'Pirate ship' stranded on Cable Beach in Broome

Stunned Broome beachgoers met a real life Jack Sparrow this afternoon when a “pirate ship” became marooned on Cable Beach.

Visiting skipper Wolfgang Lantzberg from Baldivis is travelling around Australia and sailed up from Carnarvon a week ago.

The retired civil engineer said he was travelling through the Kimberley with his kelpie-cross companion Bella and had decided to beach his boat to stock up on food supplies before heading back out on the next big tide.

“I wanted to go shopping…so I thought I might as well beach it, it’s designed for it.”

Shire of Broome senior beach lifeguard Ric Cockman did a double take when he first spotted the ship coming close to shore earlier in the day.

“We were doing our normal surveillance between the flags and noticed this pirate ship coming towards the swim area,” he said.

“He seemed to be coming in a bit closer and was to our southern flags so on the outside very close to it.

“Our concern was for the people in the swim area but no one was in danger, we were just making sure we could overt that if it was going to happen.”

Mr Cockman said he informed Mr Lantzberg he needed to be further outside of the flags but the skipper soon found himself stranded.

“He attempted to reverse the boat out of there but the tide had already receded so it was actually stuck already.”

While waiting for the next big tide, Mr Lantzberg spent the afternoon soaking up the sun and entertaining crowds of curious beachgoers who swarmed around the pirate ship to get a closer look.

The German-born Australian permanent resident told theBroome Advertiser he had spent eight years travelling around the country on a coaster bus and the past four years sailing solo on his quirky boat since retiring in 2002.

He said he designed and built the boat in 18th century style, giving it a pirate-esque look.

Mr Lantzberg said he planned to set sail on the next big tide about 9pm tonight and travel around the the Kimberley before heading to Darwin on other nautical adventure.