Interview With a Captain of U.T.B.F

Ahoy Captain John Morris !

Please, spare some time and share with our fine and dear U.T.B.F. Brotherhood, some treasure from yer life, so as the Pirate Universe know ye better…

What is yer real name, mylord?

My name is Alkis Vasileiou
What are yer other, everyday activities, except from sailing, plundering and dreaming?

I'm a software engineer, writing code, like Java, C++ etc. Currently I 'm constructing web sites with Drupal, writing some Javascript and PHP. Also, another major activity is reading history, from Ancient Greece to Ancient Rome, from Dark Ages to Medieval times, Renaissance, Age of Discovery, Age of Enlightenment. Finally, I'm a fan of ambient music and post-apocalyptic fiction.

Describe yerself in 5-10 words

Nervous, anxious about the future and the unknown, a little bit selfish, but also creative and easy to sympathize (as others characterize me).

Since when ye got interested about Pirates?

Since I was playing with my playmobil pirate ship. But also, cause I read history, I found it interesting to read about pirate history.

What is this specific thing ye really like about Pirates most?

Their act of defying a system of absolute monarchies, risking their necks for freedom. The romance and the fierceness that surrounds them.

How ye decided to become a member of U.T.B.F. and what is that whispering in yer heart?

I decided to join the U.T.B.F. because I love pirate history, and U.T.B.F. shares that history that I found it interesting and exciting.

Why ye accepted to be a U.T.B.F. Captain?

I was honored to be accepted to be a U.T.B.F. Captain because the Captains saw my interest on pirate history. They saw my efforts to find as many parts as I can about pirate history that I will always try to find and share with my pirate Brotherhood.

What is yer favorite pirate weapon?

My favorite pirate weapon is the flintlock pistol

What is yer favorite pirate drink?

Time flies...when you are having rum!

What is yer favorite pirate song?

I don't have a specific song that I like the most, I like some soundtracks from various pirate movies and games as well as the Irish Rovers.

What is yer favorite pirate word or phrase?

Many, but I will stick to one...or two. “Where there is a sea there are pirates.” and “Life’s pretty good, and why wouldn’t it be? I’m a pirate, after all.”
What is yer favorite item in your pirate wardrobe?

The flag of U.T.B.F. brotherhood of course!
Ye feel rather a blessed or a cursed pirate figure?

I will leave that to the world, the world always decides.

Do ye believe that the pirates’ life is really fer ye?

With such a strong brotherhood as the U.T.B.F. team, certainly! 

Gramerci Captain fer yer time and thinking on this short interview. 

Interview With a Captain of U.T.B.F

Ahoy Capitana ~Morgana del Sol~ Please, spare some time and share with our fine and dear U.T.B.F. Brotherhood, some treasure from yer life, so as the Pirate Universe know ye better…

What is yer real name, mylady?

My real name is Marianthi~Maya~Delezou. I am Greek.

What are yer other, everyday activities, except from sailing, plundering and dreaming?

I am a copywriter, mostly in advertising field, but also writing stories for kids and allegoric tales for adults. My other active side is performing on stage (acting, oriental dancing, choir singing, narrating) and another one behind the stage, organizing and promoting cultural events with friends artists.

Describe yerself in 5-10 words.

Tender, Imaginative, Creative, Stubborn, Anxious, Lazy, Romantic, Enthusiastic, Selfish, Faerie-wise…

Since when ye got interested about Pirates?

Since I very first watched some old pirate movies, as a teenager. Then the feeling got slept in me and woke up again when I gradually discovered so much talking about the universal, modern pirate dream in the web. Then actually thought “Maya, Mother Sea is calling… Follow your heart, lass!”

What is this specific thing ye really like about Pirates most?

The sense and the truth of freedom.

How ye decided to become a member of U.T.B.F. and what is that whispering in yer heart?

“Under the Black Flag” is maybe the most inspired and serious presence all over the web, sharing pirate history, without irrelevant, funny or silly stuff included, so as to gain followers. When I first saw some U.T.B.F. posts in F/B, I spotted the difference immediately. And of course, I became a fan at once, without a second thought. Since that day, almost a year ago, not just a whisper, but a large piece of my heart belongs to my pirate family, the U.T.B.F. Brotherhood...

