to perform optimally at all times, regardless of weather conditions or circumstances. Keep in mind that piracy isn’t always about combat. Sometimes, the smarter course of action is leaving conflict in your wake, for he who fights and runs away lives to fight (and plunder) another day. As such, anything compromising a pirate ship’s flawless (or near flawless) function needs to be handled posthaste.

  When repairs inside the ship—either on or below decks—are needed, the captain will mobilize as many crewmen as possible to remedy the problem(s) expeditiously without taking away from the vessel’s current operation. Exterior repairs, however, are a whole different kettle of fish.

  Above-the-waterline troubles are easy enough to fix when the ship is anchored or moored. On the move, these same repairs become a bit more challenging, but, via the use of ropes (safety tethers) and planks (seated workstations), they can usually be handled without too much difficulty or excessive danger. It’s the ship’s dilemmas beneath the waves—on the hull—that give all those aboard pits in their guts the size of Jamaica.

  To carry out below-the-waterline repairs, sailors must rely on a combination of their physical environment, the whims of Mother Nature, and their own ingenuity. For ships away from their home ports—especially pirate ships, which usually have no home port to speak of—this involves a process known as careening.

  Besides being physically arduous, careening, while absolutely necessary from time to time to keep our vessels afloat and ship-shape (fast, agile, safe), creates a scenario of extreme danger for the crew because the ship is immobile and defenseless throughout the process, akin to a turtle on its back.

  [ fig. 28 ] CAREENING

  To successfully careen a ship, the captain will first sail her to a deserted island, secret harbor, or, in the absence of the aforementioned, a coral reef or sandbar—somewhere well away from shipping lanes and any other heavily trafficked areas. Here, the crew will offload the necessities to survive on land. Barrels of water (if there is no freshwater source on the island within easy reach), grog, and salted meat are all hoisted from the hold using a block-and-tackle. Weapons—from small arms to cannons and their implements (gunpowder, cannonballs, fuse)—along with spare masts and ballast stones are also removed from the ship to set up a secure land-based defensive battery in the event of attack by an enemy ship stumbling onto the careening locale. Everything else left on board the ship is lashed down tightly to protect it from damage.

  Next, at high tide, the ship is sailed aground onto the remote beach or sandbar and anchored or tethered into place. Then, at low tide, it is gently flopped onto its side like a beached whale, once again using block-and-tackles or, in the absence of pulleys, the muscle of the crew holding ropes wound around a tree (or trees) as an assist to control the momentum. Because time is of the essence—the longer the ship is laid up, the greater the danger—the crew will spring into action, ridding the hull of barnacles and other swiftness-inhibiting sea growth with hammers and scraping irons. Rotten timbers are replaced, and any gaps between planks are caulked or filled with oakum before being shellacked with a mixture of tallow, oil, and brimstone. After the shellac dries, a final coating of resinous amber-colored tar (made from pine tree sap) is applied for further protection.

  After one side of the ship has been completed, the ship is then flipped to the other side and the procedure repeated. Although the crew works carefully, they also work hastily, for every day the ship is incapacitated is another day without pay. Remember, we live by a simple motto: No prey, no pay.

  BLOCK-AND-TACKLE

  A pulley system used to lift heavy loads.

  How to Set Up an Island Battery

  The island battery should be positioned to protect the anchored/careened pirate ship. Off-loaded cannons need to be close enough to be within range of potential enemy ships; cliffs and mouths of inlets or rivers are perfect for this.

  Areas defensible from all sides, allowing for 360-degree protection, are excellent island battery locales.

  Places that cannot be seen by approaching enemy ships until it’s too late—when they are within range of the big guns—are ideal for island battery ambushes.

  Pirates don’t like to be surprised, but they love to surprise attack!

  [ fig. 29 ] ISLAND BATTERY

  SHIP REPAIR

  OAKUM

  A preparation of old rope fibers covered in pine tar.

  RAMMING IRON

  A broad-bladed tool used for splitting open rotten seams.

  JERRY IRON

  The angled blade is specifically designed to chop out old oakum from inside seams.

  CAULKING IRON

  With its narrow blade, this tool is perfect for driving new oakum into seams.

  PITCH LADLE

  This ladle’s funneled tip is designed for pouring hot pitch into seams.

