eastport yacht club commodore

Published on June 15th, 2020 | by Editor

Eight Bells: Mark Murphy

Published on June 15th, 2020 by Editor -->

With great sorrow, we mark the passing of Eastport Yacht Club (Annapolis, MD) Past Commodore Mark G. Murphy, 71, on June 10, 2020. The sailing community has lost a skilled and thoughtful leader, a seemingly tireless teacher and mentor, a significant contributor to the sport at nearly every level, and a steadfast friend.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, Mark studied electrical engineering at Purdue University before embarking on a long and distinguished career as a broadcast engineer, first in Richmond, VA., and then in Ann Arbor, MI. He settled in with National Public Radio in 1981, retiring in 2015 as Director of Engineering of the Public Radio Satellite System.

Mark first took up sailing as a student at Chesapeake Sailing School shortly after joining NPR; he was enthusiastically involved in racing by 1983, and soon afterward became an instructor at CSS, teaching from 1984 to 1990, including classes in Coastal Piloting & Navigation, sharing his love of sailing and its challenges with dozens of others.

It wasn’t long before he also became equally wholeheartedly involved in race management. This was an area where his quick intelligence, encyclopedic memory, and innate attention to detail served him – and the racing community – particularly well.

Over more than 30 years, Mark was an essential member of the Race Committees of both Annapolis Yacht Club and Eastport Yacht Club, and served several years as EYC’s Race Committee Chair. Early on, he earned certification as a US Sailing National Sailing Officer and World Sailing International Race Officer, and was one of the first US Sailing Senior Race Officers.

He served as Principal Race Officer for regattas ranging from small club events to the 2000 Star Worlds and at least a dozen iterations of the Santa Maria Cup International Women’s Match Racing Championships as well as numerous national and regional championships, pre-Olympic events, and the 2018 Annapolis to Bermuda Ocean Race.

In addition, he was often found in a variety of roles from Deputy PRO to mark boat captain to judge in regattas far too numerous to mention from California to the Chesapeake, and Canada to Florida, including service as PRO or Deputy PRO at the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta and World Cup Series Miami for most of the past two decades. A gifted teacher who genuinely enjoyed sharing knowledge and skills with others, Mark served for more than 20 years on the US Sailing Race Management Committee and the Race Officer Training and Certification Subcommittee, and was well known throughout the Mid-Atlantic region as a capable instructor in all levels of race management.

His mentorship helped develop many other race officers and is a lasting legacy. He also served multiple three-year terms as US Sailing’s Area C Race Officer.

Mark had been a member of Eastport Yacht Club for only a few years when he was abruptly thrust into the role of Commodore in 1991, during a turbulent and exciting phase of EYC’s growth and development as the young club dealt with purchasing property and building its first clubhouse.

Along with a finely-tuned sense of humor, his cool head, and steady hand prevailed over the complex and sometimes contentious issues involved, and as his second term drew to a close in October 1992, the new clubhouse opened for business.

Never one to seek the spotlight for himself, since that heady and hectic time Mark remained a steadying influence from the background, acting quietly as a senior advisor to subsequent Commodores with patience and skill. Although he didn’t interject often, whenever he did speak up his insightful counsel was greatly appreciated.

Mark and his wife, Sandy Grosvenor, herself a noted international race official, married in 1994 and were an impressive and perfectly balanced team in all things, whether ashore or afloat in a series of powerboats named Road Trip, which they used for various race management tasks as well as travel and adventure.

Mark’s interests ashore spanned a wide range. In younger years, he was very active in live theater production, participating in all aspects including lighting and sound design, set construction and painting, and running productions as stage manager, from high school productions to community theater and fully staged operas for Opera DC and the Annapolis Opera.

A licensed ham radio operator since 1969, he held an Amateur Extra class license, and was an active member of the Anne Arundel Radio Club for many years. He also supported the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore as a volunteer in the machine shop and a docent in the museum.

In addition to Sandy, Mark is survived by his brother Pete Murphy and nephew Bobby Smith. He was predeceased by his parents, Bob and Sally Murphy, and his sister, Terry Murphy Smith.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Eastport Yacht Club Foundation ( www.eycfoundation.org ), the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation ( www.aycfoundation.org ) or CRAB-Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating ( www.crabsailing.org ) in Mark’s memory.

A memorial will be held on Friday, June 26, at Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis. It also will be livestreamed. For more information, go to www.eastportyc.org . To leave online condolences, go to www.johnmtaylorfuneralhome.com .

