David Sites, the top-scoring Century Club member with (currently) 302 on-water days logged in 2025, answered some questions about his boating season:
How did your boat end up as a safety vessel the day the Pride of Baltimore II returned?
Patrick Smith, the vessel relations manager for the Pride of Baltimore II, gave me a call and asked if I could be the safety boat for some swimmers that were going to jump into the Baltimore Harbor to greet the ship back to Baltimore after their long summer trip (to the Great Lakes). The swimmers were State Senator Bill Ferguson, Councilman Mark Parker, Johns Hopkins from the Baltimore Heritage Foundation, and professional open water swimmer Katie Pumphrey. (My girlfriend) Laura, my buddy Mark Fanelli, and I took the swimmers out towards the middle of the harbor where they jumped off my boat to greet the Pride. We followed along as they swam in the harbor to help keep them safe from other boat traffic.
Remind us what kind of boats you have.
My main and favorite boat is a 28-foot Tidewater center console with twin Yamaha 300 outboard engines. I also have a Beneteau Barracuda which has an enclosed cabin that I use in foul weather.
For what other outings have you volunteered your boat or your time?
We have volunteered for the Bay Bridge Swim and have taken reporters out to cover things that happen on the Bay (such as the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race). We watched as the new cranes for Baltimore arrived and squeezed under the Bay Bridge, covered the Ever Forward container ship which got grounded in the Bay, and saw many tall ships that visited the area.
I am a volunteer and the photographer at the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. I try to keep a good eye on it, as I pass it on my boat ride almost every day. I photograph some events at the lighthouse and try to keep it in the public eye. I also enjoy photographing the Blessing of the Fleet for the Kentmorr Marina. I always try to help out whenever I am asked.
You say it was an awesome summer… tell us more!
I was invited up onto the Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse, which is amazing. We have been to numerous water-related activities all summer. The Thomas Point Lighthouse was built in 1875, and we celebrated its 150th anniversary at the Navy Stadium for a fundraiser.
We have been attending the work boat docking competitions with Drew Payne on his Big Worm charter boat all summer. There are a bunch of us that go, and it is always a blast.
We were invited to ride on the Pride of Baltimore II from Annapolis to Baltimore. They even let me go out on the bowsprit along the way.
I was invited to go out on the DNR icebreaker Sandusky when my river froze over. We went over to Fishing Creek to break up the ice so that the Coast Guard could get out to the Bay. The captain of the Sandusky let me drive, and we went out to the Thomas Point Lighthouse.
Any cool wildlife sightings?
I did see a few pelicans this year, which is always cool. I also went out with Jay Fleming, a top-notch photographer, on one of his photography workshops. We stopped at a great blue heron rookery, and I was able to get some cool photos of some chicks. Jay and Shelby made it a great experience. Jay was very helpful and gave me some good photography and camera tips.
What’s your advice to aspiring Century Club members?
Keep it fun, share photos of things you see, try different things, and explore new rivers and creeks. There’s so much to see and enjoy.
Learn more about the Century Club at spinsheet.com/100-days.