The Classic Pirates recently caught wind of a red striped sail to be released in the upcoming 43212 Disney Celebration Train which commemorates the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary.
This prompted us to evaluate just how many ships The LEGO Group has released with red striped sails throughout the past three (and a bit) decades.
This be 43212 Disney Celebration Train – that sail must do wonders for the train’s aerodynamics
Why a Red Striped Sail in this Set?
If you’ve ever viewed Disney’s original 1953 animated Peter Pan film, ye may recall (or most likely have forgotten) that none of the ships upon screen bared red striped sails.
Captain Hook’s ship, the “Jolly Roger” with plain vanilla sails
However, if you’ve ever visited any of the Disneyland attractions yer may have observed a radically different rendition of the same vessel.
The Jolly Roger ship at Euro Disney Paris, this one was based on the original Disneyland version
If yer squint hard enough in the above image, you’ll discover those sails are indeed red and white striped.
But is that the inspiration behind the new LEGO sail? Or be there deeper reasoning?
The LEGO Group’s Love for Red Striped Sails
Historically, pirates would not dare set sail with such brightly coloured sails for fear of attracting unsolicited attention from those who may promptly end their careers. However, The LEGO Group boasts a glorious collection of pirate ships which proudly fly red striped sails, stemming from the initial LEGO Pirate ship released in 1989, 6285 Black Seas Barracuda (or the Dark Shark to some).
And this is the beauty that started it all!
1991‘s 6267 Lagoon Lockup miniaturized the sails to allow Captain Redbeard to launch a daring rescue mission to save Will from the jail.
Two years later the legend of the red striped sails continued…
1993 was a bold turning point when The LEGO Group braved new frontiers and assigned black striped sails to the pirates, adorned by 6286 Skulls Eye Schooner and 6268 Renegade Runner. The following year’s Indigo Islander explosion welcomed pint-sized versions of the black stripes in 6262 King Kahuka’s Throne and 6278 Enchanted Island, the latter including a jib.
Despite a brief foray into charcoal grey during 1996 with the 6269 Renegade Runner sails, they returned to their red striped roots in 6269 Shipwreck Island, with a black Jolly Roger smack bang in the centre.
6296 Shipwreck Island was the first time we saw a Jolly Roger on a red striped sail
The mayhem continued the following year when shipwreck concept and sail were again utilised in 6281 Pirates Perilous Pitfall, while an a brand new red striped sail appeared in 6250 Crossbones Clipper.
Unlike the name suggests the sail doesn’t feature cross bones!
And then to the torment delight of LEGO pirate-lovers, this concept was donked over the noggin a few more times… along came Captain Redbeard’s Pirate Ship in 2003, 6243 Brickbeard’s Bounty in 2009 and The Brick Bounty in 2015.
If yer don’t like red striped sails go make yer own!
And we shall fling an honourable mention towards 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay – but to be fair, as the intent be a modern Black Seas Barracuda redux, t’would pose a disservice NOT to adorn it with those perennial sails.
Aye, without red striped sails, this ship not be true to the source material! Photo by Tomasz Lasek
And to be even fairer, the Soldier’s complimented their blue coat uniforms with blue striped sails (6272 Caribbean Clipper and 6273 Rock Island Refuge), while the Imperial Guards favoured tan sails (6271 Imperial Flagship, 6267 Imperial Trading Post and 10210 Imperial Flagship).
The LEGO ships inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean films escaped the stripey bounds of their non-licenced brethren, allowing 4184 Black Pearl to slice through the waters with jet black sails, and 4195 Queen Anne’s Revenge to exhibit rather fetching maroon (or is that burgundy?) sails. Culminating in 71042 Slient Mary which barely had any sails to bare!
Is that all the main ships covered? Are we supposed to give a nod to 31109 Creator 3 in 1 Pirate Ship or any of the Duplo Pirate ships which don’t have material sails?
But Why Red so Many Ships with Striped Sails?
Probably gold. Or more precisely, this sail aesthetic appeals to young-ins thus prompting more sales of ships which bare sails decorated like flattened barber poles. Draw them it does, just like the saccharine goodie which tempts the Will `O Wisps away from the swamp.
But that is merely speculatory, for not an ounce of official info has wiffed our way.
What Do Yer Think?
Are red striped sails your absolute favourite type of pirate ship sails? Or have they been included in too many past LEGO ships? Do you feel it’s time The LEGO Group started innovating again? What kind of sails would you like to see?
Now, this is the part in which we unwind the fabric of the matter in the LEGO Pirates Forum!
What Good is the new Sail to LEGO Pirate Fans?
Collection completists exist, hellbent on gobbling up every LEGO set nodding towards pirates – probably a minuscule minority of AFOLs, but they lurk throughout the far reaches of the brick seas!
Or may it be, certain LEGO Pirate fans genuinely relish Disney sets or wouldn’t mind procuring the train for their kids… while pilfering the sail for their own piratical purposes.
Aye, we face a rather limited selection of symmetric spinnakers for the smaller craft.
This is what’s been officially released in the past
Such sails appeared briefly in 6261 Raft Raiders and 6267 Imperial Trading Post, but 30 years hence, aged gracefully they have not! Sourcing crisp, clean sails from the aftermarket is a precarious venture, for aging sails frequently bare the brunt of neglect – pleated with enough wrinkles to rival an elephant’s hide and stained with grislier mildew than Emperor Achu’s long-forgotten aqua shrine.
A rather measly “attempt” rendering a handkerchief clothe sail flimsily dangled from the catapult raft bundled along with 70410 Soldier’s Outpost in 2015.
Yer not gonna catch much wind in that sail!
legocountry76 found an innovate use for that scrap in an updated version of 6257 Castaway Raft
We’ve received no word whether the new sail be comprised of material or plastic, which for some, may be a crucial factor in determining its suitability.
No doubt many a talented builder rather fashion their own sail, but we spare a thought for those crafty with the brick, yet not so precise with the scissors!
You could always enlist the services of a crafty customizer, Tim Begovic frequents the Classic Pirates Facebook Group and makes sails to order. If yer so inclined, visit the Facebook group and submit yer request by creating a post and tagging Tim.
What Do Yer Think?
Will this new sail piece be useful? If so, what would you use it for? Or do you prefer to ignore it completely and make your own custom sail? After all, there is only so many red striped sails a LEGO Pirate fan can handle!
As eternally always, share your thoughts with the Classic Pirates in the LEGO Pirates Forum!
