The women have to have a boat to be a captain, and each captain receives 10 crab pots and one pound of chicken necks. Captains draw the name of their crew from a hat (three to four crew each), then pick a team name, and make a flag for their boat. Each year Hudson also devises a different challenge for the women to complete onshore before heading out on the water. The on-water challenge lasts for two hours with all participants required to stay within sight of Hudson’s house.
While it’s women-only for the competition, the men have their share of fun, too. While the women are hard at work, “there’s always a couple of guys that splash them and cause havoc,” says Hudson. “And there are always a few boats delivering drinks to the crew.”
Prizes are awarded for the first crab caught, the biggest crab, and the most crabs. It’s always a race to see which captain can get back to the pier the fastest with the first crab, and once it’s been brought in, a flag is raised on Hudson’s pier to alert the other girls to stay out. Any undersized crabs brought in detract from a boat’s overall score. The competition is short because the real purpose of this event is the camaraderie of friends and family coming together for a fun day on the water.
[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="medium" ids="22067,22068"]
This year there were six captains, including Joe’s wife, in six boats. Participants ranged in age from 18-70. After the judging was complete, everyone enjoyed a bushel of steamed crabs and yellowfin tuna that Joe was lucky enough to catch just days before the Crab Olympics.
Now you might be thinking, how do I sign up for the Crab Olympics? Joe tells us this is a family affair, but he wanted to share his story to encourage others to start their own competitions. It’s all about good, clean fun with family and friends. Summer is too short—get out there and make some memories!
[gallery link="file" ids="22076,22077,22079,22078,22080,22081"]
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 - 12:21
For the past eight years, a group of friends and family have been holding the “Crab Olympics” on Crab Alley Creek in Kent Island, MD. This friendly competition was originally started by three couples and ever since it has always been held on the second Saturday in August. From that first year until this year’s event, it has been only women competing. One of the founders, Joe Hudson, says it’s just always been that way.
The women have to have a boat to be a captain, and each captain receives 10 crab pots and one pound of chicken necks. Captains draw the name of their crew from a hat (three to four crew each), then pick a team name, and make a flag for their boat. Each year Hudson also devises a different challenge for the women to complete onshore before heading out on the water. The on-water challenge lasts for two hours with all participants required to stay within sight of Hudson’s house.
While it’s women-only for the competition, the men have their share of fun, too. While the women are hard at work, “there’s always a couple of guys that splash them and cause havoc,” says Hudson. “And there are always a few boats delivering drinks to the crew.”
Prizes are awarded for the first crab caught, the biggest crab, and the most crabs. It’s always a race to see which captain can get back to the pier the fastest with the first crab, and once it’s been brought in, a flag is raised on Hudson’s pier to alert the other girls to stay out. Any undersized crabs brought in detract from a boat’s overall score. The competition is short because the real purpose of this event is the camaraderie of friends and family coming together for a fun day on the water.
[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="medium" ids="22067,22068"]
This year there were six captains, including Joe’s wife, in six boats. Participants ranged in age from 18-70. After the judging was complete, everyone enjoyed a bushel of steamed crabs and yellowfin tuna that Joe was lucky enough to catch just days before the Crab Olympics.
Now you might be thinking, how do I sign up for the Crab Olympics? Joe tells us this is a family affair, but he wanted to share his story to encourage others to start their own competitions. It’s all about good, clean fun with family and friends. Summer is too short—get out there and make some memories!
[gallery link="file" ids="22076,22077,22079,22078,22080,22081"]
The women have to have a boat to be a captain, and each captain receives 10 crab pots and one pound of chicken necks. Captains draw the name of their crew from a hat (three to four crew each), then pick a team name, and make a flag for their boat. Each year Hudson also devises a different challenge for the women to complete onshore before heading out on the water. The on-water challenge lasts for two hours with all participants required to stay within sight of Hudson’s house.
While it’s women-only for the competition, the men have their share of fun, too. While the women are hard at work, “there’s always a couple of guys that splash them and cause havoc,” says Hudson. “And there are always a few boats delivering drinks to the crew.”
Prizes are awarded for the first crab caught, the biggest crab, and the most crabs. It’s always a race to see which captain can get back to the pier the fastest with the first crab, and once it’s been brought in, a flag is raised on Hudson’s pier to alert the other girls to stay out. Any undersized crabs brought in detract from a boat’s overall score. The competition is short because the real purpose of this event is the camaraderie of friends and family coming together for a fun day on the water.
[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="medium" ids="22067,22068"]
This year there were six captains, including Joe’s wife, in six boats. Participants ranged in age from 18-70. After the judging was complete, everyone enjoyed a bushel of steamed crabs and yellowfin tuna that Joe was lucky enough to catch just days before the Crab Olympics.
Now you might be thinking, how do I sign up for the Crab Olympics? Joe tells us this is a family affair, but he wanted to share his story to encourage others to start their own competitions. It’s all about good, clean fun with family and friends. Summer is too short—get out there and make some memories!
[gallery link="file" ids="22076,22077,22079,22078,22080,22081"]