While sailing off the coast of the Carolinas in America, Blackbeard came across “gentleman pirate” Stede Bonnet. While Bonnet was a completely inept seaman, Blackbeard took a liking to him and invited him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge as a guest, at the same time taking Bonnet's ship into his own fleet. While it's probable that Bonnet was a virtual prisoner aboard Blackbeard's ship, the arrangement seemed to suit them both. Bon net was relieved of any real decision-making, and Blackbeard's fondness for Bonnet seemed genuine. The two would eventually part ways when Black-beard swindled Bonnet out of his shares of stolen loot and left him ashore. Blackbeard then found a safe refuge on Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. The island was surrounded by shallow inlets and bays that provided a good deal of security for Blackbeard's ships and crews. Fully manned British warships found the area around the island virtually impossible to navigate, so Blackbeard moved about with impunity.