Tags: Eight Bells , Mark Murphy

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Meet the Foundation

As the charitable arm of the Eastport Yacht Club, we are committed to preserving the maritime character of Annapolis and inspiring appreciation, conservation and education of our treasured Chesapeake Bay by today’s youth.

The Foundation works with local 5th grade through college students by way of annual events like 5th Grade STEM on the Water and the High School Marine & Maritime Career Expo, as well as Junior Sailing and Marine & Maritime scholarship programs. Each year EYCF supports hundreds of students and works to award over $40,000 in scholarships.

Learn more about these initiatives by visiting our PROGRAMS section.

EYC Foundation is led by a passionate and dedicated Board of Directors composed of Eastport Yacht Club and community members.  The foundation is additionally made up of four committees: Executive, Development, Promotion and Fundraising.

Meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 6 pm in the clubhouse lower level conference room (317 First Street, Annapolis 21403).  We welcome new energy and involvement!  Let us know if you would like to attend a meeting [email protected]

Mission Statement

“To enable diverse groups of young people to explore, learn about, and value opportunities on the water and in marine and maritime careers while protecting the environment”

EYC Foundation Board

- officers -.

Becky Ranzenbach , Chair

Wendy Madden , Vice Chair

Sarah Trees , Treasurer

Rahel Rosner , Secretary

- Directors -

Jennifer Ellefson , EYC Rear Commodore

Nadine Chien

Kimberly Cox

Larry Gaetano

Thornell Jones

Kathy Mannes

Michael C. Morris

Vicki Moyer

Carroll McGillin-Greve

Deanna Sansbury

Marcia Verploegen

- Committees -

• DEVELOPMENT  – Becky Ranzenbach , Chair The Development Committee seeks big-picture ways to expand the Foundation’s outreach to local youth and supporters, and pursue new resource and revenue opportunities.

• PROMOTION –  Heather Gaetano , Chair The Promotion Committee tells the EYCF story in order to promote each EYCF program as well as general outreach and fundraising campaigns. • FUNDRAISING –  Carroll McGillin , Chair The Fundraising Committee creates revenue raising opportunities throughout the year including new small scale endeavors like Super Bowl and March Madness challenges as well as the annual fundraiser event and virtual auction.

View our 2023 Annual Report

EYC Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Maryland organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

317 First Street, Annapolis, MD 21403

[email protected]

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© 2024 Eastport Yacht Club Foundation, Inc.

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MarciaVerploegen

Board member.

Marcia retired from her career in public policy but remains involved in many community matters. Her employment history includes 12 years of service in the office of Senator Chris Van Hollen, Director of Partners for Open Space, Deputy Director of 1000 Friends of Maryland, and as a Government Relations Consultant with Gally Public Affairs, specializing in the environment, health and education issues.

A graduate of Virginia Tech, she has served on many organizational boards including Eastport Yacht Club Foundation, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, St. Mary’s Parish Environmental Stewardship, St. Mary’s School Board of Trustees, Oak Hill Academy Board of Trustees, MIT’s D-Lab, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Remote Area Medical Volunteers – Canada, Maryland Association of Nonprofits, Patuxent Riverkeeper Board, Hospice Cup, Inc., Anne Arundel County Commission for Women, and the Junior League of Annapolis. Marcia is the recipient of the Junior League’s Tilghman Bowl for Outstanding Community Service and the YWCA TWIN Award (Tribute to Women in Industry).

deanna sansbury

Deanna is an ex-corporate girl turned cruiser when she and her husband sold their house and bought a catamaran with a dream of learning to sail. After two years of living aboard in Annapolis they left their jobs and took a sabbatical, sailing the East Coast, Florida Keys and Bahamas. When they returned, they started selling boats to help others achieve their dreams of being on the water.

She’s been with the Foundation since 2019 – the same year the joined EYC.  She really loves seeing how it has evolved over the past few years. Her wish for the Foundation is that it continue to evolve programs to positively inspire and support the lives of local youth. The Virtual Auction and the new format of the Career Expo have been great examples of how we can put a new spin on an existing program and make it even better and more impactful.

Carroll and her husband, Rob moved to Annapolis over 20 years ago because of their shared passion for sailing.  They joined EYC and became early volunteers with EYCF’s STEM program.  

After starting her career as a high school history teacher, Carroll spent the rest of her professional career in the education technology industries at Apple Computer and Cisco Systems. She says she had the best job in the world because she got to see how technology can really help revolutionize education, empowering teachers as they work with their students.  

