BUCCANEERS, pirates, and treasure hunters will be swarming across Porthmadog this weekend.

MYC Rowing will be hosting their annual Pilot Race this Saturday, a tribute to the old harbour pilots who used to race out to the bar to meet incoming sailing ships and guide them safely through the treacherous shallows of the Glaslyn estuary and into the harbour.

This year, the race will also have a pirate theme and, as well as the winning boat, there will be a prize for the best-dressed crew.

The Celtic longboats will be launched from Porthmadog harbour at 11.30am and the colourful procession of boats will make its way around the harbour to line up for the start of the race at Borth y Gest at midday.

Each boat, which will have four rowers and a cox, will also carry a ‘pilot’ who must dash down the beach and jump into the boat to start the race.

A spokesperson for the club said: “A frantic start will see the very colourful flotilla of boats head across the bay to another small beach on the Portmeirion side of the estuary, where in true pirate style the ‘pilot’ will make a dash for some illicit booty, a cask of Purple Moose ale, and the first boat to safely land with back at Borth y Gest will be declared the winner.

“The whole spectacle can be viewed and enjoyed from the shore at Borth y Gest.”

The next day, Porthmadog will play host to the more conventional Northern League rowing races from the harbour to the Powder House at the end of Black Rock Sands and back, rounding off a busy weekend.

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