In May the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum renamed its shipyard apprenticeship the Maynard W. Lowery Apprentice Program, after a gift from two benefactors who asked not to be named.

Maynard Lowery (1920–2008) was a third-generation Tilghman Island shipwright. He led the 1970s restoration of the 1889 bugeye Edna E. Lockwood and founded the original apprentice program. The museum describes the course as the only state-certified apprenticeship in traditional wooden boat building in the country: 4,000 hours over two years, paid, with housing near campus. That "only" is the museum's characterization.

Three apprentices are working now — Caden Lewis in his final year, plus Ben Heyer and Roland Payabyab. A Boat Captain Apprentice track has a slot open.

The Winnie Estelle is mid multi-year refit: a new white oak keel sourced from New York, with chines and bottom boards replaced. The shipyard works in public view. Festival weekends that put visitors at the rail: Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival, Oct. 2–4, and OysterFest, Nov. 7.