Avast! A record crowd tried to repel boarders at the Sheppey Pirates’ Festival on Saturday.

But despite facing a wall of resistance from excited boys and girls hurling water-bombs and firing water pistols, the marauding crew from the Salty Sea Pig, led by the fearsome Captain Cutlass, once again set foot on, relatively, dry land at Barton’s Point Coastal Park, Sheerness.

The gang of cut-throats attacked from a flotilla of craft they had begged, borrowed and stolen from Queenborough Rowing Club and a group of stunned paddle-boarders.

Cutlass (also known as Adrian Collins) admitted: “Even for battle-scarred pirates like us, taking on the Islanders can be pretty scary. This was the toughest test yet.”

Yet the popular Sheppey skirmish almost didn’t happen. A week before, Swale council had demanded stringent new risk assessments after a triple stabbing at a water fight in London’s Hyde Park.

VIDEO: Pirates invade Sheppey at festival

Organiser June Collins said: “We were given just a day to put together a whole new risk assessment. The council also insisted on us employing a two-man security team over and above the Sheppey Event Marshalling Unit, who were excellent. There was some frantic last-minute work going on behind the scenes.”

The pirates also introduced a £2 all-day parking charge for the first time to deter people from using their cars, as parking was limited.

June said: “The parking charges raised almost £1,000. Plus we found five collectable 50p pieces among the coins which we have valued at between £3.50 and £200 each. We will be auctioning them later.”

A bucket collection raised a further £900. Barton’s Point Boat House is also expected to make a donation. All money goes to the RNLI.

The Pirates are still adding up how much they have raised for the Island’s lifeboat crew over the three-day festival.

It was launched on Friday night with a free film show by Sheerness Enhancement Association for Leisure (Seal) of the piratical adventure Hook. The packed audience was surprised to discover the pirates booing Peter Pan and cheering Captain Hook.

After Saturday’s landing, youngsters were treated to piratical party games with JR King’s Juggernaut Roadshow and local entertainers Mick Kenten, the Rockin’ Decades, Shameful Behaviour and Stoned. PA was provided by Darren Cast’s Roadhouse Recording Studio.

Joining the Sheppey crew were brigands from the Brighton-based De Warenne, the River Rogues from Oxford, Wight Pirates from the Isle of Wight and the Sky Pirates from steam-punk group Great Kentspectations.

Two members of Tempus Experientia amused the crowds by ‘drunkenly’ singing sea shanties.

On Sunday, the Rotary Club of Minster-on-Sea staged its second rowing race on the lake using boats from Queenborough Rowing Club. Six teams of five battled for the Sail Trophy.

Meanwhile, the pirates treated visitors to sword-fighting and musket and canon-firing demonstrations and then went into battle, compered by Jax Sparrow, from Poole. G. Smith’s funfair entertained the youngsters.

Cutlass added: “We’d like to thank everyone for coming and supporting the event and all those who took part. We have already begun planning for next year!”

The pirates will return on the first weekend of August 2017.