With Cisco‘s philanthropy program, the Cisco Networking Academy, Carroll worked nationally with State Departments of Education and community colleges IT STEM programs, helping states build programs to encourage girls and young women to pursue STEM careers. 

Carroll is excited to be part of the EYCF Foundation and enjoy seeing how it truly helps young people see a future for themselves in the marine industry.

vicki moyer

Vicki is so excited to be part of the EYC Foundation and work together to further the mission. Her introduction to EYCF was through volunteering at the 2023 Career Expo and STEM on the Water. As she tells it, she was hooked immediately.

Having served as a Girl Scout troop leader, church youth group leader, and parent volunteer for school PTAs and Boosters for many years, she enjoys mentoring students of all ages.

For over 30 years her day job has been in the medical device and laboratory diagnostic field in a variety of areas including product research and development, manufacturing, regulation, and health communication.

Vicki loves science, protecting our environment, hiking, traveling, and, of course, spending time with family and friends cruising around the Chesapeake Bay on our Sabre 386.

Mike Morris

Mike joined EYC in 2022 after moving to Annapolis from Virginia Beach. He is passionate about promoting and supporting education and career opportunities in the marine and maritime industries. Accordingly, he chairs the foundation’s Marine & Maritime Scholarship program and supports the Marine & Maritime Career Expo. He additionally serves on EYC’s Race Committee. Mike has sailed since age 5, and raced competitively in high school, college, and through the early 2000s. In college he earned a USCG deck officer’s license, unlimited tonnage, upon oceans.  Commissioned through Navy ROTC, as a junior naval officer he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer, retiring from the Navy Reserve as a Commander in 2002. 

As a civilian he joined the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command in 1991, spending 29 years in positions ashore.  He was appointed to the federal Senior Executive Service in 2014.  He retired at the end of 2020 as Director of Total Force Management, having led a team responsible for managing a 5,400-mariner workforce deployed worldwide, three maritime training centers, and all people programs for personnel afloat and shore.  He owned a 35’ performance cruising sailboat and is currently on the lookout for his next boat. 

Looking forward he plans to continue supporting EYCF and EYC, do more actual sailing, keep learning, and continue traveling!

kathy mannes

Kathy is excited about how to expand the impact and reach of the EYC Foundation. She brings her experience working with industry, education, community partners, government, and philanthropy to increase workforce and economic opportunity for all. Currently, Kathy is a Senior Advisor at Jobs for the Future. She is a dot-connector, with a wide range of corporate, education, government, funder, and community contacts. Before joining JFF, Kathy was an appointee in the Obama administration and  launched the Center for Workforce and Industry Partnerships.

Previously, she served as senior vice president for workforce and economic development at the American Association of Community Colleges and as the managing director of workforce development at the National Retail Federation Foundation.

Kathy and her husband, Mark Moskovitz, joined EYC after moving to Edgewater where they built a house. Lifelong sailors in the area, they appreciate being part of the EYC community and the chance to become more involved.

thornell jones

larry gaetano

Larry joined EYC in 2016 and discovered the good work and lovely people of EYC Foundation in 2023. He serves on the foundation’s Marketing/Promotion team and on EYC’s IT Committee. A 30+ year sailor, his early water days were spent off the Atlantic coast of Florida and the Bahamas, before finding his way to the Chesapeake Bay in the early 2000’s.

Larry hails originally from Pittsburgh, PA where he began his career in television production, first as a camera operator then as a broadcast engineer. He was hired by his wife Heather and together they worked live sports and entertainment production in the early days of MTV, HBO, and ESPN, as well as the major networks. They moved to Florida to work for another client, Walt Disney World as they embarked on studio tv and film production. He shifted to cable and network news in 1997 designing and building studios and managing major events like inaugurations until he happily retired in 2017.

Larry and Heather live in Ellicott City’s historic district where they’ve volunteered tirelessly through two flood recoveries, over a dozen music festivals and helping with friend’s IT and marketing needs. He loves to cook, makes fabulous pasta and knows his way around a wine store.

kimberly cox

Kimberly has over 20 years of experience teaching Preschool – High School. She has taught a variety of subjects and especially enjoys working with her STEM students. Kimberly is currently a Work-Based Learning Facilitator based out of South River High School in Edgewater. She works with students and businesses to set up internships and apprenticeships. The most enjoyable part of her job is preparing high school students with the skills necessary to be successful in college and in the workforce.

