I, Mister Phes, Governor of the Classic Pirates social network, together with my trusty new first mate Battle Beast, will be holding the fort. We’re keeping the signal fires burning and the rum rations steady while the main account undergoes repairs.
While the Classic Pirates Instagram is dry docked, you can follow our adventures and updates through my personal Instagram stronghold @mister_phes.
Me posing in front of giant pineapples, or something…
It just so happens I’ve sailed around the world and had my photo taken at all manner of notable landmarks and curious sites. So this is a perfect opportunity to share those adventures, giving my newInstagram profile a distinct flavour from the Classic Pirates profile content.
We went to the same beach as the one from the 1989 catalogue cover
So Join us as we drive back this malevolent scourge and restore order to our home port, with a healthy dose of social media shenanigans along the way!
LEGO be a highly stylized medium with a distinctive charm. The classic sets especially, were never meant to mirror the real world. They were brisk, blocky interpretations of their subject matter, often thrown wildly out of scale… Take the size discrepancy between ships and forts as an example.
Now let’s imagine what would LEGO Pirate sets would look like in real life…
Starting with 6276 Eldorado Fortress
How different would LEGO Pirate sets look in the real world? What could remain the same? And what would need to change so their design was feasible in reality?
Cristian Boiardi dives headfirst into this very question with his series If LEGO Sets Were Real…
Finally here is the last element that completes the series “If Lego sets were real” dedicated to the 1989 Classic Pirates season: Eldorado Fortress.
This is the most iconic and, according to many fans, the best Lego set ever.
Aye, we’re starting at the end of the series (well, not entirely), the reason will become apparent in the future…
No cannons – this is the perfect position to launch an attack!
Cristian continues:
The Gendarmes’ Fortress or “Blue Pots” represents the end of this project… but don’t worry, a new collection will soon begin and it will be dedicated to another very successful and beloved series… Stay Tuned!😉🤫
Eldorado Fortress model in Blender
Cristian continues:
I’ll leave you with my 3D reconstruction modeled in Blender 4.3 and textured in Substance Painter.
I would like to point out that AI WAS NOT USED to create this artwork.
If yer have admired these renders previously on social media, uin a locale such as the Classic Pirates Facebook Group, yer may have noticed the images here look somewhat different.
Just unload yer cargo on the beach
The images have indeed been retouched for display on Classic-Pirates.com by means of some cropping and colour enhancement.
The floor plan
For reasons which we’ll no doubt obtain for Cristian, the originals image feel a touch dark. Classic Pirates wishes to bring a sense of a bright, sunny Caribbean filled with radiant turquoise water stretching beyond the horizon.
Peering out the main entrance
We also wanted to offer a refresh perspective, so if yer have already seen these spectacular designs, we want to draw you back in for another look.
That cannon has much work to do
Nonetheless, yer may view Eldorado Fortress as Cristian originally presented on his website real-l3go.com.
Eldorado Fortress released in 1989, is one of the crown jewels of the classic LEGO Pirates theme. A bright, sun‑splashed Imperial Soldier stronghold perched upon a rocky island, bristling with cannons and fortifications.
It introduced the blue‑coats soldiers with Governor Broadside in command, and set the visual language for Imperial architecture: whitewashed walls with yellow accents, grey floors, and that distinctive arched style that felt equal parts Caribbean fort and Saturday‑morning cartoon.
Eldorado Fortress under attack from LEGO Pirates!
The set’s layout was the first built atop a raised base plate, providing kids a robust structure with a jail cell, lookout tower, dock, and storage hold, all tied together with those charming printed wall panels that defined LEGO masonry of the era.
Eldorado Fortress was revamped using the Barracuda Bay design aesthetic and a new version was released in mid 2023, sans be raised base plate.
About the Designer
Cristian Boiardi be an Italian 3D artist, designer, and digital‑reconstruction specialist hailing from Piacenza, famed for his painstaking historical, archaeological, and architectural renders… with a bit of science fiction thrown into the mix.
The Salarian Bridge at the time of Piranes
Imperial Stormtrooper
One morning in May
His striking 3D reimaginings are wrought with the keen eye of a designer who sails comfortably between ancient ruins and modern render engines, charting both realms with steady hands and sharp vision.
