The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the motley gang of pillaging Pirates of the Dark Rose are returning to Windjammer Days. In addition to many other fun events, this year at the Festival the pirates will try to fend off the British in commemoration of the War of 1812.

At the 51st annual Windjammer Days Festival in Boothbay Harbor, the Pirates of the Dark Rose will perform a puppet show, engage in duels and offer cannon lessons. The gang of pirates will also be recruiting kids and adults to train to be pirates.

The pirate training will cover:

· The pirate flag, the “Jolly Rodger”

· The Pirate Articles

· Pirate Food

· Cutlass Lessons

· Pirate Dentistry (Tooth Worms Removed)

· Pirate Weapons (grappling hooks, axes, and flintlocks)

· Intimidation or “Vaporing” as it’s called to scare the prey

Pirate training is an effort to recruit people to help during the big event when the pirates will try to keep their lawless ways alive by fending off a British invasion attack on Boothbay Harbor Public Landing.

The two dozen pirates, and a few companion parrots as well, sail on the 55-foot gaff top-sail yawl, the S/V Must Roos, complete with thundering cannon on the top deck and carronades on the lower deck. The company is operated by Tomm Tomlinson, alias “Tom Crudbeard,” along with his wife, master falconer Barbara Tomlinson, alias, “Bloodthirsty Barbara.” Tomlinson says the group “truly is a gang of murderous cutthroats.”

This year The Sarah Mead, a friendship sloop, will be joining the gang of pirates for the attack. Captains Nate and Randy will have the ship decked out in pirate paraphernalia and help Captain Crudbeard stop the British.

To help everyone get in the spirit, the Chamber will be selling kids pirate attire during Windjammer Days such as hats, patches, T-shirts and gold medallions so they can join in the fun. Kids will also have the opportunity to meet Oreo, the pirate bird.

The 2013 Windjammer Days is scheduled to take place June 25 and 26, with the schooners appearing in Linekin Bay on Tuesday the 25th and in the harbor on Wednesday the 26th.

To see last year's pirate attack, read this article on www.boothbayregister.com/.

The annual Windjammer Days Festival will feature its classic line-up of events, which include a One Design Boat Race; Windjammer Days Golf Tournament fundraiser for Community Fireworks, the hometown street parade; an antique boat parade of more than 30 boats; 2nd Annual Artists Alley; 10 waterfront concerts; tours of the USCG and Maine State Aquarium; Kid’s tent; 2-day craft show; boat excursions; and a spectacular firework display over the harbor. Visitors can enjoy a complimentary two-day shuttle during the festival.

To learn more about Windjammer Days and to get the complete schedule of events, visit the Chamber's website at www.boothbayharbor.com or find us on Facebook.