Kimberly looks forward to serving as an EYCF Board Member and working on the Marine & Maritime Career Expo. She loves to network and hopes to connect and build new relationships with local businesses interested in providing opportunities for high school internships and/or apprenticeships.

nadine chien

Nadine has enjoyed a career in the sciences, spanning academic research, government service and corporate executive level work. She has long been committed to promoting education in the sciences. She proudly serves on the EYCF Board, promoting its mission and co-chairing the STEM program. This program provides a unique opportunity for every 5th grader in the Annapolis Eastport community to learn marine sciences and experience boating.

Following her retirement, Nadine established a charitable fund to help students pursue a career in STEM at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC). Her donations have helped fund the RISE program and other scholarships at AACC.  In 2022, she was appointed to the AACC Board of Trustees by Senator Elfreth and is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Board. She is the Trustee Board’s representative on the AACC Foundation Board and serves on its Strategic Fundraising Committee.

Nadine also gives back to the community by serving on the Annapolis Planning & Zoning Board of Appeals. She and her beloved Golden Retriever are a nationally certified pet therapy team, providing emotional support in hospitals, schools, libraries and the Anne Arundel Circuit Court helping support children who need to testify.

jennifer ellefson

Rear commodore.

Jennifer is the Rear Commodore at Eastport Yacht Club and serves as the Board Liaison to the EYC Foundation. In addition to her responsibilities as RC, she is also a Club Racing Officer. She moved to Annapolis in 2018 and previously served on the Board of Directors for Hospice Cup. 

Professionally, her career has focused on international trade compliance, working across a wide array of industries, including maritime and NASA. She has a B.S. in Economics from SUNY Fredonia and a certificate in World Art History from the Smithsonian.

rahel rosner

Rahel currently serves as the CFOO of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Rahel has served in similar capacities at Leffell School, Georgetown Day School, Washington College and The St. Paul’s Schools. She has focused on financial sustainability leading non-profits through transformational reorganization. Prior to her service with non-profits, Rahel was with PwC for 10 years. In addition to serving as board secretary for EYC, Rahel serves on the board of EBS, as treasurer of CSEE, on the Finance Committee of Kent School and the accreditation commission for AIMS. 

Rahel and her husband, Jordan moved full time to Edgewater five years ago where they live on the Rhode River. You will find them out and about on their powerboat, On the Rhode Again or crewing on OPB. They are proud parents of Tovia and Ari, sponsor parents to a middie (or two) at any given time, and caregivers to thousands of oyster spat who they nurture at the end of their dock. 

sarah trees

Since 2012, Sarah has served as the Executive Director of the Woodland Beach SCBD (a special taxing district in AA County).  She manages the budget and finances and is the project manager for maintenance contracts and capital improvements for the waterfront community.  Before that, she was the events manager for Union Station in Washington, D.C.  From press events for fifty people to inaugural balls for six thousand guests, she had the opportunity to coordinate fun and challenging events and work with creative and interesting clients. 

Sarah and her husband Greg Pitser enjoy living and playing on the Chesapeake Bay.  Currently, they sail a Hunter 28 or snoop around nearby creeks and coves in a Boston Whaler or on paddle boards or canoe.  When not on the water, they like to follow sports, dine out and travel. Sarah always finds time to volunteer.  Currently, she handles the finances for the non-profit wing of her community, serves as chair of EYC’s Finance Committee and is a member of EYC’s Race and Nominating Committees.  Sarah has a BA in History from Maryland so there’s no telling where her tendency towards managing finances comes from.  Sarah is a strong believer in positive reinforcement for happy volunteers and enjoys supporting the Foundation members that have vision and drive. 

wendy madden

Wendy combined her passions while traveling and teaching English all over the world until 2004 when she moved to Annapolis from Casablanca, Morocco, to teach at the United States Naval Academy. She taught there until September 2018 when she retired from full-time teaching to work as Human Resources Manager for M Yacht Services, her husband Steve’s company.

Attracting young people to the vibrant marine industry is one of Wendy’s favorite EYCF goals. She serves as Chair for the foundation’s annual Marine & Maritime Career Expo. She also serves on the board of MTAM and has mentored several On the Job Trainees with MTAM’s Marine Trade partnership.

becky ranzenbach

Becky first sailed while growing up in Ohio.  Racing really took hold in 2006 when she moved to Delaware. She spent many seasons driving to Annapolis to sail on Wednesday nights and weekends before moving here in 2015.  Becky has also raced in the Heineken Regatta, Marblehead to Halifax, and Newport to Bermuda races, and found deep friendships all along the way.  With her husband Robert they race their Viper 640 that docks at EYC.

