Workboats races are back… and they’re back where they belong.
LaGrange Creek and Remlik Marina were alive with the howl of diesel engines on Saturday, Oct. 7. Seven deadrise workboats had made their way to the creek off the Rappahannock River to test each other at the LaGrange Creek Workboat Races.
LaGrange Creek, a few miles west of Urbanna, was a fitting setting for contests between deadrise workboats, the type of boat used for decades to harvest the bounty of local waters. In fact, the deadrise workboat is the official boat of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Countless workboats have plied this creek bringing their catch to market at the head of LaGrange Creek. For race organizer Ben Rennolds Jr. of Urbanna, LaGrange Creek runs deep with his heritage. It was Rennolds’ great-grandfather J.W. “Buster” Ferguson and his grandfather Waverly Ferguson who founded and operated J.W. Ferguson Seafood Company Inc. on its shore in the early 1940s. It operated about 50 years until around 1990.
“I have to say that things do happen for a reason,” said Rennolds, “although we may not understand those reasons at the time. LaGrange Creek is where these races needed to happen! For me it’s my heritage. It’s where my family’s oyster business was. This creek is what made us. I cannot tell you how many hundreds of thousands of bushels of oysters were shoveled into the oyster house over the years.”
Heritage
A fast workboat was at times an advantage, said Larry Chowning, author of several books about the heritage of those who work the water. “If a buyboat was loaded, the late waterman might have to carry his catch some distance away to a packing house, which meant more time and effort and no guarantee there was a buying market there.”
There was also some pride in owning a fast workboat, he added. “It took some people a long time to get one.”
The spirit of days gone returned on Oct. 7 when seven deadrise boats docked at Remlik Marina to pair off for drag races of about one-quarter mile.
There would have been more boats but weather kept about 10 boats at dock as a northwest wind blowing 10-15 mph with a driving rain swept through that morning. “Sadly, the seas proved difficult and about 10 captains chose not to attend,” said Rennolds.
However, by mid day the sky cleared and races were on.
The workboats that entered include:
- The 36-foot Kennard “Miss Diane,” Captain Rob Cooke, Greenvale Creek, Lancaster.
- The 36-foot Evans “Calamity Jane,” Captain Justin Durvin, Dunnsville.
- The 40-foot “Thomas Jaiden,” Captain Kenny Heath, Cape Charles.
- The 38-foot “Lady Isla,” Captain Thomas Reed Eskridge, Locust Hill.
- The 45-foot Smith-Diggs “Ramblin’ Rose,” Captain Benjamin Rennolds Jr., Remlik.
- The 42-foot Custom Mariner “America,” Captain David Cottrell, Urbanna.
- The 42-foot Hulls Unlimited “Julie Ann,” Captain Charles Duke, Gloucester Point.
Also showing up for the reunion were two historic Chesapeake Bay buyboats, the 60-foot “P.E. Pruitt,” built in 1925, with Captain Waynie and Jeannie Hudgins, Horn Harbor in Mathews; and the 42-foot “55th Virginia” with Captain Bill Hight of Urbanna.
Rennolds gave a special thanks to the finish line crew aboard the 45-foot “FV Madeline Rae” with Captain Jimmy Pickett of Urbanna. He also gave a “very special thank you” to the young men that were our starters for the races — Waverly Rennolds, J.D. Pickett, Pete Bolanis and John Cason Rennolds. “These guys had never been starters before and they did a great job,” said Rennolds.
“They’re off!”
Racing began with “Calamity Jane” defeating “Lady Isla.”
In the second race, “America” bested “Julie Ann.”
In the third heat, “Ramblin’ Rose” took “Calamity Jane.”
The fourth race was a preview of the finale and “Thomas Jaiden” crossed the finish line ahead of “Julie Ann.”
In the fifth race “Ramblin’ Rose” claimed victory over “Calamity Jane.”
For the sixth race, “America” pulled ahead of “Ramblin’ Rose.”
The finale that would determine the “King of the Creek,” was the seventh race of the day. “Julie Ann” defeated “Thomas Jaiden” by about a boat length.
When asked on the radio if there would be a tie-breaking race for the “King of the Creek” trophy, Captain Kenny Heath aboard “Thomas Jaiden” replied, “She got me,” conceding the ultimate victory to “Julie Ann.”
David and Christy Cottrell of Urbanna, who own “America” raced their boat. “The races were a resounding success . . . beautiful wooden boats, friendly competition, lots of spectators and great weather made the day,” said David. “It was our most fun day of the year! We’re looking forward to next year. Thanks Ben.”
