In the early 1920s, as the story goes, a group of men playing poker in St. Michaels, Maryland, decided it was time to revive the traditional log canoe racing that once took place on the Miles River. The first race took place on a July 4th weekend and attracted three boats, Sam, Island Blossom and Mary Rider. And with that, a club was born and soon became “The Home of the Log Canoes.”
As the Miles River Yacht Club grew, so did the racing. In fact, MRYC boasted that it sponsored races for “anything but rowboats.” Its biggest regatta, in 1946, attracted some 2,000 boats. The last of the power regattas was in 1971, but sailing continues, including four weekend races a year for the log canoes, many of which are more than 100 years old themselves.
For its birthday bash, the club has a busy summer of regattas scheduled, including the Centennial Cup Regatta June 26, and the Governor’s Cup Regatta July 31. Details on all the on-water events, the Chesapeake Bay Log Canoes and other centennial festivities can be found online.
