Avast, ye mateys! Two of the biggest maritime events in the local calendar are merging on 20 June 2009, when the third Harry Paye Charity Fun Day, and the 10th Poole Afloat festival drop anchor at Poole Quay.

The Fun Day is now held annually in honour of Harry Paye who lived in the 1400s and was Poole’s most famous pirate. Not only will it incorporate plenty of fun for landlubbers of all ages, it’s also hoped a record amount of booty will be raised for Poole Hospital Wish List.

A packed programme of events on 20 June coincides with the annual Fishing Regatta and Poole Afloat so there’ll be no shortage of fun both on and off the water.

The free boating festival, Poole Afloat, has been described as a mini boat-show and includes a spectacular showcase of water craft and watersports accessories.

Family-based activities include Try A Boat sessions which last year launched hundreds of visitors into the water and received tremendous feedback. It’s your chance to try dinghies, RIBs, power boats and sailing yachts, all for free!

There’ll be a multitude of marine-related products and services on display within the exhibition area on Poole Quay and it’s your chance to meet the professionals and learn about sea safety and training courses.

Celia Sharpe of the British Marine Federation said: “The aim is for people to have a fun time and for them to get out on the water, be it a in a small canoe or a larger power boat.”

If you don’t have your sea legs, you can enjoy the spectacle of a fleet of decorated boats, and salty seadogs will be competing in the Harry Paye Challenge Plate boat race between the Quays.

Watersports, a fisherman’s race and a display by the Royal Marines will go hand-in-hand with entertainment on land such as the tug o’ war competition, face painting, treasure hunts, stocks and ‘dunk a pirate’.

Various music and dancing will take place along the quay while pubs and restaurants will be running their own special offers.

The traditional ritual of walking the plank will be honoured with a Pirate Chase along the Quay and one of the highlights of the day will be the magnificent Parade of the Pirates with prizes for the best fancy dress.

The Fun Day celebrates a special anniversary, as it was 602 years ago when Harry seized 120 French and Spanish ships after they had pillaged and burned Poole town two years earlier.

One of the vessels was carrying so much wine it was worth half a million pounds in today’s money. It took the locals a month to consume and the merrymaking has gone down in legend as the town’s biggest party.

Organiser Jim Kellaway said: “We are over the moon at how the Charity Fun Day has taken off. The parade is getting bigger and bigger each year and it’s great to see so many children and people in fancy dress getting involved. All the businesses on Poole Quay get into the spirit of things with their pirate themes.”

Last year’s event raised more than £8,000 and benefited local charities and organisations such as Poole Sea Cadets, Poole Rowing Club, Wessex Majorettes and Poole Lifeboats. However, the main benefactor is Poole Hospital Wish List which aims to ensure hospital wards have access to the latest state-of-the-art facilities and a good central store of equipment.

All proceeds from the Harry Paye Charity Fun Day programme are donated, and local companies and services advertise inside the programme to help the cause.

In addition, charity buckets will be passed around on the day, so hopefully the public will dig deep into their pouches for spare doubloons or pieces of eight.

Jonathan Sibbett of sponsors commercial property agents Sibbett Gregory said: “As well as being great fun, the activities help very good causes.”

So with a yo-ho-ho and armed with relevant pirate-speak, make sure you get into appropriate garb and head for Poole Quay on June 20, or you’ll be a -swabbin’ the decks!