The skipjack Ida May, captained by Shawn Ridgley and owned by the Gladden family, claimed victory at the 66th Annual Deal Island-Chance Lion’s Club Labor Day Skipjack Race on September 1, 2025—her 7th win in the past 9 years. The crew included Meghan, Ella, Robert, Keith, Bill, David, Tara, Missy, Alain, and Joey.

This year’s race was one of the most thrilling in memory, tense from start to finish. Winds held steady at 10–15 knots, gusting up to 20. Ida May…

The 2024 Choptank heritage Skipjack Race on September 28th at Long Wharf in Cambridge was called off due to lack of wind.

Unfortunately, the Tangier Sound was too rough and the winds were too strong for the Ida May to sail today.  Capt. Shawn Ridgley and mates, Lee Daniels and Keith Whitelock, were at the helm today.  We had already put one reef in both main and jib before we left the harbor because the wind was so strong.  After raising the sail, we realized one reef was not going to do it. It was still too much wind for us!  So we lowered sail and put a second reef in.  We raised the sail again and…

The Ida May and her push boat are back in the water! Eldon Willing of Scott's Cove Marina in Chance, MD took care of us.…

Today, September 24, 2023, Captain Shawn Ridgley and the Ida May once again won the Choptank Heritage Race in Cambridge MD.  We had an able crew of Charles, Lee, and Claire, from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation/the Sigsbee, as well as first mate, Keith Whitelock, Megan on the jib sail, and David, Tara, and Missy as ballast.  

Because of Tropical Storm Ophelia, only four skipjacks entered the race, and remarkably, three of them sailed into Cambridge from Deal Island: the Ida May, the Han…

The skipjack Ida May, captained by Shawn Ridgley and owned by Gordon Gladden, won the 64th Annual Deal Island-Chance Lion's Club Labor Day Skipjack Race again for the second year in a row and the 6th time in 7 years.  We had the able crew of Lee, Jenny, Meghan, Ella, Robert, Keith, Bill, David, Tara, Mike, and Tom helping out.

The day was perfect for sailing! There was a light breeze, and on the water, it wasn't too hot.   Twelve skipjacks came to Deal Island for the race.…

With Captain Shawn Ridgley at the helm, the Ida May won the Choptank Heritage Race in Cambridge MD on September 24, 2022.  It was an exciting race and a perfect day to sail: just enough wind but not too much; 5 to 10 knots.  Our start was not very good and we began in last place.  The wind died on us when we were trying to make our tack towards the starting line.  All our momentum was lost and we were unable to turn.  We had to build up momentum again, but again we didn't have enough speed…

On Labor Day 2022, the skipjack, Ida May, again has won the 63rd Annual Deal Island-Chance Lion's Club Skipjack Race with the legendary, Shawn Ridgley, as Captain.  This continues her unbeaten streak of four races from 2017-2020 that was only interrupted in 2021 by repairs that left her unable to race that year.  Shawn Ridgley is the captain to beat on the Bay, and the Ida May and Shawn will continue on to Cambridge for the race on the 24th of September, where they also have an unbeaten…

shots of the Ida May at the shop in Scott's Cove.  We're hoping to be back in the water and ready for the races soon!…

Sadly, the Ida May will not be defending her racing titles this year.  She is on the bank in Scott's Cove Marina in Chance, MD, awaiting repairs, and the repairs will not be completed in time for this year's race.  Hopefully we'll see you next year for the races.

On September 4, 2020, labor day, the skipjack, Ida May, wins the DEAL ISLAND/CHANCE LIONS CLUB ANNUAL SKIPJACK RACE for the 4th year in a row!!!  Congratulations to Captain Shawn Ridgley and his crew of Mike Oh and Keith Whitelock.

http://www.delmarvalife.com/delmarvalife/previewing-the-deal-island-skipjack-races/?fbclid=IwAR13Qs39xaBw-up53pu_4ssSZkLRwp8lBAoF6n3mEXqk6GERVuGrZSt73zQ

2020 Labor Day Race is Back On!!!!  We will see you there, ready to race!  Hooray!!!

Just got word that the Deal Island Skipjack Heritage Race has been Cancelled for 2020.  :-(

https://salisburyindependent.net/living/shes-gordon-gladdens-total-devotion-the-ida-may/

She’s Gordon Gladden’s devotion: The Ida May

The Ida May won the Choptank Heritage Race in Cambridge MD today on 9/21/2109.  This is her third victory in a row at the Choptank Heritage Race and her sixth victory in a row, counting the Deal Island Race.  

The Ida May won the Deal Island Skipjack Race for the Third Year in a Row!!!  Here is the full article from the Daily Times of Salisbury by journalist Julia Rentsch.  The article is entitled:

Deal Island Skipjack Race revives historical sailing tradition

"With a sharp cannon blast, they were off. 

A fleet of skipjacks — traditional sailboats used in the Chesapeake Bay for oyster fishing —…

The skipjack, Ida May, won the 2018 Choptank Heritage Race for the second year in a row.  Thanks again to Capt. Shawn Ridgley and his able first mate and brother, Wes Ridgley!  Congratulations also to owners Elbert and Gordon Gladden.

We wondered how we would fare in today's race with much heavier winds than there were in Deal Island a couple of weeks ago.  The experts said that the Ida May was just a small wind boat, but we proved them wrong after today's…