As a student, Becky was introduced to STEM by a chemistry teacher so long ago that it wasn’t even called STEM yet.  That led her to choose engineering as a college major and working in the recycling industry. Her first job was turning soda bottles into carpet and clothing fiber. She moved on to work in Quality Engineering and Leadership rolls creating GORE-TEX® products, printed circuit boards, radar systems and ocean wind farms. 

Throughout her career, Becky experienced a shortage of people working in the skilled trades and had difficulty filling job openings.  She sees tremendous value in cultivating people and job opportunities, especially marine trades.  Thanks to scholarships and paid co-op sessions she put herself through school and graduated debt free. She’s passionate about the foundation’s efforts as she’s seen first hand how they impact lives. 

Eastport Yacht Club to members: Drop lawsuit or…

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Eastport Yacht Club to members: Drop lawsuit or lose membership

Eastport Yacht Club Commodore Scott Miller notified the members of their options on Tuesday. The announcement follows a July 9 hearing called to address charges of “conduct unbecoming of a member.”

The rift centered over fees and membership status changes for long-time members, some of whom were among the first to join the 35-year-old organization. Those changes prompted 26 members to file a lawsuit in June charging the club with breach of contract.

That legal action was countered by 66 other members who petitioned the board to expel the members who were named in the lawsuit. Tarry Lomax, a member since 1980 and one of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs, said the board ignored the suing members’ reasoning.

The club’s members voted to raise fees for senior members in September 2014. In June, 26 members filed a lawsuit against the club seeking to return to a fee structure adopted in 2004. That year, an emeritus category was created for voting members with more than 20 years with the club. Emeritus members agreed to waive their voting rights in exchange for lower their club fees.

Lomax said they weren’t challenging the club’s ability to change the rules but object to making them retroactive and nullifying an agreed pact.

“It’s disappointing they’ve taken this unprecedented action,” Lomax said. “That was not a shock. We think it was a foregone conclusion.”

Eastport Yacht Club’s membership was capped at 600 and establishing the emeritus category allowed the club to bring in new members who would pay initiation fees, annual dues and assessments. The emeritus members paid 25 percent of the voting members’ annual dues.

In 2014, the club’s members voted to replace the emeritus category with a senior category and raise their annual dues to 60 percent of voter members’. Annual dues for voting members for 2015 is $1,500. The initiation fee is $1,500 and voting members pay a $3,200 assessment.

EYC Commodore Scott Miller declined to comment. He said the issue is private.

Lomax expects some senior members to withdraw but many won’t.

“It’s more intimidation than any kind of compromise,” Lomax said.

Facing expulsion, the senior members countered with a petition, signed by 33 voting members, dated June 30 for EYC to change the club’s bylaws to allow only the original emeritus members to follow the previous fee system. Citing potential legal costs and a decline in club morale and membership, the petition says grandfathering the previous fee schedule would be cheaper than litigation.

Lomax said the club deferred taking up that bylaw change request until the annual meeting in November.

In his letter announcing the expulsion and opportunity to regain EYC membership, Miller wrote the board acknowledges “the right of any American to bring a lawsuit” but the club believes a lawsuit is not appropriate to challenge an action of the membership of a private club. He said EYC has acted within its governing rules and suing the club constitutes “conduct unbecoming.”

Miller’s letter also states:

*Any member who is a party to the lawsuit against the club is and shall be dismissed from the club and shall have no further membership privileges.

*However, if a member who currently is a party to the lawsuit submits proof that he or she has dismissed his/her suit against the club, with prejudice and within 10 days of July 15, 2015, his or her membership will be reinstated and the disciplinary action for having sued will be the suspension that has already been served.

*It is the board’s sincere wish that all members who are party to this lawsuit against the Club drop their participation so that no further disciplinary action in this specific petition would need to be pursued.

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Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

by Gary Jobson

May 28, 2024

The Annapolis Yacht Club overlooks Spa Creek in Annapolis and has a long history of supporting aspiring sailors in the community and encouraging youth participation in the sport. The yacht club’s Foundation (AYCF) announced its latest quarterly grants and scholarships to area sailors and 501(c)(3) organizations totaling $26K, bringing the AYCF contributions to more than $130K for the year.

