Buccaneers & Brothers

October 30, 2015

Site Staff,

It’s 1 a.m. As cooling night breezes stir the rigging of the 45-foot ketch anchored near the harbor at Santa Marta Bay, the reflection of a silver moon dances like a ghost on the water. The family on board is fast asleep after a week of hard sailing along the Central American coast, with nothing but the sound of gentle waves against the sides of the boat to disturb their slumber.

Around 1:30 a.m., the captain of a Norwegian freighter steps out on deck for a smoke.

He had noticed the ketch earlier as she was putting in across the way. Suddenly he hears the sound of a small boat approaching. The motor falls silent as the boat pulls alongside the family’s ketch. The captain of the freighter doesn’t like it. He slips inside, calls the harbor agent and alerts several members of his own crew…he’s sure he saw the telltale glimmer of moonlight flashing on the blade of a cutlass.

Meanwhile, two thieves have silently climbed onto the deck of the ketch, and in no time, they hold the skipper and his wife at knifepoint. They demand the keys to the storage compartments. A larger craft has arrived with more bandits. Brandishing guns and machetes, they quickly help themselves to the cargo. By now, the couple’s frightened children, who were sleeping in the aft berth, are awake and crying.

Then a siren wails as machine gun fire knocks one of the intruders down the cabin steps.

Immediately, the pirates abandon the heist and make a run for it. The larger speedboat gets away, but as Colombian customs agents open fire, they manage to kill two of the men in the smaller boat, including the driver. In the darkness, it’s difficult to tell just how many pirates are on board, but with spotlights flashing, the agents block the vessel, and board it.

Moments later, they join the family on the ketch to get a full report. The captain of the freighter also arrives, ready to lend a hand. Unfortunately, after searching the captured vessel, it’s clear that most of the cargo left with the fleeing speedboat.

Then a siren wails as machine gun fire knocks one of the intruders down the cabin steps.

(Spanish for “Black Beard”); the 110-foot fishing ketch, a vintage 1896 Norwegian Barquentine, once graced Savannah’s historic docks on River Street. He bought her in Norway in 1971, restored her, and lived onboard for over 25 years with wife Alise, two sons, and his business partner and captain, Gerhard Schwisow.

During the bicentennial “Tall Ships” races in New York, Seidl met Savannah Mayor John Rousakis, who insisted the Barba Negra come south to Savannah for a visit. When she finally arrived in 1978, she stayed, and soon became the main attraction on the riverfront. In 1996, Seidl sold his interest in the ship to Schwisow.

When Seidl first migrated from Germany to Vancouver, British Columbia, he bought an old sea chest through an estate auction. No one had bothered to open it for many years, and it was discovered to contain an authentic treasure map. Seidl was inspired to build a sailing ship from scratch—a 45-foot auxiliary ketch fashioned like an "Indian war canoe" that he called the Illahee (Chinook for “all my belongings” or "my country"). Eventually he took the ship on an archeological expedition to the Pacific and Caribbean, and actually found a treasure on an island off the coast of Costa Rica. But his vessel fell into the hands of corrupt Mexican officials in league with local pirates who discovered the map, confiscated his boat, and terrorized his family. It took two naval escorts to sneak him and his family out of Acapulco to safety. That was Seidl’s first encounter with pirates. The second encounter was the one at Santa Marta.

These days, Albert and Alise live in Savannah’s historic district. They spend a lot of time at City Market—he paints in his upstairs art studio, and she runs a small ice cream shop on Jefferson Street. On special occasions, Seidl dons what might be mistaken as a “pirate” costume. He twirls his white moustache as he admits to flying the “Jolly Roger” from the mast of the Barba Negra when customs officials were particularly uncooperative. Dressed in full regalia, with tiny skulls and crossbones woven into his beard, he could pass as a character right out of Treasure Island but, he says with a twinkle in his eye and genuine pride, “I’m not a pirate, I’m a brother!” referring to his membership in the Brotherhood of the Coast.

