[Cynthia]

Pirates are definitely real. i believe they settled the Bahamas. I never came across a real one though Lenny and I had a bit of a crazy story with a French Legionnaire who fancied himself a pirate. I’ll have to tell it sometime.

[Jenny]

Pirates are definitely real, and you have to do your research to find out if you’ve got much protection in waters around certain countries. Two of my friends were delivering a boat up the coast from Panama in the Gulf side after going through the canal, and they noticed a boat following them and gaining on them. I don’t know how they knew they were pirates, but I don’t think they were flying any flags, and when they got close enough, it was obvious they weren’t hailing in a friendly way. My colleagues have sailed all around the world, so they knew it was time to get away. There was a big lightning storm out to sea, so rather than try to race to a shore they didn’t know would be safe or not, they opted to sail straight into the storm. The pirates followed them for a bit and then turned around. They had a heck of a time in the lightning but at least escaped being boarded and who-knows-what-else.

[Carol]

My Dad grew up on a tiny island in the South China Sea. He was mistakenly kidnapped by pirates who thought he was the son of a rich family (my Dad’s family was actually quite poor). He said the pirates treated him nice and gave him toys. They let him go home when they discovered they got the wrong kid. But I don’t think most pirates are nice.