Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum guests are invited to watch model skipjack races beginning Sunday, June 11, 2017, with the race series continuing on select Sundays through October.
The radio-controlled (RC) sailing races are organized by CBMM’s Model Sailing Club, which meets regularly throughout the year to build and race these models. Other race dates include July 16, August 20, September 17, and October 15, with the public invited to watch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from CBMM’s Fogg’s Cove waterfront. The course will be available after the races for guests to bring and race their own RC boats. All races are dependent on marine conditions.
Built in the early 20th century, the sail-powered skipjack was once a cost effective working boat used by watermen for oyster dredging. Today, only a few remain on the Chesapeake Bay, including CBMM’s skipjack, Rosie Parks. CBMM’s Model Sailing Club races RC models of these two-sailed bateaux, which at full size can vary from 38 to 48 feet in length. The 48-inch skipjack models are built from scratch from plans sold by the club at the Museum Store.
Started in 1983 as the Saint Michaels Model Boat Club, CBMM’s Model Sailing Club and Maritime Model Guild continue today through its many members and volunteers. To learn more about the races, or to join the club, visit bit.ly/modelguild, or contact Commodore Gary Nylander at [email protected]. Photos of previous model skipjack races are at bit.ly/modelskipjackphotos.
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