  Aside from emergency repairs for damage inflicted during battle, the careening process is carried out approximately twice a year, especially when the vessel spends the bulk of its time in warm tropical waters where clingy, aerodynamic-hampering sea life (barnacles, algae, and the like) flourish. The dreaded teredo worms—a.k.a. sea termites, miniscule saltwater clams that feast on wood and bore holes through planks—also factor considerably into the need to careen. And then there are the heavy seas and powerful wind torque, constant natural forces that contort the ship every nautical mile it sails, causing planks to bulge and seams to split. Pirates are well aware that no ship, no matter how sturdily built, will stay afloat if the sea is invited along for the ride.

  While island batteries are usually set up solely for defensive purposes, they can also be formidably offensive. In 1686, following the capture of two English ships off the coast of Caracas, Joseph Bannister sailed to the northeastern side of Hispaniola to careen his ship, Golden Fleece, in the bay of Samana. While readying for repairs, the crew clandestinely off-loaded several of her big guns and formed defensive batteries ashore. Shortly thereafter, the HMS Drake
and the HMS Falcon sailed into Samana searching for Bannister. A ferocious clash of cannon fire ensued, lasting from three in the afternoon until well into the following evening, when the frigates’ guns exhausted their powder supplies. With twenty-three men killed and wounded, the Royal Navy ships reluctantly limped away. Although the Golden Fleece was a wreck, Bannister and his crew were fit to fight another day.

  What happens when you don’t set up an island battery? Nothing good. In 1722, while careening his ship, Happy Delivery, on a small island northeast of Tortuga, George Lowther and his crew were surprised by the HMS Eagle, commanded by Walter Moore. Those pirates who weren’t killed were captured and condemned to death at St. Kitts. Captain Lowther was later found dead on the beach.

  REMOVING BARNACLES (AND OTHER CLINGY SEA LIFE) FROM A SHIP WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HULL

  When using hammers or scraping irons, be sure to strike barnacles at a sharp angle—the sharper, the better. Straight downward strikes are more likely to cause damage to the ship’s surface, as are drunken pirates, so be sure to keep the tools out of their hands!

  Wood planks, held lengthwise in both hands, can be used as scraping agents, mitigating the damage metal tools might cause to the ship.

  The warmer the water, the faster barnacles and other clingy sea life will accumulate. Also, the longer a ship remains motionless, the easier it is for growths to form.

  The longer buildup is allowed to accumulate, the harder it will be to remove.

  THE SHIP AIN’T GONNA FIX ITSELF!

  Besides a navigator, a skilled carpenter is an absolute necessity aboard a ship. The carpenter, with his trusty bag of tools, is an invaluable part of the careening process, and, because he also pulls double-duty as the ship’s surgeon, he is equally handy for dealing with the crew’s post-battle wounds. When CAPTAIN HOWELL DAVIS beached his ship, Rover, on the eastern shores of Cuba for a much-needed careening, it was immediately discovered that he forgot to recruit a carpenter. This lack of expertise delayed the process considerably and damn near cost him and his crew their lives. Shortly thereafter, the crew removed Davis from the captaincy.

  ST. MARY’S ISLAND

  CAPTAIN KIDD, THOMAS TEW, HENRY EVERY, and ROBERT CULLIFORD all used the little island off the east coast of Madagascar to careen their ships. St. Mary’s Island (a.k.a. Coconut Island), actually a set of four small islands, is ideally suited for this purpose for many reasons. For one, its location makes it the perfect stopover for pirates raiding the Great Mogul’s ships in the Indian Ocean. It’s also a mainstay on every pirate captain’s charts because of its numerous hidden bays and inlets, ample forests for much-needed timber, an abundance of fresh fruit, and other life-sustaining supplies.

  [ fig. 30 ] MAP OF ST. MARY’S ISLAND

  gangway!

  CHAPTER

  NINE

  LAND HO!

  “Nobody but the devil and I know where the treasure is, and the longest liver shall have it all.”

  BLACKBEARD

  Pirates spend the bulk of their time at sea, aboard their ships, searching for prizes to plunder. However, they also spend quite a bit of time ashore, pillaging towns and settlements, setting up defensive batteries, careening their vessels, or simply seeking some R & R, although the piratical version of rest and relaxation consists of running amok and raising a tankard. As such, pirates have to be capable of surviving on land as well. And considering that rogues usually scatter like cockroaches in sunlight the moment their feet hit sand or dock—in search of the nearest brothel, tavern, or gaming house—that means an abundance of solo scenarios with nary an armed-to-the-teeth crewmate or ship’s big guns to bail them out of trouble when they find it. And trust me, pirates find trouble a lot! Bottom line: Pirates need to be able to fend for themselves, wherever they are.

