Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Arrr you ready for some high seas adventures?
Come on down to Florida Water Tours to celebrate a most quirky and special holiday, Talk Like a Pirate Day! This swashbuckling-filled celebration began in 1995 when two friends in Oregon decided to add some playful humor to their racketball game — screaming “Arrr!” when they hit the ball. “Arrr!” turned into talking like pirates throughout the game, and inspired the two to create an official holiday, where landlubbers and sea-faring folks alike don their finest pirate attire, raise a mug to camaraderie and most importantly, Talk Like a Pirate. Yo ho ho! Talk Like a Pirate is always celebrated on September 19th, and so this year, to kick off the holiday, we’re hosting an adults-only Sunset Cruise, setting sail the evening of September 18th to give our guests the chance to start their pirate adventures before festivities kick off around town. Come dress the part, talk the talk, and cruise like a pirate!
Pirates have been around for thousands of years, terrorizing the high seas and coastal cities to seek out fortunes. These sea bandits and sea robbers, buccaneers and marauders, were thieves who risked death for treasure — and some were even authorized by their government to attack and capture enemy ships and spoils. Known as privateers, these individuals were basically pirates with papers, who would sail in armed ships, pillaging and stealing from rival countries. The most famous privateer of all is English admiral and explorer Sir Francis Drake, who raided Spanish settlements in the Americas for Queen Elizabeth I in the late 1500s. Our old city of St. Augustine was an important city for trade in the New World, and so it attracted many a pirate — including Drake.
Sir Francis Drake’s 1586 raid of old San Agustín was infamous. Drake and his 23 ships raided and burned the Spanish settlement to the ground. Drake had 2,000 men with him, which heavily outnumbered the local Spaniards. They took everything of value before destroying the town and burning it to the ground. While he remained a hero in England for his expeditions, the Spanish saw him as a brutal criminal and pirate known as El Draque (“The Dragon”), with the King of Spain issuing a significant bounty on his head. He died of dysentery in 1596.
There is significant overlap with being known as a privateer and a pirate, and was often a line very blurred. Some privateers went beyond their commissions, attacking ships and cities that didn’t belong to their rivals, raiding, murdering and kidnapping on their own whims. One famous pirate who blurred those lines is Robert Searle, who is famous for the 1668 Sack of St. Augustine. Searle, also known as John Davis, had a commission from the Queen of England, however it was nearly a year after his license was revoked when he sailed into the settlement known as San Agustín in 1668. Searle and his crew invaded the town, and were brutal, sacking the city, murdering townsfolk and children and kidnapping people of color. It was Searle’s attack on the city that led to the Spanish Crown funding the construction of the Castillo de San Marcos, the fortification that stands today. Though his attack was brief, it was devastating, and the fort went on to protect the city from any similar destruction it had endured before.
Come celebrate St. Augustine’s thrilling history with pirates on our special Talk Like A Pirate cruise, as we honor this lighthearted tradition. This hour-and-a-half cruise will set sail through the beautiful St. Augustine bay as the sun begins to set. Come dressed in your best pirate gear and receive one complimentary beverage upon boarding. Our bar on board will also feature festive, pirate-themed cocktails, available for purchase throughout the evening. This cruise is adults-only, ages 21+. Whether you’re a longtime fan of this celebration, of pirates, or simply just looking for a unique night on the water, Talk Like A Pirate offers the perfect mix of fun, festivity and unf-arrr-gettable sunset views.
We welcome you to celebrate St. Augustine and the seven seas with us at Florida Water Tours. We’re located at the Windward Camachee Cove Yach Harbor Marina, 107 Yacht Club Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32084. We offer free parking and restrooms are on board. Our vessels are just a short walk from our boutique, located at Docks A-23, A-24 and A-25. Email us at [email protected] to book or inquire about your next sail.