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Each year, on the first Sunday in June, the yacht clubs of
the Bay converge on Rock Creek to witness the coronation of
a new Queen of the Chesapeake. This has been a Maryland
Yacht Club tradition since 1948.
The yacht basin and parking
area swells with visitors, as white quickly becomes the
color of the day. The afternoon is filled with pageantry,
excitement, suspense, drama, laughter, and even some tears.
Although only one princess is crowned Queen, there are no
losers, since each contestant is a winner with her peers and
the yachting community. We admire the sacrifices these young
ladies make to represent their respective yacht clubs.
On Sunday June 7th 2009, Kimberly
Samm of Eastern Yacht Club was chosen as the 62nd Queen
of the Chesapeake. Paris Coleman of Crescent Yacht Club
was the first runner up, and Reita Compton of Marley
Boat Club was the second runner up. The other finalists
were, Rachel Kaelber of Baltimore Yacht Club and Katie
Lamb of Chesapeake Yacht Club.
The rain of
Friday evening cleared, and Saturday was a cloudy, but
beautiful day for the 101st Opening Ceremony. Sunday was
a perfectly sunny summer day for the Pageant.
Kimberly was
crowned by the lovely immediate past Queen Renae Hunter
of Baltimore Yacht Club. The coronation was witnessed by
hundreds of well-wishers and the first Queen of the
Chesapeake, Rachel Holmes Crusan. Rachel represented
Bush River Yacht Club in 1948. After Kimberly’s first
promenade as Queen of the Chesapeake, she thanked
everyone, and the bridge from Eastern Yacht Club took
the traditional plunge into the pool to celebrate her
victory.
As the Wild, Wild, Western sun
slowly set over Rock Creek, the first Opening Weekend of
MYC’s second century drew to a close.
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Ms. Kimberly Samm
Queen of the Chesapeake
2009-2010 Eastern Yacht Club
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