Step OUT: For a Race for the Bay

See dozens of schooners set sail from Baltimore to the Chesapeake Bay in Portsmouth, Virginia for the 23^rd Annual Great Chesapeake Schooner Race. Boats arrive in Baltimore Oct. 7 for the event, which promotes awareness of the bay’s maritime heritage and encourages its preservation.

The highlight is the Oct. 10 Parade of Sail, in which schooners will sail from Baltimore Marine Centers’ Lighthouse Point, around the Inner Harbor and back. Individuals will be able to view the schooners from the Canton, Fells Point, Harbor East and Inner Harbor waterfronts starting at 5 p.m., weather permitting. Many schooners will be open for public tours during the day. 
 
Race week kicks off with Sail Around the Square Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in Canton. Sail Around the Square is a fundraiser hosted by businesses in Canton’s O’Donnell Square. Individuals are invited to participate in a poker run where they will visit as many participating establishments as they want and collect a playing card from each business. At the end of the evening, prizes will be awarded to the winners with the best poker hands. Sail Around the Square costs $5 to participate. Proceeds support preservation of the Bay through youth education programs.

To date, the race has donated $152,624 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which provides thousands of children with on-water educational experiences.