Island Blossom Wins the Cup

Gov. CupSunday, July 28, on a near perfect day for log canoe racing, Island Blossom, skippered by Corbin Penwell, owned by the estate of John C. North, won the historic Governor’s Cup log canoe race by significantly out distancing the second and third place boats, Island Lark and Billie P. Hall in a field of eight boats over the 11.3 mile race.

Pictured is skipper Penwell receiving the cup from Hannah Bryon, assistant secretary, Maryland Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts from Governor O’Malley’s office and Bill Rowan, commodore of the Miles River YC.

The Governor’s Cup trophy, which was sponsored by Governor Albert C. Richie (Governor: 1920 – 1935), is presented to the first place Log Canoe and is a perpetual trophy for the Chesapeake Bay Sailing Canoes. The image on the trophy is Island Bird, the oldest and smallest of all the log canoes now racing, which was built on Tilghman Island by William C. Covington in 1882 and is now skippered by John C. North, II.

The trophy was donated in 1927 by the Officers of the MRYC and is domiciled at the club in St. Michaels.

Check out some of Al Schreitmueller's log canoe photos below and find the remaining 2013 racing schedule here.