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2021 Read-ARRR-Thon #2: Madagascar Pirates
BUILD YOUR FLEET

Rowboats:
Necessary for getting from one ship to another, or for docking inland when departing a larger ship, rowboats are essential for a fleet.
Earn one rowboat for every 500 pages read as a team.
Earn one rowboat for every 8 hours of audio listened to.

Sloops:
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. These were commonly built in Caribbean and were easily adapted for pirate antics. The great advantage of the sloops were that they were quick and could attack swiftly and get away fast with a top speed of over 10 knots. Another advantage is that it could hide in shallower waters to escape warships because of its shallow draft.
Hull: A short book (<300 pages)
Mast: A standalone book
Fore Headsail: A book with water on the cover
Aft Headsail: A book whose first letter of the title appears in ZHENG YI SAO

Schooners:
Another favorite of the pirates of the Caribbean and Atlantic were the two-masted schooner. Like the sloop, this boat was fast, easy to maneuver and enjoyed a large capacity for guns and cannons. A narrower hull and even shallower draft meant it could easily hide in shallow estuaries and escape its enemies. The downside was that it couldn’t hold as much booty or crew.
Hull: A short book (<300 pages)
Foremast: A book that you feel is fast-paced
Foresail: A book whose first letter of the title appears in DAVY JONES' LOCKER
Mainmast: A book that is part of a series
Mainsail: A book written from first person POV (I, me, we)
Bowsprit: A book with a mostly blue cover

Brigantines:
Another shallow-draft boat, the brigantine was popular in the Mediterranean thanks to its great maneuverability and speed. Oars were also common in some designs that could be employed during low winds. This kind of boat was favored for longer battles targeting large spoils with its larger hold and great firepower. Could also hold over 100 men.
Hull: A medium length book (300-500 pages)
Foremast: An adventure book
Foresail: A book with a 0 in the page number
Mainmast: A book whose author's initials appear in YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM
Square Topsail: A book with a mostly green cover
Gaff Mainsail: A book about friendship

Galleons:
A Spanish design, the galleon combined the need to carry cargo and be able to defend itself at the same time with cannons. A galleon, could sustain a crew of over 200 with more than 70 canons and guns. However, its cumbersome maneuvers and slow speed because of its large square sails made it fair game for pirates. These ships were important for pirate fleets to carry treasure in.
Hull: A long book (500+ pages)
Foremast: A book featuring a thief
Foresail: A book that features a fantastical creature
Mizzenmast: A book with a weapon on the front cover
Mizzensail: A book you feel "moves slowly" (not fast-paced)
Mainmast: A book with gold on the cover
Mainsail: A book with an ensemble cast
Beakhead: A book whose author's initials appear in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN

Rowboats:
Necessary for getting from one ship to another, or for docking inland when departing a larger ship, rowboats are essential for a fleet.
Earn one rowboat for every 500 pages read as a team.
Earn one rowboat for every 8 hours of audio listened to.

Sloops:
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. These were commonly built in Caribbean and were easily adapted for pirate antics. The great advantage of the sloops were that they were quick and could attack swiftly and get away fast with a top speed of over 10 knots. Another advantage is that it could hide in shallower waters to escape warships because of its shallow draft.
Hull: A short book (<300 pages)
Mast: A standalone book
Fore Headsail: A book with water on the cover
Aft Headsail: A book whose first letter of the title appears in ZHENG YI SAO

Schooners:
Another favorite of the pirates of the Caribbean and Atlantic were the two-masted schooner. Like the sloop, this boat was fast, easy to maneuver and enjoyed a large capacity for guns and cannons. A narrower hull and even shallower draft meant it could easily hide in shallow estuaries and escape its enemies. The downside was that it couldn’t hold as much booty or crew.
Hull: A short book (<300 pages)
Foremast: A book that you feel is fast-paced
Foresail: A book whose first letter of the title appears in DAVY JONES' LOCKER
Mainmast: A book that is part of a series
Mainsail: A book written from first person POV (I, me, we)
Bowsprit: A book with a mostly blue cover

Brigantines:
Another shallow-draft boat, the brigantine was popular in the Mediterranean thanks to its great maneuverability and speed. Oars were also common in some designs that could be employed during low winds. This kind of boat was favored for longer battles targeting large spoils with its larger hold and great firepower. Could also hold over 100 men.
Hull: A medium length book (300-500 pages)
Foremast: An adventure book
Foresail: A book with a 0 in the page number
Mainmast: A book whose author's initials appear in YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM
Square Topsail: A book with a mostly green cover
Gaff Mainsail: A book about friendship

