2009 Letter from the Board of Directors
Dear Captains,
The Board of Directors for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race met earlier this year and reached several decisions that impact the fleet participating in the 2009 race. We want to share these decisions with you to help you plan for this year's race.
For 19 years, the race has successfully balanced its mission of preserving maritime heritage and educating present and future generations of children on the importance of sustaining the health of the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, the event has expanded to reach so many that in recent years the expenses have increased while the revenue stream, which is used to finance the race and the mission, has remained relatively flat. In 2008, the race attracted a record fleet of schooners and a record number of people to our activities, which naturally increased expenses. Examples of expenses which increased or were first-time expenses in 2008 were the cost of the awards ceremony in Portsmouth (doubled in cost) and the rental of dock space in Portsmouth (never before required to dock the fleet). Unfortunately, our 2008 revenue mirrored our 2007 revenue. We project, based on early interest for 2009, that these (and additional) increased expenses will be part of the race's requirements again this year.
To meet these requirements and maintain the credibility and financial stability of the race, the board reached the following decisions: 1. The entry fee for all schooners will be $1.50 per foot of "sparred length" with no maximum. For example, a schooner with a LOA of 50 feet will pay $75.00 to enter the race. We recognize that this represents an increase of $.50 per foot and we regret having to take this step. However, it is the first increase in the 20-year history of the race. 2. We will continue to provide two long-sleeve race shirts free to each vessel entering the race. Additional shirts for 2009 will each cost $20.00. This will also be the shirt price for yacht club members, volunteers and sponsors for 2009. Our apologies for this increase, but production costs dictate this price structure.
2008 represented a leap forward in regard to participation in the race. With a total of 57 entries and 47 schooners docked in Fells Point and Portsmouth last year, we envision a strong and viable event for years to come. Your support and participation is very much appreciated.
One additional potential impact for you is dockage. For years we have "capped" the LOA total to an arbitrary 3,000 linear feet of schooners based on available dock space in our host cities. For the past several years we have been able to accommodate more than that. In 2008 we had more than 4,400 feet of schooners entered in the race and docked more than 3,500 feet of schooners (since some enter, but don't sail or require dockage). This year we will continue to dock participating schooners at no additional cost to the participants as we can. However, if we have another year of extraordinary growth, schooners that register late (i.e., after the deadline for entry) may find themselves "on their own hook" for private marina accommodations or swinging at anchor. Unfortunately, there are practical limits to what we can work with in the sites where we operate. The message for you is to please register as timely as you can this year so we can execute the most effective plan. We're asking you to please "hang in there" with us on this issue as we work through the details.
2008 represented a leap forward in regard to participation in the race. With a total of 57 entries and 47 schooners docked in Fells Point and Portsmouth last year, we envision a strong and viable event for years to come. Your support and participation is very much appreciated.
One additional potential impact for you is dockage. For years we have "capped" the LOA total to an arbitrary 3,000 linear feet of schooners based on available dock space in our host cities. For the past several years we have been able to accommodate more than that. In 2008 we had more than 4,400 feet of schooners entered in the race and docked more than 3,500 feet of schooners (since some enter, but don't sail or require dockage). This year we will continue to dock participating schooners at no additional cost to the participants as we can. However, if we have another year of extraordinary growth, schooners that register late (i.e., after the deadline for entry) may find themselves "on their own hook" for private marina accommodations or swinging at anchor. Unfortunately, there are practical limits to what we can work with in the sites where we operate. The message for you is to please register as timely as you can this year so we can execute the most effective plan. We're asking you to please "hang in there" with us on this issue as we work through the details.
Our founder, Captain Lane Briggs, is undoubtedly smiling down on the continued success of the race as we work through these issues. All of us know that Lane's vision made this the premiere annual schooner event in the United States. For our 20th year, let's work together to keep the vision and dreams alive as we move forward.
Feel free to give any member of the Executive Committee (Al Roper, Nan Nawrocki, Dave Junkins or George Treiber) a call or send us an email (mailto:race@schoonerrace.org?subject=2009) if you have any thoughts or comments on these issues.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Board of Directors
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