''Get out of the way, move faster!'' a sailor hollered. A ship, brandishing a black sail with a white skull and bones, brushed off another vessel, the Gaucho, forcing the second ship to shift its course to avoid a crash.

What looked like a scene from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World was the start of one of South Florida's most popular sailing events: the Columbus Day Regatta.

The race, in its 50th year, kicked off Saturday with the bang of a propane canon and 139 sailboats gliding on Biscayne Bay's turquoise sea.

''What he did was perfectly legal,'' said sailor veteran and regatta member Jay Wood, about the start of the pirate ship, Wind Pirate.

The vessel's maneuver also had members of the race committee -- who wore their traditional dandy outfit: a dark blue blazer, white pants and a red cap -- cheering the captain's risky scheme; although the committee's boat, which marked the starting line, almost got hit in the melee.

Moments earlier, another sailboat did a complete spin before passing through the go line, almost knocking out two competing boats.

''The start is always the most exciting part of the race,'' Wood said.

The regatta, which started in 1954, brings professional sailors and rookies along for a two-day competition that has 17 different races -- depending on people's expertise and ships. Boats sped south to Saturday's finish line off East Featherbed Bank in Biscayne National Park, where they will spend the night anchored in the bay. Today, they will race back to the Coconut Grove finish line.

Also anchored in the bay: hundreds of boats containing thousands of people hoping to watch the race -- and party into the night. The spectators, as the regatta committee will firmly tell you, are not part of the race. But they're 100 percent racy.

For them, getting naked, getting boozy, getting rowdy and blasting loud music is all part of the weekend.

By 10 p.m. park officials said they had made 10 arrests for boating under the influence. And four swimmers were lost from their boats and were taken to shore to make calls to be picked up.

A man sailing between Blackpoint Marina and Turkey Point lost power in his dingy and suffered burns after misfiring a flare to call for help. He was picked up by a boater who took him to shore.

Even some of the regatta sailors were looking forward to a bit of the nonregatta fun.

''I grew up with Mardi Gras, and this is not so wild compared with that,'' said Gordon Howard, a sailor aboard the Eagle 1. ``My friend is going to take his motorboat, and I'll stay for a little while.''

Committee members had anticipated the 50th anniversary would bring about 300 boats.

''Remember when we use to have 700 [boats],'' said regatta board member Sharon Burke. ``Oh, the thrill.''

But this year's multiple hurricanes cut the anticipated number by half.

But neither hurricane nor high water was about to keep out some of the sailors.

''See this guy with the Italian [sail]?'' pointed out Wood. ``This is Larry Mero; he was in the very first regatta. He has been sailing ever since.''

Herald staff writer Monica Hatcher also contributed to this story.

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