  Once ashore, finding shelter for the night is usually the second order of business; when you’re a pirate, fun always comes first! After sleeping in cramped, squalid, smelly confines for lengthy periods of time, anything other than the eighteen- to twenty-four-inch-wide impersonal shipboard space of a hammock is a welcome change. Still, the shelter has to provide some sort of protection from the elements, insects, and wild animals—and potentially from other wandering rogues.

  Finding a hut or a similar dwelling and “evicting” its owner or current occupant is the easiest method—remember, pirates are bad-asses, not churchgoers—but the simpler (and far safer) method is building your own. Considering that pirates spend most of their time in tropical environments, a lean-to is the best way to go.

  Lean-tos are easy to erect and can be made with virtually any available materials in any locale. And while a lean-to will never offer the same level of protection as a traditional four-walled, fixed-roof structure, the amount of protection a lean-to provides can mean the difference between a fitful night of sleep and none at all.

  CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

  The vast majority of islands in the Caribbean have at least one source of freshwater and more than enough food—fish, game, and plant life—to support pirates for any length of time. Considering that there are more than seven thousand islands, islets, and cays in this geographical area, pirates have plenty of shore excursions to choose from.

  ALL PLUNDER AND NO PLAY MAKES FOR DULL PIRATES!

  In September of 1718, following months of successful plundering raids, the crews of BLACKBEARD and CHARLES VANE rendezvoused on Ocracoke Island (North Carolina) for a wild, no-holds-barred bacchanal. With both crews saluting themselves and each other for more than a week, it’s safe to assume that more than a bit of rum was consumed, and more than a few moments of debauchery took place.

  We hunted generally in the daytimes, killing black cattle, hogs, etc. for the substance, and in the night retired to our tents and huts, sometimes when the weather grew cold.

  CAPTAIN CHARLES JOHNSON,

  A General History of the Pyrates (1726)

  BUILDING A LEAN-TO

  Find a dry area with plenty of drainage. If on the beach, make sure you select a spot well above the high-tide mark.

  Be aware of wind direction; the back of your lean-to should offer protection from the wind.

  Gather a pile of branches, the straighter and sturdier (thicker) the better.

  Place two branches in the ground vertically. A rooted tree can also be used as one of the supports.

  Place another branch between the two upright branches, making a crossbar. You can cut notches into the ends of the branches for a more secure fit, or simply break off pieces, leaving your support branches with Y-shaped ends.

  Lay additional branches diagonally, from the crossbar to the ground. The more, the better.

  Vines or softer live branches can be used as connectors, interwoven between the frame branches.

  Insert large leaves or, better yet, palm fronds between the frame branches, making the weave as tight as possible to protect from wind and rain.

  Start at the bottom and work your way up. Overlap as you get higher. Your top layer should be the outermost, allowing water to run down smoothly.

  If on a slope, a hand-dug drainage groove will help carry away rainwater runoff more efficiently.

  Using the softest foliage possible, create a sleeping mat under the lean-to. Be sure and check foliage for insects first. “Smoking” the area/foliage with a torch is a good way to get rid of insects or creepy-crawlies that may bite or sting.

  A nearby fire can be utilized for this same purpose.

  Force a prisoner or an unliked crewman to do most/all of the work and then get rid of him.

  [ fig. 31 ] LEAN-TO

  MAKE A HAMMOCK

  Gather your materials. For the body of the hammock, a piece of sailcloth (or fish netting) is ideal, approximately three feet wide by two feet longer than the user’s height.

  Acquire thirty to fifty feet of strong, non-stretchable rope, cut into two equal lengths.

  Tie a strong knot at each end of the fabric.

  Fold one length of rope in half an
d tie a knot in the middle, creating a looped end with two separate strands.

  Repeat this step with the other length of rope.

  Wrap the looped end of rope around the first anchor point (tree trunk, tree branch, railing, etc.), then pass one end of the loop through the other and cinch it tightly.