......................

"Aye, Whitecap Bay! Every worthless seaman fears the name, and rightly so, though few know why or dare to ask."
"Be the stories true?"
"Say what robs you of your staunch heart Gibbs, or forever leave it to the whiter fields of fancy."
"...Mermaids, captain?"

―Hector Barbossa and Joshamee Gibbs^[src]

Whitecap Bay, often stylized as White Cap Bay, was a large cove on a mysterious island. Doom awaited any misguided mariner who sought out these perilous waters, as the Bay was where mermaids have been known to gather for hundreds of years, thereby striking terror in the hearts of all sailors and pirates.

Myths tell of mermaids lurking beneath the pale, foaming breakers, but few knew that these briny beauties were actually flesh-eating creatures. The remote lighthouse at Whitecap Bay served as a beacon, as man-made light could attract these sirens of the sea. Whitecap Bay was most notably visited as the beginning of the journey to find the Fountain of Youth, where Blackbeard and his crew engaged these denizens of the deep on a mermaid hunt. On the verge of luring a mermaid for her tears, a battle ensued as Blackbeard's crew found themselves surrounded by vengeful foes consumed with rage against mankind.

Contents

[show]

History

Legend

"Mermaid waters, that be our path."

―Hector Barbossa to his crew^[src]

The lighthouse of Whitecap Bay.

According to myths and legends, Whitecap Bay was where mermaids have been known to gather for hundreds of years, notably for attacking passing ships and sailors.^[1] Stories made concerning mermaids in this mystical place strike terror in the heart of all sailors and pirates, even if it was just a brief mention of it.^[2] Not even the cove's rocks could offer refuge from mermaids. They can survive long enough on land to drag a human back into the sea where they can entangle their foe in a powerful grip.^[3]

The remote lighthouse at Whitecap Bay was of an ancient design, having been made by the English. In front of a whale oil-fired beacon stands a convex lens, doubling as a harbor light. Legend has it that man-made light and song could attract the sirens of the sea.^[3]

Quest for the Fountain of Youth

First mermaid attack

"The old moon in the arms of the new one. First of the summer. Perfect for hunting a mermaid's tear."

―Angelica to Jack Sparrow^[src]

Mermaids appearing at the Bay.

During the quest for the Fountain of Youth, Blackbeard journeyed to Whitecap Bay with Jack Sparrow, Angelica and many other of his crewmen to capture amermaid. Legend had it that mermaids were drawn to man-made light, soSalaman fixed the abandoned lighthouse where it could light up and aimed it on the longboats in the water, sent on a mission to lure a mermaid for her tears. In one longboat, Philip Swift, Scrum, Derrick, Purser, Ezekiel and the Cabin Boywere used as bait. Scrum was forced to sing, by the zombie crewmen Gunner, to lure the mermaids out. Scrum would sing the sea shanty My Jolly Sailor Bold for an hour until Tamara appears.^[2]

Tamara continues singing Scrum's song, which attracts more mermaids to surround the longboat. The mermaids try to seduce the pirates, which ends with Tamara showing her true form to Scrum. A fierce battle breaks out between the mermaids and the pirates. Blackbeard's crew attempt to lure the mermaids into the shallows, until Blackbeard himself used his sword to unleash Greek fire from the Queen Anne's Revenge on the mermaids, driving them to shore where the others were waiting with nets to capture them. However, the mermaids started using seaweed lassos to haul the pirates out of reach into the water. Jack Sparrow ran up to the top of the lighthouse and lights up the whale oil, causing the lighthouse to explode, scaring the mermaids and saving the remaining crew. Shortly after the battle, Blackbeard's crewmen were able to capture a young mermaid that would later be named "Syrena".^[2]

Second mermaid attack

"Whitecap Bay, sir. We must hasten—"

―Theodore Groves to Hector Barbossa prior to another mermaid attack^[src]

The crew of the Providence at Whitecap Bay.

Later, Hector Barbossa, Joshamee Gibbs, Theodore Groves, Gillette and most of the crew of the HMS Providence would later come ashore during a storm. Barbossa and Groves would examine a mermaid's corpse. Suddenly the mermaids returned and attacked the HMS Providence off the coast. Groves thought that they should save the men aboard, but Barbossa denied it and had them continue their journey on foot. Before they had their heading, they had to watch the Providence sunk, along with most of the crew, by the mermaids. The remainder of the Providence's crewmen continued the journey towards the jungle-infested areas of the island.^[2]

It is unknown if anyone attempted to venture to Whitecap Bay again.