NEWS

Wachapreague's Captain Bobby Turner: 70 years with the Bonnie Sue

Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia stands beside his boat, the Bonnie Sue, in this undated family photograph. Turner, 86, has used the boat for 70 years. He and his father completed building the boat in 1947, after Tom Young built the hull.
Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia stands beside his boat, the Bonnie Sue, in this undated family photograph. Turner, 86, has used the boat for 70 years. He and his father completed building the boat in 1947, after Tom Young built the hull.
Submitted Image
Captain Bobby Turner, right, poses with Marcus Killmon at Turner's home in Wachapreague, Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Turner recently turned over his fishing boat, the Bonnie Sue, to Killmon after using the boat for 70 years.
Captain Bobby Turner, right, poses with Marcus Killmon at Turner's home in Wachapreague, Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Turner recently turned over his fishing boat, the Bonnie Sue, to Killmon after using the boat for 70 years.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner and his father completed the boat in 1947, after Tom Young built the hull. Turner has owned and used the boat for 70 years.
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner and his father completed the boat in 1947, after Tom Young built the hull. Turner has owned and used the boat for 70 years.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
The Bobbie Sue is shown in this undated family photograph, taken after Captain Bobby Turner of Wachpreague, VIrginia rebuilt the boat in the 1950s. Tom Young built the hull and Turner and his father completed the boat in 1947. Turner has used the boat for 70 years continuously.
The Bobbie Sue is shown in this undated family photograph, taken after Captain Bobby Turner of Wachpreague, VIrginia rebuilt the boat in the 1950s. Tom Young built the hull and Turner and his father completed the boat in 1947. Turner has used the boat for 70 years continuously.
Submitted Image
Captain Bobby Turner is shown on his boat, the Bobby Sue, sometime in the mid-1980s in this family photograph.
Captain Bobby Turner is shown on his boat, the Bobby Sue, sometime in the mid-1980s in this family photograph.
Submitted Image
Captain Bobby Turner keeps an old photograph of his boat, the Bonnie Sue, showing its appearance before he rebuilt it, on the boat in Wachapreague, Virginia, shown here on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Captain Bobby Turner keeps an old photograph of his boat, the Bonnie Sue, showing its appearance before he rebuilt it, on the boat in Wachapreague, Virginia, shown here on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
Capt. Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia is shown on his boat, the Bobbie Sue, in this undated family photograph. Turner used the boat, for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947, for 70 years. He recently turned it over to a close friend.
Capt. Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia is shown on his boat, the Bobbie Sue, in this undated family photograph. Turner used the boat, for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947, for 70 years. He recently turned it over to a close friend.
Submitted Image
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner used the boat — for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947 — for 70 years.
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner used the boat — for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947 — for 70 years.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner used the boat — for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947 — for 70 years.
The Bonnie Sue is moored at a marina in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017. Captain Bobby Turner used the boat — for which Tom Young built the hull and which Turner and his father completed in 1947 — for 70 years.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
Newspaper clippings about Captain Bobby Turner and his boat, the Bonnie Sue, hang in his home in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Newspaper clippings about Captain Bobby Turner and his boat, the Bonnie Sue, hang in his home in Wachapreague, VIrginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
A customer gave this notecard depicting the Bonnie Sue to Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia in 1997 to congratulate Turner on 50 years of being a charter boat captain. Turner, 86, has used the same boat for 70 years, after it was completed in 1947.
A customer gave this notecard depicting the Bonnie Sue to Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia in 1997 to congratulate Turner on 50 years of being a charter boat captain. Turner, 86, has used the same boat for 70 years, after it was completed in 1947.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
Garland Turner, Captain Bobby Turner's father, is shown in this 1956 photograph taken in Wachapreague, Virginia.
Garland Turner, Captain Bobby Turner's father, is shown in this 1956 photograph taken in Wachapreague, Virginia.
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An undated photograph belonging to Captain Bobby Turner shows the former Accomack Hunt Club near Wachapreague, Virginia.
An undated photograph belonging to Captain Bobby Turner shows the former Accomack Hunt Club near Wachapreague, Virginia.
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Revell's Island Club and Caretaker's House is pictured in this undated photograph belonging to Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia.
Revell's Island Club and Caretaker's House is pictured in this undated photograph belonging to Captain Bobby Turner of Wachapreague, Virginia.
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Captain Bobby Turner, 86, recounts his early days as a fishing boat captain in Wachapreague, Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Captain Bobby Turner, 86, recounts his early days as a fishing boat captain in Wachapreague, Virginia on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn
An inscribed clapboard from the old Wachapreague Hotel hangs on the wall, next to a photograph of the hotel, in the home of Captain Bobby Turner, one of Wachapreague, Virginia's longest-tenured fishing boat captains, on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
An inscribed clapboard from the old Wachapreague Hotel hangs on the wall, next to a photograph of the hotel, in the home of Captain Bobby Turner, one of Wachapreague, Virginia's longest-tenured fishing boat captains, on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.
Staff Photo By Carol Vaughn