In 1951, a small group of Chilean sailors formed a modern sailing alliance inspired by “law or custom of the coasts,” an ancient code of conduct that has bound seafarers together in mutual respect for the sea and one another since the days of antiquity. Drawing upon their rich maritime heritage and the legends of musket-bearing “buccaneers” from the island of Tortuga, the seven founders penned eight basic principles derived from the old code, now known as the “Octalog,” to govern the alliance they called Hermandad de la Costa, literally "Brothers of the Coast.” As word spread to sailors in other localities, an international fraternal order was born. Thirty-three countries now have established tables or groups of “buccaneers.”

Self-serving and brutal, pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries were often at war with the perceived tyrannies and social ills of their day. Although some would argue that modern pirates do the same, according to the BOC’s Chilean interpretation of the spirit of the old code, today’s pirates stray considerably when they make war against international maritime law—a universal standard for peace and civility on the high seas.

Today’s mariners are always on the lookout for “thieves and thugs,” and sometimes they get a little extra help. One of Seidl’s fraternal “brothers” tells a story about being alone in the cabin of his yacht one night, when his little dog heard a noise outside. He looked out in time to see a pair of hands sliding over the railing. The dog ran out on deck, and ferociously bit off one thief’s finger. Seidl smiles. “All you can do is take precautions, trust your skills and your instincts, and be thankful for every friend who comes to your rescue.”

The international organization is composed of men and women from all walks of life. As sworn protectors of the earth’s oceans, many work for the preservation of coastal and maritime environments. Renowned explorers such as Jacques Cousteau, and inventors like Thor Heyerdahl were among the ranks.

Every four years, the worldwide fleet comes together in festive gear for a celebration at a designated port of call. Tables in 12 cities across the United States host national zafarranchos (gatherings) every other year. Like the buccaneers of old, it doesn’t take much to get these 21st-century “brothers” on board a ship headed for adventure. Their commitment to one another spans the globe—come pirates, hell or high water!

Pirates’ Creed of Ethics Provided by Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. The Pirates’ Creed bears little resemblance to that of the Brotherhood of the Coast.

About the year 1640, the pirates formed a kind of democratic confraternity. Their vows formed the Custom of the Brothers of the Coast, often called the Pirates Creed of Ethics. It was in fact the social contract of the expedition. It was always signed by the whole ship’s company before any departure when the elected Captain and officers prepared a charter-party. Every decision of importance was discussed, followed by a vote. Courage alone conferred distinction. A pirate ship was an extremely well-ordered floating community.

Ye Captain shall have full command during the time of engagement and shall have authority at all other times to conduct the ship accordingly. He who disobeys him may be punished unless the majority vote against the punishment.

* If ye Captain’s vessel is shipwrecked, the crew pledges to remain until he has possessed himself of a vessel. If the vessel is common property of the crew, the first vessel captured shall belong to ye captain with one share of the spoil.

* Ye ship’s surgeon shall have two hundred crowns for the maintenance of his medicine chest and he shall receive one part of the spoil.

* Ye other officers will receive each a single part, and if ye distinguish yourself, the crew will determine how much reward to be given to ye.

* Ye spoil taken from a captured ship is to be distributed in equal portion.

* Ye who shall be the first to signal the appearance of the vessel that is captured shall receive 200 crowns.

* If ye lose an eye, or hand or leg in ye said service, ye shall receive up to six slaves or 600 crowns.

* Ye supplies and rations are to be shared equally. * If ye introduce on board a woman in disguise, ye shall be punished by death.

* If one Brother steals from another, his nose or ears are to be cut off. If he sins again, he is to be given a musket, bullets, lead and a bottle of water and marooned on an island.

* If there is any doubt in a dispute between ye Brothers, a court of honor is to decide the verdict. If a Brother is proved in the wrong, the first time he shall be pardoned, but should he offend again, he shall be tied to a gun, and there shall receive from each of the ship’s company one strike of the lash. The same punishment shall be given to ye among us, including officers, who shall get drunk, while on the ship, to the point of losing ye senses.

* Whoever shall be placed on sentry, and upon his post shall fall asleep, shall in the first case be lashed by all the Brothers, and should he again offend, his head shall be split.

* All ye who plan to desert or having deserted shall be captured, shall have ye heads split open.

* Quarrels between several Brothers whilst aboard ye ship shall be settled ashore with pistol and sword. He that draws first blood shall be the victor. No striking another whilst aboard ye ship.