Alliance is a 105-foot, 3-masted, gaff-rigged schooner that allows visitors to step back into history. Alliance offers sailing charters from Yorktown Virginia. She sails 3 times daily from the Yorktown Riverwalk Landing Pier in historic Yorktown from April to November.

Alliance is sailing again this year in support of the Watermen's Museum in Yorktown. This small, private museum demonstrates the role Chesapeake Bay Watermen (professionals on the water), from pre-colonial to modern times, have played in the shaping of our nation. They provide historical exhibits depicting military and civilian water craft and activities, crafts and methods of their trade, and a look into the lives of the people that have worked and fought on the water.

Welcome to the 2022 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 24 through 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 27. 

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