Plans
Rennolds, who has formed the nonprofit organization “Chesapeake Bay Workboat Association” already has plans for workboat races next year. Tentative venues include Horn Harbor in Mathews, Yankee Point Marina in Lancaster, and Jordan Marine near the York River.
It had been decades since workboat races were offered in the area. The successful races are an indication the workboat races are coming back, to the delight of Rennolds who said they are a tribute to the past. “When we finished our first race I looked at my cousin Willie Bristow as we slowed down. We were looking back at where the oyster shucking house once stood. I said to him ‘I hope Granddaddy Bus, Granddaddy Waverly and Joe (Willie Bristow’s father) got to see that.’ He looked at me and said, “They did.”
For Rennolds, workboats are a link to the past and the future. “When I bought my boat the “Ramblin’ Rose” I named her after my baby girl Rosabeth. I got the boat because I wanted my children to see what it was like to be on these great boats.”
For Rennolds and his children Willa, Waverly, John Cason and Rosabeth, the first LaGrange Creek Workboat Races were a good beginning.
Organizer extends thanks
Ben Rennolds Jr., who organized the LaGrange Creek Workboat Races, thanked the many people and businesses that helped make it happened.
“I thank the owners of Remlik Marina, Dale Foley and Doug Jackson for allowing us to have this event there, and Jeff and Christine Barglof who run Remlik Marina, said Rennolds. “They are wonderful and could not have been anymore welcoming! They never stopped helping and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate them.”
Rennolds thanked the many sponsors who made the races happen. “Thank you all for believing in this and in me!”
“LaGrange Creek is where these races needed to happen!”
Jeannie and Waynie Hudgins of Horn Harbor Marina in Mathews “are the real deal,” said Rennolds. “Check it out if you want to see some workboats. The place is historic! Seriously, it’s a workboat paradise and they work hard to keep it that way.”
Rennolds, whose grandfather and great-grandfather founded and operated J.W. Ferguson Seafood Company Inc. on LaGrange Creek starting in the early 1940s, recognized the sponsors the way oysters are packed, according to size.
Oysters are packed by size, he explained, from the smaller oysters “standards” to medium “selects” to the largest “extra selects.”
The sponsors, Rennolds is proud to say, are all locals, and include, “Extra Selects,” Yankee Point Marina, IsaBell K. Horsley Real Estate; “Selects,” Horn Harbor Marina, Diggs Diesel, Rappanna Clothing Co., Mason Realty, Remlik Marina, Tony Walton Seafood, Port Urbanna Boatworks, Friday’s Malise Marine, Christian Heating & Air, Walton Seafood, Coastal Construction & Painting LLC, VinylWorkx; and “Standards,” Hurd’s True Value Hardware.
Chesapeake Bay Workboat Association, a nonprofit corporation, has been created by Ben Rennolds Jr. of Urbanna to raise awareness of the workboat heritage and plight of the watermen and waterwomen.
“That’s what this is about for me,” said Rennolds. “Everyone that works on the water or used to or whose family makes a living out there has the same feelings I do. It’s a tough business! I don’t like what’s happening to the watermen/women these days. They’re regulated to no end. They need to unite to have a voice.”
Rennolds said the Chesapeake Bay Deadrise is Virginia’s official boat and “I want to bring them to the forefront where it should be,” he said. “I want people to be able to see, feel, and be on a workboat.”
Through workboat races and events, the Chesapeake Bay Workboat Association hopes to help the watermen and waterwomen. “I want to help the men and women who risk it all every day working the water in Virginia,” said Rennolds. “The races are for them. They work hard and they play hard and they deserve their time in the spotlight.”
Sponsors
Ben Rennolds Jr., who organized the LaGrange Creek Workboat Races, thanked the many people and businesses that helped make it happened.
“I thank the owners of Remlik Marina, Dale Foley and Doug Jackson for allowing us to have this event there, and Jeff and Christine Barglof who run Remlik Marina, said Rennolds. “They are wonderful and could not have been anymore welcoming! They never stopped helping and I cannot say enough how much I appreciate them.”
Rennolds thanked the many sponsors who made the races happen. “Thank you all for believing in this and in me!”
Jeannie and Waynie Hudgins of Horn Harbor Marina in Mathews “are the real deal,” said Rennolds. “Check it out if you want to see some workboats. The place is historic! Seriously, it’s a workboat paradise and they work hard to keep it that way.”
Rennolds, whose grandfather and great-grandfather founded and operated J.W. Ferguson Seafood Company Inc. on LaGrange Creek starting in the early 1940s, recognized the sponsors the way oysters are packed, according to size.
Oysters are packed by size, he explained, from the smaller oysters “standards” to medium “selects” to the largest “extra selects.”
