In the Navy, people are always coming and going, it’s something I’ve had to get a handle on because I become pretty emotional when I make friends and then they transfer, heading off to their next duty station. It has always been a hard thing to cope with, working with someone, befriending them, deploying with them, and then one day that’s it, they’re gone for good.

You get a couple months notice if you’re lucky, but sometimes you don’t even have that much time. It’s just not easy. It plain sucks. Lindsay has been one of my friends since I got to Italy, such a bomb lady, would go out of her way to help you in a heartbeat.

There’s so many things to say but I don’t want to sadden the mood and its enough of a testament that almost 80 people came boating to celebrate her and wish her farewell and safe travels to her next duty station, Norfolk Virginia.

We all knew she would be departing in July and she decided she would have a pirate themed bar crawl. That bar crawl turned into a full scale pirate boating day with over 13 boats and 1 sailboat, so here’s how the most epic farewell I’ve ever been to went…

First and foremost there was the matter of getting everybody together and taking a look at the boat situation. We were all going to meet at 9am to get boats and send everyone out in the water. It was a great day for boating and even better to be dressed as pirates.

I wonder what all the Italians were thinking when they saw an armada of boats with Americans dressed as pirates?!

Surprisingly, everyone met on time and there wasn’t much hassle trying to get boats. It was very orderly. Seriously, way more orderly then I could have imagined.

We got stuck in traffic on the way over and were running a couple of minutes late, but when we arrived almost everyone was in their boats and loitering, waiting for the rest of us.

Commodore Lindsay, the main lady, was in my boat and she took the duties upon herself to wave a few of the boats from the pier.

As far as the ranking system went, we were the only ship with a commodore. We were allowed 6 people per boat so we had a Captain, 1st Mate, 2nd Mate, deckhand, and scallawag. My dad was the Scallawag. haha.

There was only one big event for the day and that was to meet up off the coast of Procida and get a group photo. There were many attempts at this shot and here are a couple of them.

At first I was really afraid to give my camera away because of the water situation, but the pictures are pretty bad ass.

Who has 12 boats off the coast of a glamorous Italian island for a farewell? Only a bad ass bomb of a woman.
Trying to zoom in a bit more.

These next 2 are the best, because we were almost able to get all of the boats with the line of Procida in the background.

After the group shot, we headed over to one of our favorite swimming spots, and to jump off a bridge.

Anchor off boys, we’re going swimming!

Commodore Lindsay at your service. She’s in control of our boat.

The pirate gear comes off, because its time to get in the water!
So many people, the biggest, baddest, boating day we’ve ever had.

No words needed.

Everyone is swimming over to the bridge to jump off it.

Hello boys!

Looks like Jason jumped early, way early.

He’ll be the first one to the water.
Yep, guessed it.

SPLASH!

Then began the real fun. Pirates can’t go anywhere without a large supply of supper soakers and water balloons.

Here a boat, there a boat, everywhere a boat! No matter which way you turn.

Old Todd on his boat, letting the pirate flag fly.

Boats tying together, people jumping in to swim.

People over there.

Then boat takeovers began where people were sneaking on other boats and stealing snacks and drinks. We lost a whole roll of sausage and crackers to some vicious pirate mongers.

Now the swim party is starting to get real big.

More people have decided to jump off the bridge. Sherrie included!

Then Les arrived with his sailboat. Our arsenal is complete, 13 small boats and 1 sailboat. We could take over any of the surrounding islands at this point, even with fake swords and gear.

I’ve stared at this picture for a while and for the life of me cannot figure out what that black smoke is on the picture. If anyone can figure it out, please let me know. 

Caught in the act.

Sherrie’s in the middle and she’s going to jump.

There they go. Perfect technique. Arms crossed, feet together. Almost looks like she’s a professional.

Using the multi shot camera setting, you can just hold down the button and it will take continuous photos to capture a quick moment.

Which is how I captured the shot, all the way down.

Almost there, seems like this moment is taking forever, haha.

We have one entering the water.

I didn’t get the final splash from all 3. I took my hand off the button too quickly.

Back over at the party, people have rafts, a beach ball, and drinks.

Just as the second group jumped a guy came over and told us they had called the coast guard on us. That we couldn’t have this many people loitering in one area. Time to pack up shop and head somewhere else.

While we considered packing everything up, the party continued on for just a little bit longer.

Crystal & Kyra, lovely ladies!

Is that a mermaid in the water?!

Turtle!

She said, take a photo of me jumping in, so I did. What the Commodore wants, the Commodore gets.

Heather and Amanda, just relaxing with some cold drinks.

Hey Ale!

I mean he’s got a point. Back to back World War Champs, ‘Merica!

Fletch wanted a photo jumping in too, but he forgot to put his beer down first.

At this point we did move locations but in all the confusion we pretty much all split up. We ended up anchoring out and hanging out with 4 other boats, downsizing the groups.

Just another day in Italy. Pirating the Italian islands with an armada of small boats with century old castles as the backdrop.

New spot. Jumping in between boats.

Relaxin in this hot sun.

Don’t worry if you don’t bring a raft with you on a boat, it normally is always equipped with a life raft.

This article appeared first on The Cassey Excursion.