Galleons:
A Spanish design, the galleon combined the need to carry cargo and be able to defend itself at the same time with cannons. A galleon, could sustain a crew of over 200 with more than 70 canons and guns. However, its cumbersome maneuvers and slow speed because of its large square sails made it fair game for pirates. These ships were important for pirate fleets to carry treasure in.
Hull: A long book (500+ pages)
Foremast: A book featuring a thief
Foresail: A book that features a fantastical creature
Mizzenmast: A book with a weapon on the front cover
Mizzensail: A book you feel "moves slowly" (not fast-paced)
Mainmast: A book with gold on the cover
Mainsail: A book with an ensemble cast
Beakhead: A book whose author's initials appear in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Hello Team Madagascar Pirates! My name is Alyana, one of your captains! This is my first time to lead and my first readathon for this group, so please feel free to help me out if I miss anything. Let's read and have fun together!
Would it be better if we assign tasks for each reader? If we decide to pursue that path, please reserve your spot on this thread with your books plan to read with the possible prompt that will fit. In that way, it would be easier for us for the task assignments.
Alyana wrote: "Would it be better if we assign tasks for each reader? If we decide to pursue that path, please reserve your spot on this thread with your books plan to read with the possible prompt that will fit...."
Alyana, you can use the planning tab on the spreadsheet for this purpose as well!
Alyana, you can use the planning tab on the spreadsheet for this purpose as well!
Hi Nancy, I see you have put in your planned books on the ss. Would it be okay if you post it first on this thread?
Emily wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Would it be better if we assign tasks for each reader? If we decide to pursue that path, please reserve your spot on this thread with your books plan to read with the possible prompt..."Hi Emily, I'm thinking of task assignments so as to keep the planning tab as organized as possible? I remembered the past readathon from the other group and it was inspired by this group. Would that be okay?
You're the team captain - totally up to you! Just letting you know that tab was there on the spreadsheet!
I’d prefer not to be assigned any spots. I’m very much a mood reader and jump around. Plus, this is going to be a crazy week for me.
Jillian wrote: "I’d prefer not to be assigned any spots. I’m very much a mood reader and jump around. Plus, this is going to be a crazy week for me."No problem Jillian! :)
Emily wrote: "Yo-ho-ho, mateys! We are gathering the biggest and best fleet in the land for some good, old-fashioned pirating, and we are working hard to build those ships for plundering!This week, you will re..."
Uhm. I was a late add-in as of today, though I'm not on this list. I assume I can participate on this team? I did add two books to the planning spreadsheet.
Last read-a-thon the team I was on we highlighted our books on the plans tab: green we would finish within 24 hours, yellow if we though it would take 2-3 days, red if it would take several days, and gray if were were done and move the column over to the right to keep it organized. Then the rows would be highlighted gray as they were done.
Lynn wrote: "Uhm. I was a late add-in as of today, though I'm not on this list. I assume I can participate on this team?"Absolutely Lynn! Welcome!
Jillian wrote: "Last read-a-thon the team I was on we highlighted our books on the plans tab: green we would finish within 24 hours, yellow if we though it would take 2-3 days, red if it would take several days, a..."This is a great idea! We can start highlighting them as we put our books on the planning tab.
Sorry I added my books to the spreadsheet and then had to run out. I agree that I'd rather just add the books to the planning tab, while I do have books planned for now those could change, plus I have a busy back half of the week.I liked the way we did it last time (I believe I was with Jillian then too), with the green/yellow/red/grey, so I'm happy to see we'll be doing that again.
Deborah wrote: "So we are posting plans in the spread sheet?"Yes, please continue posting your planned books and mark them on the ss.
Hi everyone! I'm happy to be reading with all of you.I've added 3 books to the spreadsheet, since I usually read/listen to more than one book at a time.
I added the three books I hope to finish. I’m going to be limited to my phone and maybe my Ipad in the evenings until Wednesday/Thursday so I might need some help updating my spreadsheet. I can update on my Ipad but it is to challenging on my phone.
Welcome everyone! Looking forward reading with you all!Jillian, no problem at all. Just let us know in the thread of what you finish and we can update it on the ss.
Hello Team - I'm still figuring out what I'm going to read this week. I will fill it in as soon as I can. Hopefully I'll decide before I go to bed tonight!Can't wait to do the challenge with all of you!
I will be finishing Sharks in the Time of Saviors and The Secret Garden this weekend. Two others that I could finish next weekend are The Bookshop at Water's End and How to Be an Antiracist that I thought might help with some prompts. However, I have others I could list as possibilities... I just added Artificial Condition since it is short and I really want to continue this series! One thing I thought helped in other Team Readathons was to have team members commit to reading certain books they had as possibilities just so those prompts would definitely be filled. For example, I know I will definitely finish the first two I had listed, but I could juggle another 2-3 shorter books for certain prompts...
I like the idea of the colors for the highlighting of the planning but I have a question. I'm currently reading Horns which I probably will finish by Sunday night so I coded that yellow. I plan to read In an Absent Dream which once I start it, it will only take 2 days but if I'm starting it after Horns then do I code that red because it won't be finished in 2-3 days? I'm just wondering if we are coding how long a book takes to read or when we will be finished it for the challenge.
