Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s official proclamation making the month of June 2025 Chesapeake Bay Deadrise Month was an added highlight to the Yorktown Workboat Races Sunday, June 1—a perfect day for racing workboats.
The sight of so many workboats, spit-shined and at play, racing full throttle to the finish line took the breath away of hundreds of spectators along the shorelines of the York River in historic Yorktown.
The Yorktown Workboat Races are hosted by Allen Holston, founder of Workboat Life, and the York County Board of Supervisors. This year the theme was “Yorktown Battle of the Boats” and the boats and their captains did not disappoint.
The “Yorktown King of the Bay Large Diesel” title went again to Shannon Gay of Rescue, Virginia. His prize-winning boat, Rainbow Chaser is a wooden deadrise built by the late Willard Norris of Deltaville. Gay’s victory was not easy, however, as Kenny Heath of Cape Charles in his fiberglass workboat Thomas Jaiden upset Gay in the preliminary qualifying heat—chasing down Rainbow Chaser and roaring by her at the finish line for the win.
In the finals, however, Gay jumped the start in the first attempt resulting in a restart. During the second start, Gay and Rainbow Chaser dashed out in front and cruised to the finish line winning the premier large diesel race for a second year in a row.
State Proclamation
Governor Youngkin’s proclamation making the month of June Chesapeake Bay Deadrise Month was presented at the start of the event by Jamie Green, Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).
It states that “the Chesapeake Bay Deadrise, ruggedly built to navigate the Bay’s winding waterways and shallow inlets, was locally designed and developed to work shoal water while withstanding its ever-changing weather, standing as a testament to the ingenuity, resilience, and industrious spirit of Virginia’s watermen” and is recognized as the Virginia State Boat.
“Virginia’s watermen, through their tireless labor and deep-rooted connection to the Bay, have played an indispensable role in shaping the culture, economy and identify of the Commonwealth, passing down their knowledge and skills through generations, ensuring that the legacy of the working watermen endures,” it reads. “The deadrise, with its distinctive lines, sturdy wooden hull and ability to withstand the changing moods of the Bay, symbolizes not only the perseverance of Virginia’s watermen but also the rich maritime heritage that defines our coastal communities.”
The proclamation continues, “It is fitting that we honor this iconic vessel and the men and women who have built their livelihoods upon the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, ensuring that the traditions of Virginia’s commercial fishing industry remain a vital part of our Commonwealth.”
Racing results
The winners of the 2025 Yorktown Battle of the Races were:
- Yorktown King of the Bay Outboard – Bobby West, Guinea Neck, Gloucester County, Va.
- Yorktown King of the Bay Gas – David West, Guinea Neck, Gloucester County, Va.;
- Yorktown King of the Bay Small Diesel – Greg Purcell, Mt. Holly, Va.;
- Yorktown King of the Bay Large Diesel – Shannon Gay, Rescue, Va.
