Built in 1886 at Taylor's Island, Maryland, the Rebecca T. Ruark is the oldest working skipjack on the Chesapeake Bay and one of the oldest working sailing vessels in the United States. She still dredges oysters under sail in winter, and offers public sailing trips in the warmer months — the best way to understand what life on the bay was like for generations of watermen.
Two-hour public sails depart from Dogwood Harbor and go out onto the Chesapeake. The experience is unlike anything on a modern charter boat: the rigging is traditional, the sails are raised by hand, and the captain usually explains how the skipjack works and what oyster dredging involves. Reservations are recommended. Check current schedules as trip availability varies by season.