South Bay : Redondo No Pirate’s Roost

Members of the Redondo Beach Pier Assn. might be forced to walk the plank for this one.

Two months ago, the group began circulating tales about a ruthless pirate named Juan Rodriguez Redondo, who allegedly plundered Spanish treasure ships as he sailed the Santa Monica Bay.

The stories piqued the curiosity of dozens of local residents who wanted to see pictures of the notorious pirate, who supposedly served as Redondo Beach’s namesake.

The stories, it turns out, were a hoax--part of a marketing strategy to promote the pier’s recent Treasure Island Days festival, city officials said.

“There were never any pirates in Redondo Beach,” said Pat Botsai, liaison to the city’s historical commission. “It’s amazing the number of people who took it seriously.”

But not everyone is willing to put the matter to rest.

Jim Hall, executive director of the pier association, still believes his own propaganda. He insists there is no proof to back up the city’s explanation that Redondo Beach actually was named after the Spanish word redondo, meaning “circle.”

Hall said his information about the pirate’s exploits comes from a diary allegedly kept by a shipwrecked sailor.

“I’d like to compare my proof with the [city’s] proof,” Hall said. “Frankly, I think my explanation is as good as any. Actually, it’s better.”