Cristian gained notoriety among online AFOLs for his much‑loved “If LEGO sets were real” series, which includes 3D interpretations of various classic LEGO sets.
Sabre Island
Pirates of Barracuda Bay
Enchanted Island
If yer wish to explore the entire series which also includes visualizations of Classic Castle sets like 6074 Black Falcon’s Fortress and 6067 Guarded inn, visit Cristian’s website www.real-l3go.com.
Has Cristian successfully reimainged Eldorado Fortress as it may appear in the real world? Or do you imagine it differently? If so, what would yer change?
That cannon looks rather small at real world scale
Christmas may be the better part of 5 months away but LEGO is the gift that keeps on giving… Giving LEGO Pirate fans not quite what we want, but it’s the thought that counts, right?
40958 Christmas Stocking is releasing upon 1 October 2026, and contains 342 pieces. Like the name suggests, the set is a brick-built Christmas stocking, which just happens to include an Imperial-ish minifigure.
The set will retail for £29.99 / €34.99 / $34.99 USD / $59.99 AUD
Well, as yer can see, most of the prerequisite imperial parts are there…
He’s got a shako, epualettes, Hessian boots… BUUUUUT the torso design… oh how it let’s the regiment down… it resembles something a Christmas elf would wear on the assembly line at Santa’s workshop.
The stocking was hung by the chimney with care
Should yer happen to acquire this minifigure yer may wish to try out different torsos, unless you’re happy to army build with Christmas sweaters.
Redbeard’s Cove has already been experimenting with suitable alternatives:
Out of the four torso variations I tried in the reel, I still think the official Blue Torso Imperial Soldier Uniform Jacket 973pb5292c01(inv) from Eldorado Fortress is the best fit. TBH, they even use the same head (3626pb3075).
The LEGO Group could have included a new Santa minifig, or maybe an angel… nay wait… an angel is far too taboo in modern times. Instead, let’s give the kiddies a military man, but soften him up a bit. Because yer know, modern children still associate nineteenth century military with Christmas time.
Toy Soldier
Nutcracker
So unlike the Collectible Minifigures Series 23Nutcracker or Toy soldier bundled with the LEGO Minifigures: Character Encyclopedia, this one will require torso substitution before he’s fit to fend off LEGO Pirates.
It be unlikely LEGO Pirate fans will buy the stocking to acquire two-thirds of an imperial minifigure, but perhaps the stocking itself still appeals to some… or maybe it’s the perfect gift for a cherished loved one.
The stocking is standard festive season fair, decked in traditional Christmas colours; deep shades of red and green, with golden star highlights, and garnished with dash of snow. Well, we hope that’s snow.
Very delicious battlements
Brimming from the top is an assortment of goodies. A candy cane, gingerbread Christmas tree, a sprig of holly… and yer can plonk our new toy soldier up there if yer so choose.
What Do Yer Think?
Is there any merit to the this so called “imperial” minifigure? Could this be the Imperial Guards Christmas party uniform?
Or the stocking be something yer might give to yer children to gently introduce them to imperials?
Needs one of them Smart Bricks
At the very least we have a mild degree of assurance that the good old shako will be in production till at least Christmas2026.
Webinar for Designer Program2028 Wave 1 was broadcast 30 July 2026 via the BrickLinkYouTube Channel
Brimming with insider savvy, the webinar provides builders with the firepower to command Wave 1 like a seasoned captain and chart a steady course through to the Review phase.
If the embedded video is bein’ stubborn, just tap the button below to watch it on YouTube instead…
Learn about the Submission Guidelines for BrickLink® Designer Program (BDP) 2028 Wave 1 as Alex, the BDP Lead, covers updates and answers common questions. Aspiring fan designers ask questions and get clarification on the details of the Submission Guidelines.
Although, whoever updated the YouTube video description seems to have forgot “BrickLink” has been omitted from the name and is now just “Designer Program”.
The first Wave of the year is always the most challenging for builders because the palette starts from scratch, meaning it has the smallest number of parts available.
However, production for 2028 hasn’t been fully “solidified” so a larger number elements will return to the palette. From 1 August 2026, another 600 parts will be added for the 2028 Wave 1 builders to utilise.
