for Lake Sinclair tradition
The forecast called for rain, but Saturday afternoon delivered sunshine and smooth sailing for the annual Lake Sinclair Pirate Parade.
Nearly 20 decorated boats cruised the lake from The Front Porch restaurant alongside Hwy. 441 in Baldwin County before gathering at The Grill at Crooked Creek Marina in Putnam County, where organizer Jerry Arnold handed out awards and reflected on another year for one of Lake Sinclair’s most colorful traditions.
With uncertain weather and a competing event elsewhere on the lake, Arnold said he was pleasantly surprised by the number of boats on hand, many crewed by familiar faces on boats festooned with elaborate piratethemed decorations.
Now in its 15th year, the event has become a fixture on the lake. Arnold, who has organized the parade for the last dozen of those years, said the formula remains fairly simple: secure permission from the marina, gather donations from local businesses, and let the fun begin.
“It's not a difficult thing to put on,” he said. “Usually you approach them, they know about it, they've heard about it and they're happy to give something.
We just give it all away.”
Although Arnold has joked in recent years that he would gladly hand the reins to a new organizer, he said he'll continue leading the event if no volunteers step forward.
“If anybody would like to shake it up, do something different, take it over, I'll help, but I'll give it to them,” he said with a laugh.
One crew that certainly had reason to celebrate was the team aboard Pour Decisions, which finally claimed the Best Decorated Boat top prize. Boat owner Beth Edwards said the victory was especially sweet after finishing third two years ago and fifth last year.
“It's amazing,” she said. “We've been trying for three years.”
The crew made improvements after battling rough weather during last year's parade.
“Last year the weather was bad, so the mast blew over a couple times,” Edwards said. This year, the team reinforced the structure and leaned even harder into the boat's tongue-in-cheek name.
“We have a lot of drink cups and shot glasses on board,” she said.
The winning boat's success wasn't limited to decorations. Crew member Lauren Palm, a Tampa resident visiting friends at the lake, captured the highly coveted Best Pirate Wench title.
Palm jokingly described her role aboard the boat as straightforward.
“They decorated the boat and did all of the work,” she said of her crewmates. “I had one job: to win the Pirate Wench award. Mission accomplished!”
The victory marked the first overall win for the Pour Decisions crew, but Palm suggested they are already planning their defense.
“We nailed it with our decorations, but we already have a plan for next year,” she said. “Get ready!”
For Edwards, who also lives in Florida but owns a vacation home near Goat Island on Lake Sinclair, the parade is about more than trophies. The annual gathering brings together friends from across the Southeast, including several who return each year.
“We have a blast,” she declared. “And we're coming back next year.”
As for Arnold, after another successful parade and awards ceremony, he appeared content with how the day unfolded.
“I had a good time,” the semi-retired lawyer said. “But I always have a good time.”
Arnold also thanked Pirate Parade sponsors Amici Lake Oconee, Aubri Lane's, Barberitos, Duke's Lounge & Dawg House, The Front Porch, Five Star Toyota, Jalisco Mexican Grill, Little River Marina, Local Yolkal Cafe, Love to Letter Embroidery, Sinclair Marina, Sinclair Powersports, TCH, The Club at Lake Sinclair, The Grill at Crooked Creek, and The Vault.