Then: A group of pirates once tried to "hijack" the cruise ship Princess Marguerite as it left Elliott Bay on its daily trip to Victoria. "I lost the seat of my britches," veteran pirate Dick Munsell says of that event. He also recalls that pirates wore out their welcome at a local restaurant when one of them tried to dismantle the bar with his sword.

"We used to stay at the old Hungerford Hotel (now Pacific Plaza). We had the run of the first and second floors," Munsell says. Beverage distributors used to fill their bathtubs with ice and bottles while they were out pirating.

Now: "We've never been bad, we've just had the mystique of being bad," he says of his pirate gang. "People who haven't grown up here don't understand." The group has gone from about 50 to 20 active members -- members who once took 10 days off to party hard and play pirate. Today their performance schedule is almost year-round, and they're careful who they grab and kiss.

Then: Royalty got the royal treatment. Hughbanks, a Seafair volunteer since the 1950s, says "those were the days of visiting queens, pages, trumpeters, 50 chauffeurs and seven chaperones for the queen and princesses. When that group moved out of the hotel (the Olympic) it was a pageant in itself."

Mary Jo "Midge" Erickson Kraft, 1960 Queen of the Seas, attended the University of Washington part time during her reign. She had a clothing allowance and a wardrobe of white ballgowns including one with long sleeves she wore with long johns when she represented Seafair in the Rose Bowl parade. She remembers Pasadena as a very cold place in the early morning.

Now: Seafair's king and queen are selected for their contributions to the community. Rita Ryder, executive director of the YWCA, and the Rev. Sam McKinney, retired pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church are sharing the honors this year.

There's also a Miss Seafair, Hollie De Lisle, who was selected Tuesday night out of 21 candidates in a competition based on poise, talent and academic achievement. De Lisle, a graduate of Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, will be a junior at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn., this fall. She was awarded a $5,000 scholarship.

Then: "At its best and most exciting, a (hydroplane) race is a noisy rock festival with piston engines," says broadcast veteran Pat O'Day. He's been the voice of the Seafair race since 1967. He also recalls that the shores of Lake Washington became "the world's largest tavern the first Sunday in August."

Now: Today, the race is like a rock festival unplugged. By the 1980s, turbine-powered boats had replaced pistons. "Hydroplanes sound more like a Lexus," huffed a Seafair pirate who's seen and heard them all.

Both O'Day and hydroplane driver Chip Hanauer would like to see piston power and its noise return. Hanauer says the crowd is ready for it, and believes pistons would add more excitement. "Noise is part of the motor sport experience," he says.

And the world's largest tavern? Races have become a family picnic with a beer garden.

Grand Ball: This Seafair party was once the largest black-tie event in Seattle. Today there are formal parties galore, but there's no Seafair ball.

Parades: The Torchlight Parade used to be preceded by a Grand Parade held one week earlier during daylight.

Pageants: The Miss Seafair competition started out as a beauty pageant. Today candidates are selected largely on the basis of community service, scholastic achievement and talent. A swimsuit competition has never been part of the agenda.

Cars: Royals once traveled in white convertibles during Seafair. Today they travel in Corvettes or other GM products. Queen Rita Ryder is driving a yellow Corvette this week and King Sam McKinney is in a Cadillac SUV.

SEAFAIR HIGHLIGHTS

TORCHLIGHT PARADE

WHEN: Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., preceded at 6:30 p.m. by Torchlight Run

WHERE: Parade begins at Seattle Center where more than 100 parade units head south on Fourth Avenue and end at Second Avenue and King Street

HINT: For those who don't want to stand curbside, reserved bleacher seating is available. Tickets are $17-$35, depending on location, from Ticketmaster

FLEET ARRIVAL

WHAT: Navy hospital ship, destroyer, frigate and cutter

WHEN: Wednesday, about 1 p.m.

WHERE: Elliott Bay waterfront

NOTE: Ship tours may be available. Check the Seafair Web site, http://www.seafair.com/, for updated information. The fleet will be in Seattle until Aug. 3

HYDROPLANE RACES

WHEN: Aug.1-3, with gates open at 8 a.m. and racing beginning at 10

WHERE: Southwest Lake Washington, Stan Sayres Pit Area

ADMISSION: Friday is free! Saturday general admission is $17; Sunday $25; discount tickets are available at 76 gasoline stations, $20

HINT: To keep track of the race action, bring a radio

BLUE ANGELS

WHAT: Navy's aerial acrobatics team and the highlight of the Air Show during the hydroplane races

WHEN: First plane arrives at Boeing Field Sunday evening, makes media flights midday Monday; six other jets arrive Monday afternoon; circle and arrival maneuvers, 10:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday; air show appearances noon-12:45 p.m. Aug. 1-3

More headlines and info from Downtown, Rainier Beach/Seward Park.

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