Yer now have 14 days to submit yer designs and cast yer votes! Previously, Open Submission and Crowd Support would end on a Friday.
Now yer get two weekends to participate
But after consideration, the Designer Team decided to extend the deadline to the following Monday. This affords fans two weekends to finalise the models and support their favourite LEGO Pirate submissions.
Due to the outcry over the same designers being selected as a Finalist multiple times, including multiple series in a row, there be a rule update.
Factor this into yer strategy
So now, if yer selected as a Finalist you must now wait a full year until yer can be selected as a Finalist again. Therefore, anyone selected as a Finalist for Wave 1, 2028 must wait until Wave 1, 2029 before they can be selected again.
In recent series, Designers have been able to select Categories, this will now be capped at a maximum of two Categories per model.
“Pirate” is the only Category we need to worry about here
But select Categories which are appropriate for yer design otherwise the Designer Team will adjust them accordingly. That said, we know “Pirate” be the only relevant category in these waters.
A common question be: “Can I submit my design if it has building instructions available somewhere like ReBrickable?” The answer is Yes, but…
No using the Designer Program to promote yer instructions!
You must pause the sale of those instructions during the Wave in which you’re submitting the design. So that brings us to the question: What if the instructions are available for free?
Submit as soon as Open Submission starts to allow yerself a whole two weeks to correct any issues the Designer Team finds with yer model.
Aim to complete yer build by 16 September, 2026
If yer submit towards the end of Open Submission, yer model will enter a looooong line of submissions awaiting feedback… and by the time yer receive the feedback, there may not enough time to implement it before the deadline!
Pirates have picked up! Not a wench, the number of submissions
Building and Castle are starting to lose their stranglehold! Down from around 30% of the submissions to around 20%. Meanwhile, Series 11 attracted 61 Pirate submissions, which is almost double the 31 submitted to Series 10.
Remember, only one or two submissions can be selected in the 4,000 part range so this be where competition is the most fierce! So lower yer part count to increase yer prospects of being selected.
Aim for 2,000 to 2,500 parts
The 2,000 to 2,500 part range may only constitute around 25% of the submissions but typically 3 of the 5 Finalists will be selected from this range. So this is the optimum part count yer should be aiming for.
However, range which could use more submissions is around 1,400 parts.
But whatever you do, don’t design yerself into the 4,000 part corner!
TIP: Use larger elements to increase the size of yer model instead of using many smaller parts.
The webinar is best viewed on YouTube for mobile device users
But Wait… There’s More!
We’ve only skimmed the froth off the top of the barrel!
The 2028 Wave 1 webinar holds more practical wisdom and clever tricks to pass the Designer Team’s review. So relieve yerself from yer duties leave and WATCH IT!
But finish yer submissions as early as possible, for if somethin’ aint right, yer may need to correct the problem before the Designer Team will accept it.
So allow plenty of time for revision! The countdown to Open Submission:
Whether yer battlin’ with the bricks to achieve the ultimate build, or wrestlin’ the fountain of webinar knowledge, haul yerself over to the LEGO Pirates Forum or Classic Pirates Facebook Group and tell us how yer latest Designer Program venture be comin’ along.
This time he’s tackled one of pop culture’s most iconic pirate ships with a reimagining of Captain Hook’s vessel, the Jolly Roger from Peter Pan.
Peter Pan characters are onboard in minifig form
To avoid creative constraints, Marin avoided building a literal depiction of any screen version of the ship, like the one seen in 1953Disney animation, or the 1991 live-action Hook film.
The latest version of the Jolly Roger
Instead, he prompted his imagination: What should Captain Hook’s ship really look like?
I decided to go against a remake of a ship featured in one of Peter Pan’s motion picture movies. Partly because building a brick-built version of a real ship puts considerable constraints on creativity and freedom to play, and partly because none of the featured ships in those movies looked half as interesting.
A menacing galleon with three masts!
Marooned Main continues:
In short, it must be a three-masted galleon, and it must look menacing, and that was my guiding line.