Why ye accepted to be a U.T.B.F. Captain?

Because I was really honoured to be asked to, by the council of the U.T.B.F. Captains, who were surprised to meet a Greek lass who believes in the eternal pirate dream. So, since no wise pirate can reject such an honour and privilege, here I am, Capitana Morgana del Sol, always trying to keep firm and steady the romantic side of our brotherhood...

What is yer favorite pirate weapon?

The map! No reason to fight, if you don’t know where your destination is... Then comes the cannon. I just love the noise! (and the mess of course...)

What is yer favorite pirate ship? The Carrack. A real ocean-going ship. Large enough to be stable in heavy seas, roomy enough to carry provisions for long voyages... What is yer favorite pirate drink? The black rum. Better be Captain Morgan.

What is yer favorite pirate song?

“Hoist the colors” by Hans Zimmer. What is yer favorite pirate word or phrase? “Be strong, me hearties!”

What is yer favorite item in your pirate wardrobe?

My black pirate belt. Loaded with a scull buckle full of tiny crystals.

Ye feel rather a blessed or a cursed pirate figure?

Somewhere in between. I leave this to the Universe to get the final decision.

Do ye believe that the pirates’ life is really fer ye?

This is something I will really know only when we really set sails with our brotherhood’s great ship “Arcadia”... 

Gramerci Captain fer yer time and thinking on this short interview. Now, feel free to add anything you believe our noble Brotherhood would like to hear from you. Strong Sails!

“Me lads and lasses, me sisters and brothers, the whole world now, more than ever, is in need of the free spirit, the strength, the wealth and the romance of the pirate tribe. People need to dream, to get inspired, to share the love for freedom, to return to the primal innocence and the respect for the nature’s Elements. Eternal Pirate History has taught us all of this. Now, it is just in the reach of our hands to start this journey and make this dream an everyday truth, under the Black Flag!”

~Capitana Morgana Del Sol~

Israel Hands

Israel Hands was second-in-command under Edward Teach (Blackbeard). Hands was given command of David Herriot's ship the Adventure after Herriot was captured by Edward Teach (Blackbeard) in March, 1718.

Hands was with Edward Teach in the attack on Charleston, South Carolina. Afterwards, Hands settled with Teach in Ocracoke, North Carolina. When Teach was killed by Robert Maynard, Hands was captured and taken to Virginia for trial. In exchange for immunity, Hands testified against corrupt North Carolina officials who had consorted with Edward Teach.

According to Daniel Defoes ''General History of the Robberies and Murders of the Most Notorious Pyrates'', Hands is said to have died a beggar in London and also wrote that Hands was shot in the knee by Edward Teach after Teach fired at another member of his crew, striking Hands accidently. Hands supposedly asked Teach his meaning in this act, His response was, "That if he did not now and then kill one of them, they would forget who he was".

Captain Abraham Blauvelt

Abraham Blauvelt was a Dutchman, instrumental in establishing several settlements and many places which still bear his name.

Blauvelt explored the coasts of Honduras and Nicaragua in the early 1630's. Afterwards, he went to England and with a proposal for a settlement a site in Nicaragua, which is near the town and river of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Blauvelt enlisted as a naval officer for the Swedish East India Company and by 1644 was in command of his own ship. He preyed upon Spanish shipping from Dutch New Amsterdam (New York ) and a harbor in southwest Jamaica which is still named Blewfields Bay.

After peace came once more between the Dutch and Spain in 1648, Blauvelt was no longer welcome in New Amsterdam. Blauvelt sailed to Newport, Rhode Island in 1649 to divy up his loot. The governor of Newport declared one prize illegal and Blauvelt's crew argued over the booty. Blauvelt was treated poorly at Newport. The local towns people were afraid that Blauvelt's piratical activities had permanently ruined the reputation of Rhode Island.

In 1650 Blauvelt was in command of another ship, the La Garse, a French ship. Later on along the border of Honduras and Nicaragua living among the Indians at Cape Gracias ΰ Dios. It was here that he heard of Sir Christopher Myng's plans to organize a raid on Campeche Bay in Mexico. In 1663 he joined with Myng and was an active participant in the raids. Nothing is known of him after this time.