DEAL ISLAND, Md.- Each year on Labor Day, the last surviving Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks set sail in the Deal Island Harbor for the annual Skipjack race. This year marks the 57th year of the event.
The day of competition for a cause brought spectators out from near and far. The event is sponsored by the Deal Island-Chance Lions Club. This is the organizations main fundraiser for the year.
Organizers say 90 percent of the money raised goes towards helping the local community. The few remaining skipjacks are apart of the oldest working fleet in America.
Jill Benton from Crisfield has attended at the race for the last several years, she has several family members competing in the race on two separate Skipjacks.
"I love it, it's just amazing to watch, it's beautiful, just look at it, it's beautiful to watch them stretched out across the bay like this," Benton said.
The winners of Monday's Labor Day race are: Captain Wade Murphy took first place on the Rebecca Ruark. Captain Lawrence Murphy came in second place on the Thomas Clyde. Captain Shawn Ridgley came in third place on the Ida Mae.