The initial idea for the stern came from the skull panel on LEGO 6286 Skull’s Eye Schooner, which was quickly toppled by Captain Barbatos Charon Chest. I think Barbatos did an amazing design, and the idea of the ship with a “skull” stern stayed with me for several years.
Here be the inspiration for the stern
Marooned Main continues:
So I began with only a rough idea of what I wanted, a three-masted galleon with a huge skull on its stern, but no cut-and-clean way of how to get there.
One of the most formidable bows in LEGO ship history
Marooned Main continues:
The start was slow and discouraging, but parts kept on coming, and at some point the ship took a life of its own, came alive, so to speak, and I was left there only as a mere spectator of bricks and plates coming together.
And come together Marin’sJolly Roger did
Stats
Parts: 3,751 parts (not including minifigures, ropes and sails)
Dimensions:
Length: 75.6 cm (29.76″)
Height: 58.7 cm (23.11″)
Width: 25.9 cm (10.20″)
Weight: 2,627 grams / 5.79 lb
Difficulty: Hard Build (+14 years)
Type of Set: For display and light play
IMPORTANT: Ship does not float
The Interior
Marin pours considerable thought into ensuring his designs maintain a balance between both engaging playability and striking displayability.
Sea Eagle’s view of the ship
The upper decks lift away with ease, granting clear, convenient access to the interior so you can explore every nook and cranny of the hold and the berths within the crew quarters.
Removable decks for easy access to the interior
The upper deck comes fully armed with authentic firing LEGO cannons, and the crew is joined by minifigure renditions of the Darling siblings; Wendy, John, and Michael, ready for adventure.
Meanwhile, Captain Hook finds himself locked in an endless duel, crossing swords with Peter Pan one moment and fending off that blasted crocodile the next.
Exterior shots including the upper deck
The lower deck houses the crew quarters and a compact galley that functions more like a kitchenette. Tinker Bell is locked away in the small but sturdy brig, while Smee cheerfully fries up some fish.
The lower decks
Although the interior is rich in detail, there’s a noticeable absence of crew. While a pirate somewhat resembling Sharky is busy terrorising John up in the mast, the lower decks remain eerily quiet. Familiar faces like Turk, Bill Jukes, or Mr. Tattoo are nowhere to be seen.
Captain Hook’s cabin and the helm
Hook’s main haunts are richly furnished and brimming with detail. His captain’s cabin is packed with pirate paraphernalia and all the navigational instruments a villain could need to hunt down and destroy wayward children.
Mr. Smee rows while Captain Hook catches up with an old friend
Aye, that’s straight from J.M. Barrie’s original tale; Hook’s modus operandi was to destroy Peter Pan for severing his right hand and feeding it to the crocodile… who from then onward, yearned for a second helping.
Video Tour
Static images never be enough! Marin knows pirates thirst for live action detail and has put together a video with 360 visuals exploring every facet of his creation.
The original Jolly Roger be more if a catalyst than an inspiration for Marooned Marin’s version. Over the years there have been various different interpretations of Captain Hook’s mighty vessel.
The Jolly Roger from Disney’s 1953 animated version of Peter Pan
Many LEGO Pirate fans grew up watching Disney’s animated classic and its various spinoff adventures. Others may have been lucky enough to visit a Disneyland, where they encountered a life‑sized replica bringing the magic of Neverland to full scale.
Life-size version at Adventureland, Disneyland Park, Paris
However, a Peter Pan sequel, Hook was released during 1991, towards the end of the first wave of LEGO Pirate sets. While a range of action figures and play sets were released alongside the film, the toyline never delivered a grandiose ship capable of rivaling the mighty 6285 Black Seas Barracuda upon toy‑store shelves.
Stern of the Jolly Roger as seen in the 1991Hook film
In recent times, the Jolly Roger has been reimagined yet again, most notably in the 2023 film Peter Pan & Wendy. With its grounded aesthetic and muted limestone colour grading, this incarnation is perhaps the least visually striking of the bunch.
It floats!
Despite all these Jolly Roger incarnations, Marin’s true source of inspiration was a MOC created by Barbatos, “The Terrifying Charon’s Chest“, particularly for the elaborate skull dominating its stern.
