American Rover is a 135-foot, 3-masted topsail schooner. Her signature tanbark sails have been a fixture on the Downtown Norfolk waterfront since 1986. A frequent participant in the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race and an immediately recognizable sight on the Elizabeth River, American Rover plays a critical role in the Bay's schooner community. 

This year, American Rover is sailing on behalf of the Elizabeth River Project, a Norfolk-based nonprofit that works to restore the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships. Their tireless restoration work, coupled with comprehensive and exciting education programs, has helped to transform and renew the Elizabeth River and its watershed.

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.