The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) will soon present Her Helm, a photographic exhibition by Kristin Rutowski that spotlights the growing presence and leadership of women at the helm across the Chesapeake Bay. Rutowski’s portraits and interviews document women who serve in a wide range of maritime roles—from recreational boaters and charter skippers to tug and ferry operators, maritime educators, and delivery captains—illuminating how they navigate, lead, and teach on the water.
Over a two-year period, Rutowski traveled throughout the Chesapeake Bay region to photograph and speak with more than fifty women who make their living or volunteer time on the water. The series examines how these captains and crew members have challenged long-standing gender norms in the marine world, and how they balance technical skill, seamanship, and mentorship. The resulting body of work captures not only moments at the helm but also the personal stories, practical knowledge, and quiet determination behind them.
“CBMM’s mission to record and promote life and culture around the Bay makes it the perfect place to recognize the contributions and leadership of these women,” Rutowski said in a statement about the exhibit. “I’m incredibly grateful for CBMM’s support in sharing this project and recognizing the importance of celebrating this demographic, of helping to normalize the fact that women are in charge of boats.”
The exhibition offers a timely affirmation of the diverse roles women play in the maritime community and highlights the importance of visibility for future generations. By documenting these captains and crew, Her Helm helps broaden public understanding of who belongs on the water and what leadership at sea can look like—whether piloting a small recreational vessel, running a charter operation, or teaching sailing to children and adults.
While the exhibition features more than fifty women, here is a preview of a few who stand out for their varied paths to the helm and their influence in their communities.
Gerrie McCottry
Gerrie McCottry developed a passion for boats and mechanical systems in her teens and has since embraced both piloting and hands-on work with vessels. An experienced powerboat skipper, she emphasizes practical seamanship and building confidence behind the wheel. McCottry also passes those skills along to family members: her granddaughter is enthusiastically learning to handle the boat and interpret charts. McCottry’s adventurous background includes operating motorcycles, piloting a World War II legacy plane, and even steering a 95-foot tour boat as a guest at the helm—demonstrating a lifelong appetite for learning and for taking on new challenges.
Cindy Evans
Cindy Evans holds a 100-ton U.S. Coast Guard license and has worked both as a fishing charter captain and as a mate. She pursued her credential through determined study, using lunch breaks and free time to prepare for the captain’s exam. Along the way she encountered skepticism from some colleagues in the marine industry, but Evans persevered and now calls her work on the water one of the highlights of her life. Her story underscores the combination of dedication, consistent skill-building, and perseverance that often leads women into leadership positions in maritime occupations.
Sarah Lawrence
Sarah Lawrence is also a licensed 100-ton captain whose roots in the marine world come from a family engaged in the towing business. After competing on her college sailing team, she spent a decade in the Bahamas teaching sailing—primarily to women—and captaining charter vessels. Today she has returned to the towing industry in Maryland and remains active in boating education, promoting safety and encouraging children and families to experience the water firsthand. Lawrence’s path illustrates how competitive sailing, international work, and community-focused instruction can combine to create a lifetime of maritime engagement.
Her Helm at CBMM sets out to broaden the narrative of Chesapeake Bay maritime life by presenting portraits and personal accounts that emphasize competence, leadership, and community. The exhibit highlights how women captain boats of many sizes and purposes and how they contribute to maritime culture through education, commercial operations, and everyday stewardship of the Bay. For visitors, the show offers both striking imagery and relatable stories that challenge assumptions and celebrate the expertise of women who work and lead on the water.