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Whitehaven Maritime Festival 2007   

Pirate ship Vilma attacks Grand Turk and Zebu

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Saturday and Sunday afternoon had a pirate battle to entertain the Whitehaven Maritime festival crowd. The Vilma, packed with the most dangerous cut-throats to descend on the harbour since John Paul Jones, decided to spring a surprise attack on Grand Turk and Zebu and so at first sailed past exchanging only greetings.

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However, on the second pass she showed her pirate colours and exchanged cannon fire with Zebu and then Grand Turk, apparently fearless of the fact she was greatly outgunned.

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Another pass and another exchange of cannon and musket fire between the Vilma and the Zebu and Grand Turk - the deafening larger cannon shaking the whole harbour.

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Eventually, hoping to take the Zebu as a prize before she became to damaged by cannon, the Pirate Captain gave the order to board her.

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A British rowing boat from one of the ships, armed with a swivel gun and muskets, eventually returned to join the battle and help defeat the pirates.

Pirate wearing black bandanaenglish sea captainyoung pirate in leather hat

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pirate with beard and hatold sea dogroguish pirate

The pirate battle re-enactment had a great bunch of desperate characters thrown together in a vigorous fight - but they all seemed friends in the end.

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