© 'SKIPJACK #29' The Rebecca T. Ruark Chesapeake Bay Tilghman Island Maryland Glicee On Canvas by Jan Peterson
 
The Story: 
After living full-time in Annapolis MD from 1980-1997 and working in the maritime industry for a national boating magazines, I would spend my free time gunkholing for crab deadrise boats, skipjacks, clammers, other Bay workboats, crab sheds and seafood houses. I was drawn to them much the same way that a boat is drawn to the water. Along the way I would also find osprey, eagles, blue herons or a Jimmy 'carrying' a Sook along the riverbank.
 
This painting was inspired by my love for Chesapeake Bay workboats, particularly Skipjacks. I have always been fascinated by old wooden workboats, and to dredge for oysters under sail was no exception. The Skipjack Rebecca T. Ruark was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2003. She was built in 1886 in Taylor's Island Maryland. And has been working the Chesapeake Bay bringing oysters to market ever season  since. Captain Wade H. Murphy bought her in 1986 and spent that summer completely rebuilding her. She offered sailing tours out of Dogwood Harbor on Tilghman Island Maryland until recently a truck crashed onto her aft deck. They plan to fix her and set sail again in 2024. She is assigned dredge number 29.
 
You may reach me 252.728.7884 or email me jan@outonthewater.com
 
By the Sea, Jan Peterson