Even though Marin cited the printed Jolie Rouge element included with 6286 Skulls Eye Schooner as a primary inspiration for his build, t’was the third large pirate ship released in 1996 that first brought the concept to life.
Marooned Marin lives in the fortress located, Dubrovnik, Croatia with stunning views coastal views.
* Maybe that’s not quite accurate.
* The view from Marin’s balcony
If ye be seekin’ to connect with Marin, cast yer gaze toward his Instagram , where he posts gorgeous shots of his latest creation and sneak‑peeks of whatever works may be in progress.
And if ye fancy larger, more detailed imagery, chart a course to his Flickr stream.
Build! Build! Build!
Marin has been extremely dedicated towards ensuring his designs are accessible to the masses, so yer not merely a spectator.
Building instructions for many of his creations are available on ReBrickable, so you can steal learn his valuable building techniques to incorporate into yer own MOCs, or recreate his designs in their entirety.
Has Marooned Marin captured the true spirit of Hook’s infamous Jolly Roger? Or do yer dreams drift toward a version more akin to the ships that appear on screen?
“Second star to the right and straight on until morning”
And if yer were ever to build the Jolly Roger from scratch, what would you approach differently?
Once again LEGO Pirates have been flung into the sea of obscurity. Now that Coconut Cape has been Crowdfunded there be not a single upcoming pirate BrickLink Design scheduled for production.
We must do something about this atrocity! At once!
Official Announcement
Here be the newly refreshed Designer Program’s official 2028 Wave 1 webpage.
Here be the crucial dates for navigating 2028 Wave 1:
New Palette Released
Jun 30, 2026
The start of a new voyage…
Update yer BrickLink Studio software for the for 2028 Wave 1 part palette and then BUILD like yer never built before!
Open Submission
14 Sep —
28 Sep, 2026
Complete your design and submit it as close to September 14 as possible! This allows around 2 weeks before the final deadline on 28 September at noon Pacific US time to correct any errors preventing your submission from being accepted.
So prepare yer designs to Submit from 14September.
Crowd Support
11 May —
22 May, 2026
BrickLink members may support the 2028 Wave 1LEGO Pirate submissions. Your vote supposedly influences the designs selected by the Designer Team for Crowdfunding.
The Designer Team thoroughly reviews the 2028 Wave 1 submissions and selects five designs to progress to the Crowdfunding (Pre-orders) phase.
5 Finalists Announced
20 Nov, 2026
The Designer Team announces the five Finalist designs that will be available for Crowdfunding, so one day you will be able to own some of them.
Refinement
1 Jan —
1 Sep, 2027
As soon as the new year dawns, the official LEGOModel Governance and Building Instructions teams work with the finalist designers to prepare their builds for production.
Unfortunately they don’t work with talented graphic designers to prepare classic-style box art for the BrickLink Designer sets.
Crowdfunding
Oct 2028
This be where your attention is required again!
If yer be a BrickLink member, yer may pre-order up-to 2BrickLink sets.
Designs that receive more than 3,000 pre-orders will enter production, with maximum of 30,000* of each set will be manufactured.
* The production limit may fluctuate based on how each design performs.
Production and Shipping
Mar 2028
The finalised Designer Program sets will be manufactured in the official LEGO factory. Aye, BrickLink sets are official LEGO products. Yer order shall be fulfilled approximately 6 months after the conclusion of Crowdfunding.
Final dates and shipping times are yet to be confirmed.
There’s been some grumbling over the same designers being selected as a Finalist across multiple Series, but now Finalists will need to wait an entire year before being eligible again.
Fan designers will be required to wait one year until they are eligible to submit to BDP after being selected as a finalist. For example, a fan designer who is selected as a Finalist for Wave 1 2028 would have to wait until Wave 1 2029 to participate again.
Categories
Now yer can choose two categories for yer submissions… but make sure yer select categories what are true to your design! Or they shall be reassigned:
Model designers can choose up to two categories which fit the model submission. The BDP team reserves the right to remove or replace any categories that do not accurately reflect the model
IMPORTANT! Numbering “Series“ to identify release cycles has been superseded by annual “Collections“ divided in three “Waves“… Be sure to absorb the full details:
Open Submission for 2028 Wave 1 is between 14 and 28 September, 2026 — but submit yer design as early as possible in case yer need to correct errors!
