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Lewes boat parade features Jaws, Eagles and American flags

Crowd lines canal for annual July 4 cruise
The Lovely Day had a great day in the Lewes July 4 boat parade. Capt. Will Boettcher and his crew won first place for the most patriotic vessel. A total of 27 boats entered this year’s cruise down the canal. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
July 4, 2025

Jaws, Eagles and American flags were big themes for the annual Lewes July 4 boat parade.

This year, 27 boats entered the holiday cruise down the canal, which is sponsored by the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club and the Freedom Boat Club.

The 50th anniversary of the film “Jaws” was a popular theme.

The boat Contender II won an impromptu honorable mention award for its large shark head and fin.

The rowers from the New Hope Canoe Club Ministry Team Atlantic had a shark adorning one of its outrigger canoes.

Philadelphia Eagles green also made a splash, with the Soarin’ Eagle flying numerous birds banners.

A crew member of another boat carried a more subtle sign that read “Go Birds.”

The judges, which included Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco, Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba, Councilman Tim Ritzert, City Manager Ellen Lorraine McCabe and Assistant City Manager Janet Reeves, had tough choices to make.

The awards were given out at the Lightship Overfalls shortly after the parade.

First place for most patriotic boat went to the Lovely Day and Capt. Will Boettcher.

Second went to the Tide Runner and Capt. Mike Mundok.

Third place was awarded to The Freedom, captained by Joe Lewis.

The Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club presented the Overfalls Foundation with a donation of more than $1,000 from the parade entry proceeds.

 

 

 

 

Second place for most patriotic boat went to the crew of the Tide Runner and Capt. Matt Mundok.
The awards were given out by the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club at the Lightship Overfalls after the parade. First place for most patriotic boat was given to the Lovely Day from Morristown, N.J. Shown are (l-r) Tim Ritzert, Lewes city councilman; Gwen Hanlon, Lovely Day crew; Will Boettcher, Lovely Day captain; Amy Marasco, Lewes mayor; Bob Murphy, Overfalls Foundation board member; and Janine Fitzgerald, Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club.
The Freedom Boat Club sponsors the annual boat parade. The folks onboard the Freedom XL wave as they pass by the judges.
The Freedom, captained by Joe Lewis, won third place for most patriotic boat.
The Soarin’ Eagle added green to the red, white and blue, thanks to owners Mike and Karen Burnham.
The 50th anniversary of “Jaws” inspired Capt. Patrick to turn his boat into a shark. He won honorable mention for the great white effort.
Another “Jaws” theme came courtesy of the New Hope Canoe Club Ministry Team Atlantic in their outrigger canoe.
The folks from the Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club turn up in their red, white and blue. The Rotary Club hosts the boat parade every year.
The Lewes Fire Department’s rescue boat provides a shower on the cloudless Fourth of July.
The Cape Water Taxi boat and Capt. Dave Green cruises past the judges who were on the dock at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Fellowship was the theme for Capt. Shawn’s Broken/Restored.
Gotta Go goes past the judges with a red, white and blue holiday theme.
The Overfalls Foundation salutes WWII Coast Guard sailors in their rowboat the Monomoy.
Lewes Mayor Amy Marasco is the emcee for the boat parade for the first time.
Another “Go Birds” sign that fires up Eagles fans.
Princess Harlow Henley, Delmarva’s Tiny Miss Seaford, waves to the crowd. She is the daughter of Brandon and Morgan Henley.
The Lewes Pilots Association is always a favorite in the Lewes boat parade.
We Own It, captained by Rich Williams, makes its way past the judges.
Another look at the Eagles fans on the Soarin’ Eagle.
The Semper Fi celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Marines Corps.
The crew onboard the Blue Hen salutes the judges. Their theme was the U.S.S. Sam Wilson, a.k.a Uncle Sam.
“I Love the USA” is the message from the folks aboard the Triple Threat. Capt. Will Emmert is celebrating his birthday.
Capt. Patrick and his crew sink their teeth into their “Jaws” 50th anniversary salute.
The view from Fisherman’s Wharf looking up the canal during the parade.
The New Hope Canoe Club Ministry Team Atlantic in its outrigger canoe always makes an appearance at the boat parade.
The Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club donated more than $1,000 to the Overfalls Foundation from the parade entry proceeds. Shown are (l-r) Bob Murphy, Overfalls Foundation board member, and Janine Fitzgerald, Lewes-Rehoboth Rotary Club.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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