The "Tugantine" Norfolk Rebel is the first designed and built Sail Assisted Tugboat. Capt. Lane Briggs had her designed and built to be a multipurpose tug for his Marine Towing/Salvage/Construction business. Launched May of 1980. Being sail assisted, she would be able to achieve upwards of 30% fuel savings. In addition to towing barges and salvaging, she also towed several schooners and Tall Ships up and down the east coast. Also, she would participate in Tall Ship Festivals. Capt. Lane was also the founder of The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. His dream of schooners racing down the bay started with the first race in 1990. Bringing Schooners and their crews together to share stories of their season. The race evolved into a fundraising event every year to bring awareness to the Chesapeake Bay. Capt. Lane passed away in September 2005, but the Norfolk Rebel is still Racing to Save the Bay by racing for The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race. Please help by making a donation to The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race.

Welcome to the 2026 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 12 through 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 15. 

Thank you for supporting our schooner community!

Please note:  GCBSR will only share your contact information with the charity you donated to.