Open Submission starts:
Buyers
To date, four LEGO Pirate designs have been Crowdfunded, so what be yer thoughts on the BrickLink Designer sets thus far?
Have they succeeded in continuing the legacy of LEGO Pirates? Or are failing to scratch that classic set itch and yer’d rather wait for another retail release like Barracuda Bay or Eldorado Fortress?
The BrickLink Designer Program has undergone a refit!
Most LEGO Pirate fans probably won’t give a hoot about the aesthetic differences but there’s an extremely important change to how future release cycles shall be named.
They’ll no longer be referred to as “Series”, they’ll be known as “Waves”…
Branding Update
The first thing BrickLink has done is trimmed the name down… now it’s simply Designer Program.
It’s just Designer Program now
Aye, they’ve completely omitted “BrickLink”… probably because there be no other designer programs what yer may confuse this one with.
They’ve also given each of the BrickLink logos a fresh polish too, but the Designer Program shall retain its bright orange glow.
Now you won’t confuse the Designer Program for the Marketplace
The new icon set follows the shape of a single 1×1 LEGO tile, to better align with BrickLink’s way of dressing their symbols in proper LEGO finery.
Box Art
Yer’ll be spyin’ the new logo and refreshed name on the box art once the 2028 haul sets sail. Aye, we’re finally getting some “box art” on future BrickLink sets…
Classic Pirates won’t be retiring from making box mock-ups
But don’t get too excited, it’s not the box art yer actually want… well, unless yer have a fondness for them blue boxes of the mid to late 2000s.
Color Coordination
The new box dressing be crafted so any pirate can tell exactly when a BrickLink Wave is set to make landfall.
Colour coding for each Wave
Each tide of releases will fly its own colour:
Wave 1 draped in purple,
Wave 2 sporting green, and
Wave 3 burning red like a signal fire.
Release Cycles
The Designer Program be throwin’ the old “Series” monkier overboard after Series 11, sendin’ it down to old Davy Jones’ locker.
Gone is Series 12, 13, and 14…
Instead the focus will shift to the year of Production and Shipping, so we’ll be seein’ 2028 Wave 1, 2028 Wave 2, and 2028 Wave 3. And then the Wave resets to 1 the following year, E.g. 2009 Wave 1, and so on…
The BrickLink birdie is back!
When the new Designer sets arrive in 2028, their boxes will bear their Wave colour, along with the BrickLink parrot mascot perched proudly on the side.
But all this be mere decoration compared to the true change: the entire rhythm of the Designer Program now follows the yearly tide, not the overall tally.
Do yer feel nostalgic for the mid 2000s??
With this colour co-ordinated plumage and a yearly naming system, yer can follow the program without a chronometer. The Designer Program’s future releases should be easily identifiable by the colour of each Wave.
Hidden details: it’s the Divinci code all over again
What Do Yer Think?
Do yer like BrickLink Designer Program’s new branding? Or do yer just wish they’d churn out more bloody pirate sets? Here be some concepts using the new box:
The LEGO Ideas Sea Serpentis available as a Gift With Purchase with your LEGO purchases between 7 and 12 July, 2026 is only available on the secondary market – read on and we’ll tell you exactly where to get one.
But whoa! The purchase threshold be a whoppin’ great €180* so prepare to spend BIG to redeem this one.
Take a peak on LEGO.com to see if any sets strike yer fancy or make that long overdue Pick A Brick order and buy up BIG!
Dimensions: 20.4 cm / 8.03″ long × 15.7 cm / 6.18″ high
Experience the joy of ship building!
Sail: Printed cloth
Age rating: 18+
Purchase threshold: €180 or more
Availability
During LEGO Insiders Days between 7–12 July 2026
5… 3… 2 minifigures included
If yer intending to claim Sea Serpent as a Gift With Purchase, be certain yer have registered a LEGO Insiders membership… or it won’t be available to you!
Released in 1992, 6057 Sea Serpent is a small but iconic Black Knights boat, notable for its unusual faction mix, unique printed elements, and the fact it’s a ship released within the LEGOCastle theme.
