Skipjacks Living Symbols of the Chesapeake Bay
June 29 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$79.55
Susan Schneider, raised in the historic seaport of Charleston, South Carolina, and formally trained in historic architecture, now volunteers in the maritime community, combining her passion for sailing with public education. She leads tours for several nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving Maryland’s iconic skipjacks. In 2025, Susan spearheaded the return of skipjacks to the Annapolis waterfront by launching the Skipjack Heritage Festival at Sandy Point State Park—now an annual celebration of the Bay’s living maritime tradition.
Details
- History Monday Sunset Sails occur every Monday, May-September 21.
- Different topics and speakers vary throughout the season.
- Our bar includes a selection of Craft Beer, Wine & Bubbly available for purchase!
More than 150 years ago, Chesapeake Bay watermen began dredging oysters under sail from a shallow-draft, single-masted wooden boat called the skipjack. Remarkably, they still do.
Once, thousands of skipjacks worked the Bay—Maryland’s ubiquitous oyster workboat and the backbone of a thriving seafood industry. Today, only about a dozen remain, still harvesting oysters much as they did in the late 1800s.
Built for the Bay’s shallow waters, skipjacks were simple, efficient, and affordable—powered entirely by wind and skill. With small crews and no engines, they opened opportunity for generations of watermen and helped shape the culture and economy of waterfront communities across the Chesapeake.
But this living tradition is now at risk. Environmental pressures, declining oyster populations, and a changing Bay threaten both the fleet and the way of life it represents.
This talk explores what makes the skipjack uniquely Maryland, why it was named the official State Boat, and why preserving these vessels matters. At its heart, the story of the skipjack is one of ingenuity, hard work, and community—and a race against time to ensure this proud legacy continues under sail.
