Special Race Awards

2024 – Keith Jones

Keith has been served as our treasurer for several years. He has worked tirelessly to help bring our organization onto a steady financial footing and broaden the reach of the good works that GCBSR can support. He was instrumental in starting the very successful Virtual GCBSR and continues to be passionate and innovative in many facets of our mission.

2023 – Peter Briggs

We are honored and proud to award The Black Dog Trophy to Peter Briggs. Peter has been involved in the Race from the very early days. He is always willing to step in and do whatever needs doing, and has been instrumental in helping to make this race the success it is today.

2022 – Not awarded this year

2021 – Nan Nawrocki

As the past GCBSR Board Chair and current Executive Director of Sail Baltimore, Nan Nawrocki has tirelessly supported the race through many years of selfless service. She has been the anchor for the Baltimore end of the Race and served in multiple roles throughout the years. Nan’s boundless enthusiasm and willingness to do what needs to be done to make the Race and the GCBSR mission a success has distinguished all her efforts.

Designed by Joy Heely and executed in wood and stainless steel by Howdy Bailey and Phil Huffman, this top honor annually goes to the schooner with the best corrected time at the Thimble Shoal finish line, 118 nautical miles. This is considered the most competitive schooner, and ordinarily is a Class A or AA vessel (“Thimble Shoal Fleet.”).

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

Named for the designer and builder of our original trophy clocks, this is a special trophy for the schooner crossing the Thimble Shoal finish line first.

2024 Woodwind, Captain Jen Kaye, elapsed time of 31h 02m 20s

The first schooner in the Windmill Point Fleet to cross the Windmill Pt. line is awarded a beautiful hand-crafted stainless steel Howdy Bailey Belt Buckle for “Line Honors.” (The smallest vessels, those in B and C classes, finish at Windmill Point, a course length of 83 nautical miles.)

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

This ornate silver loving cup is awarded for the best corrected time at Windmill Point for a Class B or C schooner.

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

When a Class B or Class C (Windmill Fleet) schooner keeps racing all the way to Thimble Shoal, instead of turning on the engine when they reach Windmill Point, they are entitled to “Bragging Rights Only” by class.

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

A unique, similar edition of Howdy’s much-coveted handmade stainless steel belt buckle (resembling somewhat the one given for Windmill Fleet Elapsed Time above) is from time to time given by Howdy to the schooner crossing its finish line last under sail (longest elapsed time), in honor of its perseverance; or, at the discretion of the Race committee, to the schooner most deserving of recognition for outstanding seamanship.

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

A smaller, Steiff-made sterling silver rendition of the Perpetual Trophy recognizes the top schooner of each year and resides at the northern end of the course, usually in a popular drinking establishment convenient to the harbor.

In 2024 this was not awarded as the race was shortened.

The Norfolk Rebel Education Trophy recognizes individuals and schooners who have made significant contributions to educating young people and adults about the Chesapeake Bay through unique and engaging experiences aboard schooners. These programs often incorporate STEM, ecology, and history curriculums, fostering a deep appreciation for the region’s maritime heritage and environmental stewardship.

2024 Jack Zuraw and his two-masted bateau, Jolly Dolphin –Jack Zuraw has a long and abiding commitment to educating people about the Chesapeake. Aboard Jolly Dolphin he has conducted Bay and water quality education in the Magothy, supported summer High School AP courses and Teaching With Small Boats Association programs through the National Sailing Hall Of Fame, and provided middle school exposure to the Chesapeake Bay watershed with the Eastport Yacht Club. This year, as in previous years, Jolly Dolphin hosted groups for GCBSR’s Wednesday morning education sail in Baltimore. This year’s group was from the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s including eight apprentices and four adults. Jack and Jolly Dolphin have also been involved with the Calvert Maritime Museum’s education program were he discussed the history of dredging with boats like Jolly Dolphin with numerous visitors, including repeat visits from local Sea-Scouts

2022 Stacy Spaulding – As the GCBSR board member for education, Stacy Spaulding has been instrumental in providing educational sailing experiences to over 100 schoolchildren each year during race week in Baltimore since 2019. Additionally, she has helped to launch and administer the GCBSR educational grant program, supporting educational organizations throughout the region whose activities align with our race mission.

2024 Wayne Easton, dock master at Anchorage Marina

2019 Stacy Spaulding, education program volunteer

2024 Sherman Gifford and Naomi Kaminsky, website development and maintenance