Tall ships, pirate ships, schooners — really big boats.

The floating parade on Admiralty Inlet drew crowds along the shore as the vessels presented a striking display over slightly choppy waters and under cloudy skies Tuesday.

“We’re waiting for the pirate ships,” said Lukas Wilson, 6, as he sat on the beach with his brother, Darwin Merrill, 3, and mother, Soley Wilson-Merill.

When the Oak Harbor family learned about the Admiralty Inlet Parade of Sail, they just had to make the trip to Fort Casey State Park to witness the historic occasion, said Wilson-Merrill.

“He’s currently obsessed with pirates so this is perfect,” she said with a laugh.

“They have swords and hats and stuff,” Lukas chimed in.

And cannons (real or imagined) which boomed now and then from the ship, Lady Washington, leaving trails of smoke dancing in the distance.

The boats ranged in size and sailing rigs. They included vessels that call Penn Cove home — the Gatsby-era schooner Suva and 52-foot ketch Cutty Sark.

The 10 boats formed a flotilla on their way to the 2017 Festival of Sail in Tacoma, taking place this weekend. They passed Point Wilson, Admiralty Head and Marrowstone Point.

San Juan Island National Historic Park organized the Parade of Sail as a tribute to Capt. George Vancouver, who first sailed into Puget Sound waters 225 years ago.

Vancouver claimed Puget Sound for Great Britain on June 4, 1792, naming it after one of his officers, Peter Puget.

An estimated 500 people packed the area around Fort Casey for a glimpse of the ships while smaller crowds got a good vantage point from Fort Worden and Fort Flagler State Parks.

“It is way more people than I expected,” said Lynn Hyde with San Juan Island National Historical Park.

“I salute Coupeville and greater Whidbey for turning out.”

Classic square-rigged vessels highlighted Tuesday’s Parade of Sail, organized as a tribute to Capt. George Vancouver, who first sailed into Puget Sound waters 225 years ago. Photo by John Fisken

A spectacular view of the Tuesday’s Parade of Sail from Fort Casey State Park, where hundreds of people viewed the grand fleet of tall ships from high bluffs and the beach. Photo by John Fisken

A large crowd, some with large lenses, took in the sights of tall ships during the Parade of Sail as the flotilla passed through Admiralty Inlet Tuesday on the west side of Whidbey Island. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times

Tall ships during the Parade of Sail pass through Admiralty Inlet Tuesday drawing a large crowd from the beaches on the west side of Whidbey Island. Photo by Ron Newberry/Whidbey News-Times