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…

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.

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

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…

The skipjack, Ida May, won the 59th Annual Deal Island Skipjack Race.  This is the second year in a row for the Ida May to be the champion.  Congratulations to Capt. Shawn Ridgley and his able first mate, Mike Oh!!!  Congratulations as well to owners Elbert and Gordon Gladden.

There was very little wind for the race.  The Tangier Sound was glassy and the skipjacks' sails were slack, fluttery.  The Ida May's yawl boat was having engine problems, so we decided to let someone tow…

The Ida May's victory in the 2017 Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race in Cambridge MD was highlighted in the May 2018 edition of the Chesapeake Bay Magazine.  Here's the link to read the article.

https://www.chesapeakebaymagazine.com/features/2018/4/4/an-ida-may-day?rq=ida%20may

The Ida May has pulled off the double crown of Skipjack racing by winning the 2017 Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race today, having already won the Labor Day race off Deal Island.  Wow! We are ecstatic and so proud of the Captain, Shawn Ridgley, and his first mate, Michael Oh.  The race was tight from the start with boats jockeying for prime position.  We were sandwiched between the Rosie Parks on our starboard and the Lady Katie on our port.  These boats were so close to us that I could've…

The Ida May came in first place in the 2017 Deal Island Labor Day Skipjack Race!!!!

Thanks to Capt. Shawn Ridgley for sailing a great race!!! Amazing!!! What a great day.  Elbert and Gordon Gladden are very proud.  

We blew away the competition, stealing the other boats' wind and passing the fleet on the way to the first buoy.  We then kept our lead the entire race and put much distance in between us and our nearest competitor.  It was a perfect day to sail,…

The Ida May is back home to Deal Island Harbor.  Thanks Keith Whitelock for helping out!!!

Congratulations to the captain and crew of the Rosie Parks who won the 2015 Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race!!! It was a windy day and perfect for those big boats to fly.  The Ida May didn't have a chance.  The Rosie was faster with her jib down than the Ida May with full sail.  We had a wonderful time and Capt. Jimmy Murphy did an admirable job in the rough conditions of the Chotank River.  Thanks Jimmy!!!…

Thanks Jimmy Murphy, Frank Antes, and Keith Whitelock for bringing the boat up to Cambridge MD from her home harbor in Deal Island MD.  The Choptank Heritage Race will be on 9/26/15.  We didn't make it up last year, and the year before, well, let's not talk about the year before.

The Ida May remembers Capt. John Price, who died just one month ago.  We miss you John!!!

Dickie Webster stepped up in our time of need and took the helm of the Ida May in this year's Deal Island Races.  Thank you Dickie!  

There was no wind at all.  It reminded me of those years in the 70's and 80's when we'd bake under the sun and drift in the tide.  There was such little wind that the finish line became the first buoy, and only half the boats could even make…

Unfortunately the Ida May was unable to race at the 2014 Choptank Heritage Races in Cambridge MD.  Our yawl boat's engine died on us on the trip up and we were unable to make it in time for the race.  Congratulations to Captain Wadie Murphy of the Rebecca Ruark for winning the race two years in a row.  

Video about the Races. Really a comedy video:

http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2014/09/02/skipjack-race-female-crew-deal-island/14981975/

Photos about the Races:…