Deal Island community holds 61st Annual Skipjack race

DEAL ISLAND, Md. – On Monday, the Deal Island community celebrated the 61st annual Skipjack Race.

The event took place at the Deal Island Harbor.

Organizers say 9 skipjacks participated in this year’s race.

They say while the Skipjack Festival did not take place this year because of the pandemic they’re glad the race could still happen.

The Skipjack Heritage President Stoney Whitelock tells us on top of providing entertainment this event helps preserve the last remaining skipjacks here on the Eastern Shore.

“There are only 25 of these skipjacks left in existence and in the late 1800s or early 1900s, there were a thousand,” said the Skipjack Heritage President Stoney Whitelock.

“So, we’re trying to keep them going while we have left,” said Whitelock.

Organizers are encouraging the public to visit the Skipjack Heritage Museum to celebrate this unique part of Eastern Shore history. For more information about the Skipjack Heritage organization, click here.