Joan wrote: "I like the idea of the colors for the highlighting of the planning but I have a question. I'm currently reading Horns which I probably will finish by Sunday night so I coded that yel..."Hi Joan, I think the coding is for how long a book it takes to read. But I will let Jillian and Nancy confirm when they get a chance.
I posted the four books that I commit to read this week. If I get those finished before the end of the read-a-thon, I will add more. Look forward to reading with all of you!
Alyana wrote: "Welcome everyone! Looking forward reading with you all!Jillian, no problem at all. Just let us know in the thread of what you finish and we can update it on the ss."
Thanks!
Joan, either color would be fine. The coloring ends up being more helpful in the middle end when there less open tasks and someone wants to read a book to fill the spot. For example, I have Children of Dune marked for the 500+ task but if I finish it, it won’t be until next Saturday at the latest so I don’t want the team while counting on me for that spot.
And that’s all I can commit to read for now... Let me know if you think you need a specific prompt covered later in the week. I can always try to find a short book for a specific prompt. Happy Readathon, maties! AARRRRR!!
Hello! Checking our planned books and I think all of the prompts are covered! Yay! Happy reading Pirates! AARRRR!!!
The way I do the colors is green if I know for sure I'll finish it, yellow if it's a maybe. I'll do red if I start it later in the week and may or may not finish in time.
I finished To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel by Harper Lee, adapted and illustrated by Fred Fordham (273p)and marked it for
Brigatine - A book whose author's initials appear in YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM
I grayed out the column and moved it to the end.
Also grayed out the row.
Anyone else having trouble with the spreadsheet? I just opened it and nothing but the page tracking is showing, no other tabs...
Lynn wrote: "Anyone else having trouble with the spreadsheet? I just opened it and nothing but the page tracking is showing, no other tabs..."That is odd. It opens just fine on my computer. Maybe try a different internet browser?
Yes, the spreadsheet opens just fine on my end too. Try refreshing the page multiple times and browser change might help too.
I finished The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware can someone up date my planning column and add it here: Galleons
Mizzensail: A book you feel "moves slowly" (not fast-paced)
Deborah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Anyone else having trouble with the spreadsheet? I just opened it and nothing but the page tracking is showing, no other tabs..."That is odd. It opens just fine on my computer. Maybe..."
I will try a different browser...
Alyana wrote: "Yes, the spreadsheet opens just fine on my end too. Try refreshing the page multiple times and browser change might help too."Already tried that! LOL
I read 2 graphic novels I'd been saving for the read a thon already. Neither one is long enough to count for the boats, but I did add the page numbers for the rowboat count.
Deborah wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Anyone else having trouble with the spreadsheet? I just opened it and nothing but the page tracking is showing, no other tabs..."That is odd. It opens just fine on my computer. Maybe..."
It opened just fine in Edge. Very strange...
Question, for the prompts that were done, Can we still still use it for other books to build other ships?
Alyana wrote: "Question, for the prompts that were done, Can we still still use it for other books to build other ships?"You can only use each book to fill one prompt, but we can build more then one of each ship - so if more than 1 person reads a 500+ page book, we could try to build 2 Galleons.
Kendra wrote: "You can only use each book to fill one prompt, but we can build more then one of each ship - so if more than 1 person reads a 500+ page book, we could try to build 2 Galleons."Gotcha.. Thanks Kendra! :)
I didn't get to read too much yesterday. My husband finally decided to paint our family room so I helped with that. I'm not expecting anything like that today. I'm hoping to complete Horns today. Fingers crossed.
Happy Sunday all, I was just added to the group. Sorry for the late start. I did finish a book this morning (One for the Money) and have another to finish tonight (Two for the Dough). I am hoping to finish ten books this week. I have not made my way to the spreadsheet to add the books but will as soon as I get home this evening. I am really looking forward to the week.
Books mentioned in this topic
The Bookshop at Water's End (other topics)The Girl in the Green Silk Gown (other topics)
Dracula (other topics)
Dracula (other topics)
The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death: Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Walter Farley (other topics)Sara Bourgeois (other topics)
J.R.R. Tolkien (other topics)
Sara Donati (other topics)
Sara Donati (other topics)
More...




This week, you will read books that will help you build ships to create a powerful pirate fleet. Each ship in the fleet has different requirements, so watch your book choices carefully to make sure you have the biggest, most versatile fleet in the land!
How It Works:
Read books to fulfill the prompts and build your ships. When each ship is completed, you will earn that ship's badge for your fleet. You can work on multiple ships at a time, and you can have multiples of the same type of ship. You can also log your pages to earn much-needed rowboats. The direction of your fleet is up to you!
For more information and to ask questions, see our Introduction and FAQs thread.
Members:
Captain: Alyana
Captain: Kendra
Joan
Deborah (Message 32)
Emma R
Jillian
Nancy
Kathy
Lynn
Kellie Lyn
Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Each tab will help you track the completion of your ships. Use the tabs to fill in books, pages read, and audio hours listened that you have already completed. Use the planning tab to track books-in-progress and hopeful books. Your pirate ship building master (me!) will be watching those spreadsheets to see when you've completed ships.