Unlike its modern counterpart, the original set offers 5 minifigures; three Black Knight soldiers and two Black Falcons soldiers. T’was also the last time the Black Falcons appeared in a regular retail set.
Get 6057 Sea Serpent on eBay
If the modern remake ain’t to yer liking, get the classic set on eBay!
LEGO Pirate fans have long yearned for more smaller ships in the league of Steve’s Cutter, and just recently that yearning was somewhat fulfilled in the 2026 set, 31387 Iconic Pirate Ship.
Brick-built sails: not quite hitting the mark
While the Creator 3-in-1 set offers two small sloops as an alternate build, these pint-sized vessels lack the quintessential element that defined The Cutter; its fabric sails.
These cloth-cut inclusions elevate the small merchant ship from a mere accessory bundled with 6277 Imperial Trading Post, to design that could function as a set in its own right.
Fabric sails help fans feel like they’re buying a premium product
So that’s why the Sea Serpent be a mighty fine little vessel, ripe for plunderin! Along with with fabric sails, it offers a sturdy mini‑hull begging to be refit with cannons, barrels, and a proper Jolly Roger flag.
Any Pirate worth their salt could turn this Castle craft into a swift raider or sneaky merchant skiff faster than ye can say “hoist yer colours”.
Entrants were challenged to submit a design containing a maximum of 250 pieces, using modernised building techniques and a strict focus upon non‑licensed themes, particularly drawing inspiration from the classic themes of the 80s and 90s.
After a period of fan voting to determine the winners, of which there were three. Next, official LEGO designers adapted the Grand Prize winner’s design into a set suitable for manufacturing.
HallowedBrick02’s winning design included three minifigures and the maximum 250 part limit, though The LEGO Group’s production version reduced the minifig count to two minifigures and 241 parts overall.
Admittedly, Sea Serpent was Classic Pirates odds-on favourite to win the contest, using a sole image of the ship as a Featured Image to rally LEGO Pirate fans to participate in voting… well, to hopefully vote for Pirate designs.
What Do Yer Think?
Will you be getting the new Sea Serpent? And what shall yer do with it?
Do yer like how the final set was executed? Or would yer have done it differently?
And do yer think The LEGO Group is BONKERS for not releasing a set like this to retail? How many fans would just LURRRVE to buy a few of these right off the shelf?
One Piece may not be every LEGO Pirate fan’s cup of tea, but there’s a wee handful of sets relevant enough to scratch the itch of a brand new pirate set…
Siroco honed his attention towards the set’s most beloved gathering place, José’s Inn — a lively tavern, echoing with laughter, clinking mugs, and whispered plots… with mutineers scheming to make off with the lot…
I grew up with Lego in the 70’s and always loved pirates, but building sailing ships with the parts available wasn’t easy, and the result wasn’t pretty, but I spend many wonderful hours trying my best, in absence of proper minifigs I used Arial soap-powder/detergent premium figures.
Just look for the sign
Siroco continues:
Now, many years later, I am the proud owner of set 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay, which I bought mainly for the ship version but the desert island deserved a upgrade.
Tradition dictates, the nature of these modifications require swapping out the standard minifig crew and accessories for their piratical counterparts — cutlasses, tricorns, and treasure!
Here be the piratical conversion
Well, turns out a Disney set using LEGO Friends elements can scrub up quite nicely as a LEGO Pirate set! Slap a new coat of paint on the roof and we’re there!
Both have a nicely executed facade, but as we’re about to discover, the architecture falls flat… literally…
So, here be an digital concept for the rear of the set…
A CAD rendering of the cafe
Perhaps the weakest point of the build, attributed to its lack of detail and bland inset wall, just begging for a makeover.
Aside from minifigure swaps, the design remains constant
Typically classic LEGO Pirates sets receive some form of interior, claustrophobic as they may be in the more diminutive sets. But at this José’s Inn, we’re left with a rather spacious alcove.
Having spent years gazing at the magnificent creations in the forum, Siroco decided it was high time to emerge from the shadows, and share a creation of his own.
After a seemingly endless dark age, Siroco rediscovered LEGO through Pirates of Barracuda Bay — and from that moment, LEGO Pirates became his favourite theme.
