Buccaneer Days in Catalina
Pirates, Wenches And Navy Grogs at Two Harbors


The wenches party like parates at Buccaneer Days. Argggg!

Yes I am a pirate,
200 years to late...

Arrrrg!

This chant echoes through the coves and over the hills of Catalina Island's Two Harbors the first of October each year like the sound of cannons thundering on the high seas back in the 1800s.

Except that here there's nothing to plunder, aside from other party boats and the bar. Buccaneer Days 2012 is Oct. 6.

Don't mess with these winches or you'll be forced to walk the plank!

And plunder the people do, for two to three days during the annual ritual knows as Buccaneer Days. Everyone is dressed in pirate costumes and the booty they seek is not gold, silk or other treasures. It's rum, wild times and hanging with other modern-day buccaneers, whose attire ranges from incredible thousand-dollar-plus full-decked outfits to bandits sporting bandanas, eye patches and brandishing plastic swords. Arrrrg.

 
A video from the day and night party of Buccaneer Days.

They stay on sail and powerboats – the only other accommodations on remote Two Harbors are a 12-room B&B and a campground – and motor around the harbor on dingys, kayaks or canoes. Most of the time, with cocktail in hand, they are headed to pillage drinks from other boats. It's hardly a scene as wild as that of Lake Travis in Texas, but it's a spirited environment where cocktails are at the ready as readily as a sword or pistol was for the real pirates.

On shore, entertainment awaits at the single bar, which is no more than a wooden deck. It's attached to the only restaurant, called the Harbor Reef. A band plays on a small stage, people dance under the stars, get drunk at the plastic tables or crowd around the bar with friends and fellow pirates.

Dance and drink, common activities at Buccaneer Days.

She's a wench – with a knife!

Actually, there is second bar at the back of the Harbor Reef, which offers a bit of relief from the crowded outer bar. Day and night the deck is packed, as is the surrounding area. The more the merrier!?

While Buccaneer Days can last up to five days – diehards arrive Wednesday and may not leave until Monday – it's pretty much a weekend affair.

The big day is Saturday. It has a few small activates but the action is at the bar. The pirating begins around noon and lasts until late at night. The costume contest is not until 9 p.m., which makes for some "spirited" competition – thanks to the liquid spirits. A band plays all day, the bar deck is swayin' and beautiful "wenches" serve up navy grogs from a portable drink stand. Arrrrg!

They are not really wenches if they are serving Navy Grogs.

Two wenches at their first Buccaneer Days – trouble!

Some pirates go all out in thier costumes for Buccaneer Days.

Check out these great pirate and wench costumes.

This pirate has plundered a great treasure!

Buccaneer Days is also a sexy Halloween costume party for adults.

Not a good idea to leave these people in charge of the ship.

Buccaneer Day begins with a pirate party on the water leading to Saturday.

Pirates paddle thier way to plunder a boat in Two Harbors.

Besides being 200 years too late, most of these 200-plus modern-day pirates (and wenches or damsels in distress) are over-40 victims of fate. But for those who go for younger women (and men) there's enough 20s and 30s to fill a modest pirate chest. Unlike the days of yore, everyone gets along without regard to age.

Perhaps in these modern times their occupation is just not around. But they certainly don't wear a frown.

With only about a hundred moorings, Two Harbors starts filling up on Thursday (PubClub has sailed on Wednesday) and by late morning Friday it is full. This forces people around the cove to what is known as the Fourth of July or some four miles away to Emerald Bay. Some boats just anchor in Two Harbors.

Party time goes until nighttime on the Harbor Reef deck.

What's Buccaneer Days without sexy wenches!?

By dark, the deck of the Harbor Reef is a full-on party.

It's a pirate party each October on Two Harbors for Buccaneer Days.

The PubClub.com group partying at Buccaneer Days.

These wenches from Hermosa Beach came over on the Saturday ferry.

This fun party crew soaks in all the Buccanner Days flavor.

Watch out; these are not just wenches but crazy Cajun girls from LSU!

She's got a good feel for the pirate activities that go on during Buccaneer Days.

The campground ($12 per person, per night for a campsite, limited cabins also available) also fills up so make a reservation at least a month in advance (310-510-8368 or on-line at the Catalina Web Site).

She's certainly having a grreat time, and she's not alone, either.

That says it all – PubClub.com, Where Pirates Go to Party!

There is extended ferry service just for Buccaneer Days. Catalina Express out of San Pedro only, has ferries at 8 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. The returns are 10:15 p.m., and 2 a.m. If you get"stuck (voluntarily or otherwise), the Sunday return times are 9:45 a.m, and 2 and 4 p.m. Book as soon as you know because it will sell out well before Buccaneer Days. CatalinaExpress.com. Phone: (800) 481-3470.

There was once a ferry from Marina del Rey called the Flyer, but PubClub.com cannot confirm it is still operating.

A water taxi in Two Harbors provides transpiration to shore ($3 each way), which is what most people take in at night. Otherwise, the dingy dock can get quite interesting around 2 in the morning.