Captain Cook & The Little David

It's the first Friday in May in the peaceful little North Florida coastal community of Fernandina Beach. The streets are full of revelers. The night has come alive with sounds of music and happy chatter, and the warm evening air is permeated with tempting aromas from food vendors in the street selling everything from cotton candy and funnel cakes to shrimp and seafood. Out in the harbor, a boat glides swiftly and quietly toward the dock. Subtly the tone of the music shifts to an ominous, more dramatic tempo. The anticipation of the crowd begins to build. With little hearts pounding, small children begin to stare bug-eyed out toward the dark water mesmerized by the menacing glide of the lights from the ship as it slinks nearer the shore.

Suddenly, the thunderous boom and lightning flash of cannon fire erupts from the blackness, and the hue and cry of marauding pirates spilling from the decks of the ship cuts through the night as once again the invasion of the Fernandina Pirates Club during the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is brought to shore by the valiant efforts of the fierce Captain David Cook and the crew of the Little David!



For thirteen years the Little David, with Captain Cook at the helm, has been safely landing the Fernandina Pirates on shore for the invasions which have become an integral part of the tradition that is the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. The Captain and his boat are an icon for everything the Festival is about. Not only an essential part of the Pirates' contribution to the merriment of the Festival, the Captain and his boat also symbolize the modern shrimping industry that the Festival celebrates.

The Cook family has been shrimping the local waters since 1898 when Captain Cook's grandfather began the family business. The Little David has been a working shrimp boat in the Cook family since its construction in 1961. Captain Cook, himself, has been shrimping for 55 years. He began working on shrimp boats with his father when he was only seven, and always knew that his heart's desire was to be the captain of his own boat.

The Fernandina Pirates are grateful that he did just that and that he's been one of our number for so many years. We are proud of our long association with this fine gentleman and his noble vessel. We want to thank him for our many safe and successful voyages, and let him know that he is a treasured friend. Captain Cook, our wish for you is that...

May God always grant you... Sheltered harbor from all storms, Fair winds, following seas, And a safe journey home.