Sept. 1, 2026 | #MyChesapeakeStory

As the Chesapeake Bay log canoe racing season comes down the home stretch, “Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay” takes center stage as the featured film throughout September in the Craig Fuller & Diane Terpeluk Theater.

Stop by this month to enjoy the 26-minute documentary that spotlights the history, culture, and majesty of this quintessential Chesapeake pastime, which premiered during Maryland Public Television‘s Chesapeake Bay Week in 2024.

“Racing Rivals” highlights the skippers, crew members, owners, historians, and enthusiasts who devote considerable time to preserving and racing these historic vessels around the Bay every summer. Among them is CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher, who shares the history of log canoe racing as well as his experiences as a member of the crew aboard the log canoe Island Bird.

“Racing Rivals” is now playing at 11am and 2pm each day and available on demand. These screenings are presented in partnership with MPT.

This year, Chesapeake Bay Sailing Log Canoe Racing was recognized as a Maryland State Tradition by the Maryland State Arts Council as part of its annual Heritage Awards.

This 150-year-old Eastern Shore tradition evolved from friendly competition among oyster fishermen. Today, a maritime community of skippers, sailors, and multigenerational crews maintain and race a fleet of historic vessels cheered on by passionate spectators across nine regatta weekends each summer. CBMM is proud to be an active participant in and supporter of the tradition.

Located on Navy Point, the Craig Fuller & Diane Terpeluk Theater celebrates the power of storytelling by sharing selections from our library of historic and documentary films throughout the year. We are proud to highlight on-demand short films and longer features that share mission-related stories, including a variety of films featured through the years during MPT’s Chesapeake Bay Week, many of which spotlight CBMM’s campus, collections, and staff expertise.

Viewing these films is included with general admission, which is always free for CBMM members. Plan your visit today!

Want to experience the thrill of log canoe racing for yourself? We still have tickets available for Log Canoe Racing Spectator Cruises on the Miles River aboard Old Point and Dory Boat during the MRYC Labor Day Series (Sept. 12-13) and the season-ending Higgins, Commodore, & Bartlett Cups (Sept. 19-20).

There are also tickets available for our PATRIOT Log Canoe Racing Spectator Cruise on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9-11am. Don’t miss your chance to watch the races up close from the comfort of PATRIOT with our knowledgeable volunteers on board to narrate the action!

These cruises are great for both seasoned log canoe racing fans and newcomers eager to learn more about this time-honored tradition!

Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay: This 2024 MPT documentary follows crews aboard Maryland’s historic sailing log canoes as they race for trophies and glory. 

Elegant and agile, propelled by outsized sails offset by nimble crew serving as human ballast, the iconic racing fleet of Chesapeake Bay log canoes embodies tradition, speed and grace. On breezy summer weekends, those that restore, race, and revere them are out to win, but not at the expense of preserving these unique vessels and the heritage they represent. Meet the sailors and enthusiasts keeping this centuries-old Eastern Shore tradition alive through exhilarating weekend regattas.

Ahead of the film’s Chesapeake Bay Week premiere in April 2024, CBMM hosted a sold-out screening and panel discussion in the Van Lennep Auditorium.

In the MPT video below, CBMM’s Chief Historian Pete Lesher explains the origins of log canoes and the birth of the Chesapeake’s racing tradition. He uses the five-log Tilghman-style canoe (c. 1893), built by Robert D. Lambdin and now on display in our Small Boat Shed, to help tell the story.