Pride of Baltimore II is an icon. For more than 30 years, she has sailed to promote historical maritime education, foster economic development and tourism, and represent the people of Maryland in ports throughout the world. Since her commissioning in 1988, Pride II has sailed over 275,000 nautical miles and visited more than 200 ports in 40 countries.

The history of Pride II is entwined with that of the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. In 1988, when the City of Baltimore launched her, Captain Lane Briggs of the Tugantine Norfolk Rebel challenged Pride II to a race from Baltimore to Norfolk, reviving a historic rivalry between schooners, captains, and cities on the Bay. With the challenge accepted, the Schooner Race was born.

Pride II is sailing on behalf of the nonprofit Pride of Baltimore, Inc., which owns and manages the ship. The organization relies on individual donations, corporate philanthropy, and grants to keep the Pride of Baltimore II sailing and serving the people of Maryland, year after year.

Welcome to the 2021 Virtual Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race!

While normal sailboat racing happens on the water, this race is completely online. Each participating schooner has teamed up with a nonprofit partner, and is racing to raise as much money as possible for their charity. YOU can participate in the race by choosing a schooner, making a contribution, and sharing this webpage with your family and friends! 90% of gifts will go directly to the charity of your choice. The other 10% will help the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race achieve its mission to promote awareness of the Chesapeake Bay’s heritage; to encourage preservation of the Bay’s resources; to support Chesapeake Bay education and clean-up efforts; to bring historic schooners to the Bay; and to encourage schooner sailing and preservation. 

Please take a moment to learn more about our schooners and the organizations they support. At the start of the race, please come back here to make a donation and support your team!

Donation links will be available from 12:00 noon on Wednesday, August 25 through 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 28. 

Thank you for supporting our schooner community!

Please note: The Chesapeake Bay schooner community could not exist without people like you, and we're eager to keep in touch. If you opt in to email communications when you donate, GCBSR will share your contact information with the schooner you support, as well as the partner nonprofit that will receive your donation. If you do not wish to be contacted, please opt out of communications on the form.