ROCK HALL — The preferred seats for this year’s edition of Waterman’s Day were on the water as a record number of boats anchored in the harbor here on July 5.
About 1,200 paying patrons filled the bleachers at the Caroline Avenue bulkhead, a smaller crowd than usual but understandable given that the heat index peaked at 101 degrees.
Meantime, about twice as many spectators were out on the water — in workboats, charter boats, small craft and inflatables. A few were even in the water.
The total count of spectators was just south of 4,000, according to Ben Manley, secretary of the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
“It was our largest number of boats,” Manley said.
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 and a prayer 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.
One of the highlights was the unveiling of the Harry White Watermen’s Memorial, which honors watermen and women and others closely tied to the seafood industry.
Already there are 185 names engraved on the monument, with White’s name at the top of the list. He was as much a skilled boat builder as a waterman.
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 Trevor, no last name given, with a throw of 35 feet, 6 inches. Rock Hall’s Gunner Blackiston was the runner-up with a toss of 27 feet, 6 inches and Cadynn Hawkins was third with a throw of 26 feet even.
Ashlyn Plato of Earleville led all women with a throw of 33 feet — 4 feet more than her nearest challenger. She donated her money back to the Kent County Waterman’s Association, which sponsors Waterman’s Day.
On the men’s side, in what has become a friendly rivalry, Todd Sauerwald of Sparrows Point narrowly defeated defending champion Bobby Plato, a Rock Hall native who now lives in Earleville and is Ashlyn’s father.
Plato also won the men’s anchor toss in 2023, while Sauerwald won in 2024.
This year, Sauerwald, who was the next-to-last competitor, was first with a throw of 54 feet, 6 inches.
Plato, the final competitor, placed second with a throw of 53 feet even and Eric Fahrman, who grew up in Betterton, was third with a throw of 51 feet, 6 inches.
All three gave their prize money back to the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
In tube races for kids, the team of Alex Stevenson and his dad James led the way.
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 three divisions.
Prize winners are listed here.
30 feet and under: Danny Haddaway, Hard to Handle [Bozman], first; Sydney Hughes, Wild Child [Madison], second; and Colin Hughes, Wild Child [Madison], third. Haddaway defeated Sydney Hughes in a run-off.
31 to 40 feet: Jake Jacobs, Outlaw [Taylors Island], first; Mort Deckelman, The Rock [Rock Hall], second; and Peyton 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.
In a special feature, JP Henry, an honorary lifetime member of the Kent County Waterman’s Association, returned for a third year in a row to signal the start of the boat docking contest. He was aboard Jake Jacobs’ Outlaw, and was assisted by Ben Manley and Justin Perry, president of the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
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 four-boat grudge match involving Jake Jacobs, Mort Deckelman, Danny Haddaway and Sydney Hughes.
In the winner-take-all finale, with a purse totaling $385 collected in donations, Jacobs stopped the timer in 17 seconds to come out on top.
Earlier in the afternoon, in the second of his two runs in the division for 31- to 40-foot boats, he established the course record of 15 seconds. For the fourth year in a row, Jacobs and “rope man” Bobby Gattus headed the division.
Mort Deckelman of Rock Hall and Jacobs set the previous record of 16 seconds in 2017, and Jacobs tied it last year.
Waterman’s Day activities included a 50-50 raffle won by Billy Crowding of Worton; Crowding donated his winnings of $833 to the KCWA.
Brian Jones continued his long service as emcee, with help from Justin Perry and other officers of the Kent County Waterman’s Association.
Rusty Mench returned to his longstanding gig as official starter for the boat docking contest and Bobby Plato was back as measurer for the anchor toss.
Each year, the KCWA awards scholarship[s] to college-bound students. The 2026 recipients are Kent County High School graduates Aubrey Baker, Ava Dalrymple and Chase Dolgos.
The waterman’s association also supports the Rock Hall police department and volunteer fire company, among other beneficiaries.