Another crossover for the pirates. 🏴☠️
Disney set 43223!
I saw the ”Asha in the city of Rosas” MOC from @brickstery a few weeks ago. This inspired me to take a closer look at the Disney and Friends sets… what can I say… it works brilliantly! 🤩
Rouse the deck‑rats and crack open the powder kegs, for we’re about to learn what true chaos smells like!
The BrickLink Designer Program Series 11 finalists have been announced… but again yer won’t find a Pirate-Themed design among `em…
A sampling of the Series 11 pirate-themed submissions
Congrat-ye-lations to the builders what submissions have passed BrickLink Designer Team’sReview and will be available for for Crowdfunding during June 2027, when YOU may place yer pre‑order.
The Finalist Designs
Having charted Series 11 from the very first tide, here be the finalist designs. Aye, even if not a single one flies the Jolly Roger.
For those who weren’t aboard during Series 11 Crowd Support, here be the full spread o’ Pirate‑themed submissions what the BrickLink Designer Team scuttled.
For all 7DeadlyBricks’ efforts to gift the BrickLink Design Program with an Indigo Islander creation, Mysterious Isle was passed over like mist on the horizon.
What be yer noble judgment of the Series 11 finalists? Which Pirate-themed designs should the BrickLink Designer Team have considered for Crowdfunding?
Or be these BrickLink Designer sets naught but a fool’s errand, and yer’d sooner bide yer time for a true, swashbuckling pirate release worthy of the brick seas?
Where previous BDP pirate sets have been big on spectacle but occasionally difficult to construct, this set foregoes a level of detail in favour of open spaces suitable for play, and a far simpler build process that feels relaxed and joyful. This is the first BrickLink Designer Program pirate set that would work very well as a wider LEGO release, and is suitable for fans of all levels of experience with LEGO, as well as being better-suited to play than some previous BDP sets.
Brick Bandit shares his thoughts based on the official promo photos… and he’s spruced up our classic box art for his own superb box mock-up:
Brick Bandit writes:
Coconut Cape might not be the biggest set in the BrickLink Designer Program Series 8 lineup, but it could honestly be one of the most atmospheric. Instead of massive kingdoms, icy fortresses, or giant medieval battlefields, this set drops LEGO Pirates into a fortified tropical trade outpost surrounded by ocean cliffs, palm trees, hidden treasure, and dangerous waters. It feels less like a traditional pirate island… and more like a remote stronghold guarding one of the last safe ports in the region.
Coconut Cape resurrects the spirit of the Imperial Armada, blending Spanish‑colonial architecture, and green‑and‑white uniform cues into a sun‑baked frontier stronghold that feels unmistakably Armada.
JennaAlchemy – designer of the SYSTEM-style LEGO box
Mister Phes – creator of the classic LEGO Pirate set box art backgrounds
Fans long for the day, The LEGO Group once again officially produces LEGO set boxes in this style – for it drives their nostalgia buds wild, prompting them to fork over their gold like there’s no tomorrow!
Production Limit
As per the official BrickLink Designer Program guidelines, the default production allocation for each BrickLink set is 30,000 units.
So for five designs that’s a maximum of 150,000 sets which can enter production.
However, the 30,000 limit per design is not final!
If Pre-Orders for a particular design don’t have a chance reaching 30,000, the production allocation can be transferred to a design that’s performing better. That’s how the Pre-Order limit of both Thieves of Tortuga and Privateer Frigate Fortuna was increased to 40,000.
This way, greater supply can be allocated to the most popular designs, providing the combined total of Pre-Orders for all five designs does not exceed 150,000 sets.
What Do Yer Think?
Will you be adding Coconut Cape to yer LEGO Pirates collection?
Crowdfunding ends June 18th,2026 at 12PM Pacific time BUT there be a production limit of 30,000 sets.
So don’t delay! Those 30,000 WILL be long gone long before that timer ends!
Does this minifigure offer a brand NEW imperial faction to incorporate into yer LEGO Pirates universe? Or be this torso simply a dress uniform for the Imperial Guards?
Or do yer feel The LEGO Group is firing wide of the mark and merely offering token nods, instead of the substantial, meaningful releases LEGO Pirate fans long for?
