ROCK HALL — Jake Jacobs at the helm of Outlaw raced out of the harbor, shifted his boat’s engine into reverse, deftly navigated between a pair of 15-foot-tall tree limbs that had been “planted” in the shallow water as markers and roared toward the dock.
The Taylors Island captain abruptly stopped within arm’s reach of the dock, where Bobby Gattus in the stern of the boat easily lassoed a piling to complete their historic run Sunday, July 6.
The time was 16 seconds, equaling the Waterman’s Day record that Jacobs and Mort Deckelman of Rock Hall established in 2017.
For the third year in a row, Jacobs and “rope man” Gattus headed the division for boats 31 to 40 feet in length.
In the final race of the day, culminating nearly four hours of activities sponsored by the Kent County Waterman’s Association, Jacobs won the five-boat “grudge match” in 16 seconds — again tying the record he shares with Deckelman.
As has come to be expected, this year’s edition of Waterman’s Day played to a packed house.
The estimated count of spectators on land at the Caroline Avenue bulkhead was 2,000, more than last year but less than the record 3,000 the year before that, while the gathering in the harbor of workboats, charter boats, small craft and inflatables appeared to be the largest ever.
Waterman’s Day is always held on a Sunday, a throwback to the time when men and women who make a living on the water were able to carve out a day of rest.
It’s long been a part of Rock Hall’s extended Independence Day festivities.
This year’s event kicked off at noon with a blessing of the fleet from Steve Leonard, pastor of Raum Chapel United Methodist Church in nearby Skinners Neck who humorously identified himself as “The Sermonator.”
Leonard led a prayer for a “bountiful and successful season” and for all those connected to the seafood industry and those who support them.
In keeping with the Independence Day theme, a recording of the national anthem was played. Many boats were adorned with American flags.
The first competition of the afternoon was the anchor toss; all contestants — boys and girls, men and women — threw the same 12-pound anchor.
The winner in the coed youth competition was 12-year-old Trevor Stanton with a throw of 30 feet. Rock Hall’s Gunner Blackiston, also 12, was the runner-up with a toss of 23 feet, 6 inches and Leo Prager, 10, was third with a throw of 23 feet even.
Lyndy Howden of Wittman led all women with a throw of 38 feet — 5 feet more than her nearest challenger.
On the men’s side, local celebrities Calvert “Butterball” Thompson Jr., who holds the record of 84 feet, Rusty Mench, who “celebrated 70 trips around the sun” earlier in the week, and 2023 winner Bobby Plato headed the field of 15-plus.
Plato of Rock Hall/Earleville returned as champion with a throw of 51 feet. Newcomer Eric Fahrman, who grew up in Betterton, was second with a throw of 46 feet, 5 inches. Both gave their prize money back to the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
The highlight of the afternoon — as is always the case — was the boat docking contest. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three place-finishers in four divisions.
Prize winners are listed here.
30 feet and under: Danny Haddaway, Hard to Handle (Bozman), first; and Sydney Hughes, Wild Child (Madison), second.
31 to 40 feet: Jake Jacobs, Outlaw (Taylors Island), first; Mort Deckelman, The Rock (Rock Hall), second; and Ronnie “Reissee Cup” Reiss, May Worm (Tilghman), third.
41 feet and larger: Ryan Manning, Marley Elizabeth (Rock Hall), first; Joel Haggerty, SS Never Easy (Ridgely), second; and Casey Schneck, Layney Mae (Kent Island), third.
There also was a division for boats with outboard motors, led by crowd favorite Bobby Gattus. Someone identified as “Tank” placed second, followed by the “Bayou Beast,” who was baptized in Rock Hall’s waters when he underestimated the distance to the dock while trying to rope a piling.
In a special feature, JP Henry, an honorary member of the Kent County Waterman’s Association, returned for a second year in a row to compete in the boat docking contest aboard Capt. Don Pierce’s Bri-Steff. Henry was assisted by Ben Manley and Joey Collazo.
Henry, who has autism, is a popular guy in Rock Hall because of his award-winning photographs of watermen and their way of life.
To wrap things up, at the urging of the crowd, there was a five-boat grudge match involving Jake Jacobs (16.0), Mort Deckelman (19.0), Danny Haddaway (20.0), Sydney Hughes (20.0) and Peyton Reiss (no time given).
In the winner-take-all finale, with a purse totaling $607 collected in donations, Jacobs came out on top in record-tying fashion. He donated $200 of his prize money to the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
Waterman’s Day activities included tube races for youth and raffling of a vintage T-shirt signed by all contestants in this year’s boat docking contest. Ben Hicks had the high bid of $130 for the T-shirt; the money will go to the KCWA.
Brian Jones continued his long service as emcee, with help from President Justin Perry and other officers of the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
Rusty Mench returned to his longstanding gigs as official starter for the boat docking contest and measurer along with Bobby Plato in the anchor toss.
Team Perry — 12-year-old twins Liam and Layla and their father Justin — shared the responsibility of collecting the rope after each captain’s run in the boat docking contest.
Each year, the KCWA awards scholarship(s) to college-bound students. The 2025 recipients are Kent County High School graduates Abigail Cox, Alexa Hague and Madison Raleigh.
The waterman’s association also supports the Rock Hall police department and volunteer fire company, among other beneficiaries.
