A Virtual Sailing Race (Before the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race) Raises Funds To Benefit the Bay
Did you know that before the on-water Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) in October, a virtual race will unfold online this month? Instead of competing under sail, the schooner teams compete to raise money for charity.
Each schooner chooses a nonprofit partner—an organization working to preserve and protect the Chesapeake Bay’s history and ecology. During a three-day period, August 13-16, schooner teams reach out to crew, friends, family, and others to raise funds for their cause. The schooner that raises the most money is the winner.
Since its inception in 2020, the virtual race has raised more than $375,000 for conservation and education work on the Chesapeake Bay. Last year 12 schooners competed in the virtual race and together raised more than $55,000.
In July, the GCBSR grant committee announced that it has selected seven outstanding organizations to receive education grants totaling $15,000. These grants support innovative maritime and environmental education programs. Congratulations to: Alexandria Seaport Foundation & World Ocean School, Chesapeake Mermaid, Living Classrooms Foundation: Maritime Education, Downtown Sailing Center, Norfolk Youth Sailing Association, Youth Sailing Virginia, and Pride of Baltimore II.
The recpient programs represent a diverse range of educational experiences that foster connection to our waterways, maritime heritage, and environmental stewardship. In October, look for Alexandria Seaport Foundation and Living Classrooms as they compete with students in the on-water race.
Lori Ferrara, development director for Pride of Baltimore II, explains the importance of such grants, saying, “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from GCBSR. This funding helps us expand our bilingual maritime education programming aboard Pride of Baltimore II, connecting more students and families to the rich maritime heritage of the Chesapeake Bay. It’s a meaningful investment in the future of our shared waters.”
The GCBSR mission is to promote awareness of the Chesapeake Bay’s heritage, encourage preservation of the Bay’s resources, support Chesapeake Bay education and clean-up efforts, bring historic schooners to the Bay, and encourage schooner sailing and preservation with a special eye toward the next generation. GCBSR fulfills this mission through educational grants, educational sails, and its virtual race, which was conceived in 2020 as a way to keep serving the race mission, even when it was impossible to run a full race on the water due to the Covid pandemic. Learn more and donate at gcbsr.org.
