Ahoy, Matey

Pirates never truly disappear.

They change shape — from legendary captains lost at sea, to mermaids whispered about by sailors, to modern heroes sailing across movie screens. This week’s issue explores how pirate history, myth, and pop culture continue to overlap, proving the spirit of the age of sail still hasn’t faded.

From Sam Bellamy’s final voyage to festivals celebrating sea legends and Hollywood’s latest attempt at swashbuckling adventure, the pirate story sails on.

🏴‍☠️ This Week in Pirate History

February 23 — The Birth of the Pirate Prince - Samuel Bellamy

Born on February 23, 1689, Samuel Bellamy would become one of the most successful — and most romanticized — pirates of the Golden Age.

Unlike many pirates who rose through brutality or desperation, Bellamy was said to be intelligent, charismatic, and unusually principled for a man flying the black flag. He captured dozens of ships in just over a year and commanded the powerful slave ship Whydah Gally, refitted into a heavily armed pirate flagship.

But what truly sets Bellamy apart is his legend.

According to New England lore, Bellamy fell in love with Maria Hallett of Cape Cod. Her family allegedly rejected him for being poor. Determined to win fortune and status, Bellamy turned to piracy — promising to return wealthy enough to claim her hand.

He never did.

In April 1717, the Whydah Gally sank in a violent storm off the coast of Cape Cod, killing Bellamy and most of his crew. For centuries, his treasure was lost beneath the sand and sea until its discovery in 1984 — the only authenticated pirate shipwreck ever recovered.

Bellamy was just 28 years old.

On this February 23, we remember not just a pirate captain — but a young man chasing fortune, love, and a future that ended in a storm.

Some pirates vanished.
Some were hanged.
Bellamy was claimed by the sea itself.

🎬 Pirates in Pop Culture

The Bluff — A Pirate Fan’s Review

As a pirate enthusiast — and a writer in the genre — I was genuinely excited to see a new pirate-centered film arrive from MGM (Amazon Studios). Pirate stories are rare these days, aside from anime entries like One Piece, which offers its own imaginative spin on pirate legends.

The Bluff stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Karl Urban as opposing pirate captains.

Chopra Jonas plays Mary, a retired pirate living under a hidden identity on a remote island. She has left her past behind, married to a merchant captain and raising a disabled child. But peace doesn’t last long. Urban’s Captain Connor captures Mary’s husband after discovering stolen gold aboard his ship — treasure originally taken by Mary herself.

Connor and his crew invade Mary’s island in search of both her and the missing treasure, setting off a series of battles across lush island locations.

The film works best as an action spectacle. The fight choreography and location set pieces are the clear highlights, delivering the swashbuckling energy pirate fans hope for.

Where The Bluff struggles is in its writing.

Despite Chopra Jonas’ strong screen presence, the character development never fully lands. Mary initially appears helpless when danger arrives, only to transform suddenly into a formidable warrior once her backstory is revealed — a shift that feels rushed rather than earned. Captain Connor fares worse, functioning mostly as a one-note villain weighed down by awkward speeches and uneven dialogue.

Under different circumstances, this might be an easy film to skip.

But pirate stories are scarce.

And because Hollywood rarely returns to the genre, The Bluff may still be worth watching — if only to support new attempts at pirate storytelling. With enough viewers, studios might once again take chances on high-seas adventures.

So set expectations accordingly, pour a drink of rum, and cross your weathered pirate fingers that this voyage encourages more pirate tales to follow. 🏴‍☠️

⚓ Captain’s Rating 🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️☠️ (2½ Jolly Rogers out of 5)

🎬 Watch or learn more here:
https://amzn.to/4aIQBpO

🦜 Plunder Pick of the Week

Captain Jack Returns to the Shelf

If The Bluff reminded us how rare pirate films have become, there’s one character who proved pirate cinema can capture the world’s imagination.

Captain Jack Sparrow.

This week’s plunder is the Diamond Select Toys – Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – Jack Sparrow Action Figure.

Inspired by the legendary swashbuckler from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, this detailed collectible captures the eccentric captain in full cinematic form — braided beard, trinkets, and that unmistakable swagger.

For pirate fans, Jack Sparrow represents something bigger than a toy:

• A reminder that pirate stories can dominate the box office

• Proof that the genre still has global appeal

• A benchmark Hollywood keeps circling back to

As we reviewed The Bluff earlier in this issue, it’s clear studios are testing the waters again. And whether future pirate films reach Sparrow-level magic remains to be seen.

Until then, this figure stands as a small tribute to the last great pirate era of cinema.

⚓ Add Captain Jack to your crew:
https://amzn.to/4tVtGAw

🧜 Pirate Festivals & Folklore

The Mermaid Festival — Where Pirates Meet the Sea’s Oldest Legends

Westport, Washington | Every Full Weekend in March

Long before pirates flew black flags, sailors told stories of something far more mysterious.

Mermaids.

This March, the International Mermaid Museum in Westport, Washington, hosts its annual Mermaid Festival, a month-long celebration of maritime myth, ocean lore, and the legends that haunted — and enchanted — the age of sail.

In 2026, the festival expands to run every full weekend in March, with free admission to the museum during event hours.

But here’s where it gets interesting for pirates…

🏴‍☠️ A Pirate Treasure Hunt

Each day of the festival includes a Kids’ Pirate Treasure Hunt inside the museum — a nod to the long relationship between pirate folklore and sea mythology.

Because no pirate tale is complete without whispers of what lives beneath the waves.

🧜 What to Expect

• A “school” of live mermaids

• Mythical sea creatures and performers

• Artists and maritime vendors

• Family-friendly activities

• Ocean conservation education

• Coastal folklore brought to life

The festival blends fantasy and maritime history — the same mix that fueled centuries of sailor superstition.

After all, exhausted crews crossing unknown oceans sometimes saw things they couldn’t explain.

Sea cows became sirens.
Shadows beneath waves became legends.
And pirates — hardened as they were — were still sailors first.

Mermaids weren’t just fantasy — they were part of the psychological landscape of the pirate age.

And today, the Mermaid Festival keeps that tradition alive.

Set your course:
https://www.mermaidmuseum.org/festival/

☠️ Captain’s Log

Pirates once chased the horizon searching for treasure. Today, we chase the stories they left behind.

Until next voyage — fair winds and following seas.
Fair winds, Captain Blackquill. 🏴‍☠️

🗣️ SHARE THE SPOILS, MATEY

Know a landlubber who’d savor tales of treasure, ghost ships, and true pirate history? Don’t hoard the gold — recruit ’em to the crew.

📜 Join The Pirate Republic here →
https://www.thepiraterepublic.com/weeklynewsletter-thepiraterepublic

New voyages, bold stories, and rich plunder await those who sail with us.

⚓ SAIL WITH US ACROSS THE DIGITAL SEAS

📜 TikTok: @thepiraterepublic
▶️ YouTube: The Pirate Republic

🎖️ THANKS FOR SAILING WITH THE CREW

We set sail every Friday, storm or shine — delivering pirate history, legends, and lore from across the seas.

Keep yer spyglass trained on the horizon,
rest when the winds allow,
and may your course be steady, your hold full, and your tales worth telling.

If ye stumble upon treasure, tall tales, or pirate lore worth sharing, send word to:
📧 [email protected]

Disclosure: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a few extra doubloons if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for keeping The Pirate Republic afloat, ya savvy sea dog. 🏴‍☠️