TAMPA, Fla. — Batton down the hatches!

The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates is now just a few days away, and one all-female krewe is ready to rock the boat as they have for nearly 20 years.

It may be tucked away in storage now, but the Krewe of Ann Jeffrey’s massive float is ready to sail down Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard.

What You Need To Know

The Krewe of Ann Jeffrey is the only all-female pirate krewe participating in Tampa’s Gasparilla 

According to pirate lore, the krewe got its name from Ann Jeffrey, a beautiful woman who turned down Jose Gaspar’s proposal

The group, now 75 strong, raises money for adults with disabilities

This year, the Krewe of Ann Jeffrey is in position 52 at the Pirate Fest Parade

Purposely built with a DJ stand on the bow, a bathroom at the stern, cup holders, electricity and even a second-story crow’s nest, the Krewe of Ann Jeffrey knows how to leave its mark on the iconic Gasparilla parade.

Tampa native Susan Toll founded the group 19 years ago, but it almost didn’t happen.

“When we got to the office, we were told that the gentleman that was supposed to meet us had gone to lunch,” Toll said. “And I said, ‘Well, there he goes right there,’ So we kind of chased him down the hall, made him listen to us, and then when he saw our presentation and he saw everything about Ann Jeffrey, he even said to us, ‘I can’t believe that no one has come up with this before.’”

According to pirate legend, Jose Gaspar, Gasparilla’s namesake, had proposed to a beautiful woman he kidnapped named Ann Jeffrey. She denied him, but, surprisingly, Gaspar spared her life.

Lore said Gaspar felt he should’ve “seized the moment” with Ann. That phrase is now a rallying call for the 75-strong Krewe of Ann Jeffrey.

“Our crew is filled with professional women. We have educators, we have nurses, we have doctors, we have military, we have first responders,” Denise Chenoweth, president of the Krewe of Ann Jeffrey, said. “To be that special part of Jose Gaspar’s story as an all-female krewe, and that highlight piece, we’re pretty proud.”

Bling is a big part of the krewe, from their bedazzled tricorn hats, to their unique jackets, all reflecting the different lives of the women that make up the krewe.

Alongside raising funds, for maintenance, insurance and other expenses, the krewe also donates proceeds to organizations supporting adults with disabilities.

“Every year, I think about how this little idea on a napkin has grown,” said Toll. “And we have some of the most beautiful women.”