Pirates of Lewes celebrate 10 years of searching for treasure
Pirates have been sailing the high seas of the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal for more than 10 years, but most folks don't seem too intimidated. That may be because these pirates are mostly children in search of treasure guarded by a rival pirate somewhere near Roosevelt Inlet in Lewes.
Pirate Capt. Barry Askew started the Pirates of Lewes expeditions 10 summers ago. It's provided hours of entertainment for children ever since.
The first year attracted 10,000 people, as Askew and his crew went out four to five times a day, seven days a week. Although Askew has scaled back the operation in recent years, he said nearly every expedition is still sold out.
“I knew this would go great in Lewes because what is there for kids to do?” he said. “I get a lot of repeat customers because the parents come and say this is all they've been talking about all year.”
The idea for the attraction came to Askew one night while sitting at Ego Alley in Annapolis. After sailing his 35-foot catamaran over from Lewes, he was enjoying the nice weather when he saw a pirate boat full of kids sail by. Then another.
“So I went over and found out more about it,” he said. “Then I called my wife and told her I was selling the sailboat.”
Soon after, Askew bought the 40-foot pirate ship and started the Pirates of Lewes. Bobby Foxx and Brion Johnson have been with Askew from the beginning, acting as dimwitted pirates who crack jokes and insert bad puns into their act. While most of the voyage is nailed down, Foxx said, he and his fellow pirates often add something new.
“Not one show is identical to the other because we're constantly adding new stuff,” said Foxx, who incorporated a shark hat into the routine during a recent Shark Week voyage. The little tweaks are just as much fun for the actors as they are for the kids, as they each try to add something funny that will make the others break character.
“It all started off as pretty much improv, off the top of our heads,” Foxx said. “If we got a laugh, we kept it. If it didn't, we struck it. It's pretty much 95 percent [the same now], but we're always adding things here and there.”
Also along for the ride are more recent additions to the team Johnny Wheway and Natalie O'Neill, who plays the rival pirate defending the treasure. O'Neill takes one for the team every time out, as she is blasted by the ship's 12 water cannons. She does get a little revenge, though, with her own manual water gun. Terri Rayne, the voice of the pirates, stays ashore during expeditions, answering phones and taking reservations.
Before climbing aboard the Sea Gypsy, each young pirate is given a sword, eye patch and tattoo or scar of their choice. They are also dressed up in pirate garb to ensure they look the part.
Once aboard, children and their parents are split up. Because the expedition is all about the kids, seating for the adults is provided at the boat's stern, leaving the rest of the boat open for the children and actors to roam and have fun.
As the ship works its way toward the treasure near Roosevelt Inlet, children engage in a scavenger hunt, tasked to find specific landmarks along the way. While children search up front, the boat's captain imparts wisdom about Lewes' maritime history to the adults.
Voyages take off just beyond Irish Eyes and Lewes Harbour Marina on Anglers Road. Expeditions leave at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, May to August. Trips are limited to weekends in September. Reservations are required, as nearly every expedition is sold out.
Askew also takes adult groups out on the water for special occasions, such as birthday parties and bachelor parties. To reserve a spot on the Pirate expedition or inquire about special events, call 302-249-3538. For more information, go to www.piratesoflewesexpeditions.com.
As Askew approaches 70 years old, he said, he is willing to pass the torch to anyone interested in taking over the business. He encourages anyone interested to give him a call.
