Contrary to what you may have seen in popular films and TV, pirates wouldn’t sail under black sails. They’d more likely rig their ships with sails like the ones in this incredible tall ship from Luke (@cathedralofbricks). Luke has been building with typhoon intensity these past few months, but so far all of his works have been castles (as he shared with us in our interview last month). For a change of pace, he tests out new waters and rekindles an old love for the golden age of piracy. Luke proves every bit as adept at sea as he is with gothic stonework.  While incorporating many modern elements and techniques, some elements, like the hull pieces and the mast over the stern are straight from vintage LEGO Pirate ships. Having just finished building the One Piece Going Merry, I feel a powerful nostalgia for these dedicated nautical pieces from LEGO’s past.

While the  brickwork is all LEGO, Luke finishes the pirate vessel with custom sails and well-researched rigging. Tying all those tiny knots must have  been  as much work as  building the ship itself! And for the water, it’s smooth sailing over azure sea with frothy white bricks trailing in the wake. I love the mix of curved white parts around the hull conveying the speed of a ship under full sail.