The pirates' last hurrah

The Outbound Voyage officially ends this year's Gasparilla invasion.

By SUSAN THURSTON, Times Staff Writer
Published February 9, 2008

TAMPA - For anyone who didn't get enough of Gasparilla, the pirates return today to officially say so long until next year.

After a lengthy hiatus, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is reviving its sendoff party in which the mayor gives the pirates the heave-ho. Pirates call it the Triumphant March and Outbound Voyage.

The yo-ho-ho-ing starts at noon at Channelside in Tampa, where the krewe will dock the Jose Gasparilla. About 5 p.m., more than 500 pirates will march from the Florida Aquarium to Channelside, basking in the glory of having invaded the city two weeks earlier.

About 6:45 p.m., Mayor Pam Iorio will demand the pirates return the key to the city, and then skedaddle. The scallywags will leave in a humph, launching cannons in a last act of rebellion.

The city will respond with fireworks as the pirates sail away to parts well known: the Tampa Yacht Club.

The event revives a tradition discontinued in 1964, when the city stopped subsidizing the annual parade, organizers said. Ye Mystic Krewe picked up the costs but had to trim expenses and axed the Outbound Voyage.

The krewe considered resurrecting the event for Gasparilla's centennial in 2004 but was too involved with planning the children's parade, which added fireworks and moved to Bayshore Boulevard.

The idea came up again this year when the Krewe of the Knights of Sant'Yago had to push back its parade a week to Feb. 16 to avoid interfering with the Gasparilla Distance Classic today.

Meanwhile, Ye Mystic Krewe had already planned its post-parade party for tonight at the Tampa Yacht Club. It couldn't reschedule because of a conflict, so the krewe kept the date.

"An opportunity opened itself," said Preston Farrior, a third-generation Gasparilla member whose father and grandfather took part in Outbound Voyages. "Bringing back an old tradition is very exciting."

If the latest incarnation is a success, the krewe hopes to make it an annual event, said Darrell Stefany, president of EventMakers, which organizes Gasparilla parades and events.

"This gives us one more chance to have fun with the pirates," he said.

If you gol

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla's Outbound Voyage starts at noon today at Channelside in Tampa. Pirates will march from the Florida Aquarium at about 5 p.m., and Mayor Pam Iorio will order them out of the city at 6:45 p.m. Admission to the Florida Aquarium is free to children 12 and under in pirate costume. (813) 353-8070.

[Last modified February 9, 2008, 00:40:56]