Pirates here this weekend

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Watch out for pirates this weekend. The Seafair Pirates will be here Saturday as part of the 9th Annual Pacific Northwest Latitudes & Attitudes Cruisers Party, which comes to Cap Sante Boat Haven Friday through Sunday.

Organized by readers of the monthly Latitudes & Attitudes cruising magazine, the annual pirate-themed party has become one of the most popular boating events around the Northwest, and organizers say this year’s could be the biggest yet.

“We expect more than 120 boats and upwards of 1,000 people,” explained Bob Bitchin, Publisher of the magazine. “We throw 6 to 7 of these cruiser’s parties around the country, mostly at the national boat shows. But this one is different as the local readers put it all together.”

The event kicks off Friday with a barbecue hosted by West Marine. Later in the evening, many adults will head off on a pub crawl to some of Anacortes’ favorite watering holes. Others can relax on their boats and enjoy a concert on the dock by musician Dave Calhoun.

Saturday’s activities include a potluck on the dock, blindfold dingy races and for the kids, a treasure hunt and young pirate training. The Seafair Pirates will arrive around 3 p.m. and be available for photos with their fellow pirates and other cruisers. Saturday night’s Pirate’s Ball will feature music by perennial favorite Eric Stone, a Buffettesque crooner who has performed around the country and throughout the Caribbean.

There’s no cost to attend the event, but participants can buy raffle tickets for a chance to win a range of prizes donated by local merchants, and the grand prize of a one-week Caribbean charter on a Sunsail sailboat. Partial proceeds from the raffle will be used to benefit Sea Scouts, a nonprofit organization aimed at teaching young adults about boating skills, maritime heritage, water safety, citizenship and social and service experience. The local council of Sea Scouts serves 25 Puget Sound communities with vessels in 10 communities.