Skipjack Capsizes During Choptank Heritage Race

CAMBRIDGE — Sailboat racing has been said to be as exciting as watching paint dry. That was not the case here Saturday, Sept. 21, during the 17th Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race, which saw the Ida Mae, out of Deal Island, capsize.

Capt. Wade Murphy Jr. of Tilghman Island went on to win the race aboard his Rebecca T. Ruark. Capt. Lawrence Murphy of Tilghman finished second aboard his Thomas Clyde and the Nathan of Dorchester of Cambridge finished third with Capt. Frank Newton at the helm.

With winds breezing between 10 and 15 mph, it was already an exciting race, with the Ida Mae out in front of the field of six skipjacks. It appeared as if she would pull off a repeat performance of her recent first-place finish at the Labor Day skipjack race at her home port.
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