We are looking for volunteer crew for the coming season (which means after all this silly ice is gone!) for the skipjack Claud W. Somers that is owned by the Reedville Fishermen's Museum and sails out of Reedville, VA. The Claud W. Somers was built in 1911 and is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a registered Virginia Historic Landmark. The crew maintains and sails the vessel. No experience is necessary. Time commitment is flexible as we will have a couple of days per month with organized maintenance, crew training and/or sailing and then additional time on the vessel for maintenance depending on crew member's schedules. We are not currently carrying passengers, but once we begin carrying passengers again, all sailing crew will be drug tested per CG rules. Sailing is typically daysails in and around Reedville, the Great Wicomico, and the adjacent bay waters. There may be some longer sails to area nautical events.

So, if you are interested in traditional sailing craft and would like to help maintain and/or sail this vessel, or if you want to learn about wood vessels or learn to sail (although sailing a skipjack is not like sailing more modern vessels!) please contact me or the Reedville Fishermen's Museum. You can also visit the website Claud W. Somers | Reedville Fishermen's Museum or visit the Facebook page for the vessel (Skipjack Claud W. Somers) for more information and additional contact information.

Gerhard

Thanks Gerhard for the info. Do you all participate in the Great Chesapeake Bay Skipjack Race as well?

I think you might be thinking of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Alas, we are a sloop, so, no. However, there is the Deal Island Skipjack Race and the Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race, both in September. Assuming we have a good crew together (we wouldn't go intending to lose!), I would like us to go to those. However, that may or may not be possible this year, depending on several issues that are currently being worked.

Gerhard

Yes..meant the Deal Island Race. Are you still a working oyster vessel?

No, the Claud no longer dredges for oysters. She was donated to the museum in 1999 and was rebuilt 2000-2001 as a passenger vessel. Except for a couple of benches on deck and the missing winder, she is authentic and still uses a yawl boat for mechanical propulsion. In case you are interested in the specs:

Length on deck – 42.6 ft.
Beam – 14 ft.
Length of bowsprit – 14 ft.
Length of boom – 42 ft.
Length of mast – 61 ft.
Draft 3 ft. (w/ centerboard up) 5 ft. (centerboard down)
Sail area: Main sail 945 square feet, jib 370 square feet


Gerhard

Source of timber for its rebuild?

Most of the wood used in restoration was local pine which was cut at Cockrell's. Exceptions are oak around the mast step, and the mast and boom which are of Norwegian Spruce.

Gerhard

Do you belong to Tall Ships America?

The Billet Bank is another great place to find crew...

Tall Ships America Billet Bank

Hi Charles - No we do not. Not sure that we are in the same league as the vessels in ASTA, but appreciate the suggestion. Maybe someday if we really get the program going again we could look for full time crew. Right now we just do not have a program or funding to support that.

Gerhard

what is it like to sail a skipjack? how is it different? i have, obviously, never sailed on one and am very curious. i have seen one that sails around Baltimore's Inner Harbor. everytime i see it, it's exciting; just like seeing the Pride of Baltimore. i really love the traditional vessels.