A scurvy lot of sea dogs took to the Blackwater River pier, Saturday, to mark the Blackwater Pyrates’ change of command. Captain Walt “Whitebeard” Schumann turned over the helm to an even bigger rapscallion, the infamous Ralph “Dragon” Palmer. Former Captain Whitebeard said a full knee replacement took him out of commission for Pyrate business and so recommended his quartermaster to take his place. It is not expected the former captain will need a peg leg.
Schumann said he couldn’t say how many years ago he joined the Pyrates. While he said he didn’t start a specific project during his year-long tenure, his aim was to make everything financially and structurally sound. He said he made it his job to “develop budgets, hire an accountant, and make sure everything was fiscally the right way.”
True to the individuality of a Pyrate, Palmer said his goal as captain would be different. “What I want to do is bring more awareness to the Pyrates and what we do for the community. We are slowly getting involved with the Bagdad Waterfront Partnership helping them (with the) Bagdad Millsite Park.” As previously reported, the Pyrates paid for the park’s gate, but Palmer said they’re working on historical markers and other resources.
The Blackwater Pyrates continue turning landlubbers into true buccaneers as Schumann said the Pyrates have almost 200 members and added more this week past. With honorary members on the county and state governance level, Schumann said, “We represent a good cross-section of the whole community…(We’re) a very strong community organization.”
Coming up for the Pyrates is the pillaging of the Blackwater River from Wright Basin to Blackwater Bay for trash April 25 in their first river cleanup of the year. Palmer said, “We pull all kinds of stuff: tires, pickup truck bed-liners, all kinds of paper trash. You name it; we get it.” The cleanup is part the Pyrates three-point mission of keeping the river clean, boater safety, and maritime heritage preservation.
Keep up with Pyrate shenanigans at www.srpressgazette.com, www.blackwaterpyrates.com, and the Facebook pages of the Blackwater Pyrates and the Santa Rosa Press Gazette.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: All hands welcome new Pyrate captain