Saturday, June 18, 2011

A Boat's Birthday: Claude W. Somers, Skipjack

The 100th birthday of the genuine Chesapeake Bay skipjack Claude W. Somers is being celebrated today at the Reedville Fishermens Museum in Virginia.

The ship was built by W. Thomas Young of Parksley in 1911 at Youngs Creek, Virginia. He also built the Bernice J.

Wikipedia says the Somers is presently ported in Claiburne, Md, but the museum is in Virginia.

In 1977, it was struck by a squall near Hooper Strait Light and six crew died, including the captain-owner. In 1985, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In case you're wondering, a skipjack is a traditional Chesapeake Bay boat used for oyster dredging.

The Reedville Fishermen Museum web site says that along with the Somers, they also have the deck boat Elva C.

Happy B-Day Claude Somers. --DaCoot

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