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Model skipjack races return to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum at Miles River

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum guests are invited to watch model skipjack races beginning on Sunday, May 20, as part of the 12th Maritime Model Expo and CBMM’s Community Day. The race series continues on select Sundays through October, with the opportunity to watch included with regular CBMM admission and no advanced registration needed. Admission to Community Day on Sunday, May 20, is free for everyone.

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 June 24, July 15, Aug. 19, and Oct. 21, with the public invited to watch from 11am–1pm 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 cbmm.org/modelguild, or contact Commodore Gary Nylander at [email protected].

More at cbmm.org/modelguild

The radio-controlled (RC) model skipjack race series is organized by CBMM’s Model Sailing Club, which meets regularly throughout the year to build and race these models