##Although we won’t have the pleasure of seeing the beautiful schooners at the start of the GCBSR, we can still raise funds to keep the spirit of the event alive... and support non-profits that help the Bay. Photo by Will Keyworth
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The Virtual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race
choonering on the Bay… having a few dozen schooners in one place on a gorgeous October afternoon, with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge as a backdrop, is one of the most special sights of the year to behold. But alas, the start of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race (GCBSR) that usually takes place the Thursday after Columbus Day, will not happen in 2020. The 120-mile-long race is only one piece of the annual weeklong event. Usually, on both ends of the race—in Baltimore, MD, and in Portsmouth, VA— there are public tours, educational events for young people, social gatherings for schooner enthusiasts, and fundraising. Naturally, during the pandemic all of these physical events are impractical and unsafe. At the heart of the entire event is fundraising for regional nonprofits on the Bay. In 2020, the folks at GCBSR intend to keep the fundraising piece alive with a Virtual GCBSR or VGCBSR. The crews of each boat will partner with a nonprofit organization of their choice which supports the organization’s mission: promoting awareness of the Bay’s heritage, encouraging preservation of the Bay’s resources, clean up and education efforts, and schooner education and sailing. The virtual race will consist of a week-long fundraising event in October co-sponsored by the schooners and their non-profit partners; both reaching out to their constituents for donations. These donations will be collected on gcbsr.org on the virtual race page. When the week ends the team with the greatest amount of money raised wins. All collected donations will then be given to the non-profit partner. Click to gcbsr.org to donate and learn more, and keep your eyes on SpinSheet’s Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
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