Chesapeake Bay region yacht clubs work together to improve our communities

Sailors in Annapolis like to refer to our town as “America’s Sailing Capital,” which is a nice play on words since the city is the capital of the State of Maryland. From early spring until late in the fall the bay is filled with boats. To my eye it is a heartwarming sight to see so many people enjoy the freedom of being out on the bay. 

Several yacht clubs, sailing schools, and a variety of sailing associations work hard to help people of all ages to get on and enjoy the water. A high percentage of our population has difficulty gaining water access. The mission of every yacht club is to promote sailing as a life-long activity. These organizations support separate foundations to help aspiring sailors learn the sport and encourage more people to spend time boating safely. Adding to this narrative, many programs support projects outside of the sport.

The Eastport Yacht Club Foundation ( eycfoundation.org ), for example, hosts an annual Marine & Maritime Career Expo for high school students considering a career in the marine industry. The Expo is scheduled each spring and usually takes place at Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard. Students learn from industry professionals about career opportunities, maritime scholarships, on-the-job training programs, and college courses. 

The Eastport Yacht Club also has long hosted a charity regatta to raise funds for cancer research. The first Leukemia Cup was organized in 1993. The Annapolis Yacht Club joined one year later. Between 1993 and 2020 the sailing event raised $4 million dollars, presented to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In 2022, the name of the regatta was changed to the Maryland Cures Cancer Regatta with the funds being donated to a new cancer center at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Two other prominent charity regattas are held during the year, The Hospice Cup, and the CRAB Cup. Of the latter, the clever anacronym stands for Chesapeake Regional Accessible Boating—the premier organization in the region dedicated to providing recreational sailing opportunities for people with disabilities.

Together, the three race events have been combined into an annual Triple Crown of Charity Sailing. Winners of the contest are determined by a combination of results on the water and the amount of money individual sailors raise. Another fundraising regatta that was formed recently honors the memory of sailing great Jeff Ewenson in support of the EWE Foundation.

This year’s Hospice Cup will be held on September 14th, with the shore party held at Horn Point Marina in Annapolis. Now in it’s 43rd year, the annual regatta raises funds and awareness for hospice care. Participating hospices use funds raised through Hospice Cup to continue to offer quality end-of-life care to patients, their families, and friends.

Eastport Yacht Club commodore Mark Jones says, “EYC has and continues to pride itself on being an organization that is engaged with the community. We support Valhalla Sailing and their Veteran Sailing Program to prevent Veteran Suicide. EYC is proud to support the Seafarers Yacht Club. We work with the team at Seafarers to organize and execute their event that benefits their foundation.” 

Jones adds, “We are also the home yacht club for Maryland’s Tall Ship, the Pride of Baltimore II .”

The Seafarers Yacht Club of Annapolis ( seafarersyc.com ) was formed in 1959 by African American sailors and power boaters. In 1967, the group acquired an abandoned schoolhouse in Eastport and completely renovated the building, along with adding a swimming pool and a deck overlooking Back Creek. The club’s Seafarers Foundation provides swimming lessons for neighborhood children. In 2003, a one-week summer program was formed for at-risk children between the ages of eight and 12 years old from Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. In 2018, the program was expanded to two weeks and includes STEM and maritime education. Interestingly, a day of chess instruction is included by the U.S. Chess Center. The Seafarers Foundation supports a Sea Scout Ship 1959 named Commitment in honor of the late Bill Pinkney’s vessel. Pinkney was the first African American to sail solo around the world. The vessel is chartered by the Boys Scouts of America’s National Capital and Baltimore Districts.

The Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation (AYCF; aycfoundation.org ) works to foster excellence in national and international amateur sailing competition and provides grants to charitable and educational organizations in the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Region. An advisory committee analyzes requests for support. 

Commodore Timothy Cusack says, “We support the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Box-of-Rain which connects under-resourced youth to the Chesapeake Bay. The Foundation has provided scholarships for the Annapolis Junior Summer Program.” 

Last spring, AYCF hosted a dinner and lecture to support three college sailors who are working to gain a berth in the 2024 and 2028 Olympic Games. Olympian Paul Cayard gave the keynote address to 200 junior sailors prior to a sold-out dinner. The event netted over $100,000. Cusack adds about the Olympic night, “Truly one of the best fundraisers in quite a long time. We hope to build on this year’s success.” 

Past Commodores of the Seafarers Yacht Club were recently honored. From left to right: PC Melville Wyche, PC William Woodard, PC George Smith (represented by his wife Vivian), PC David Turner, IPC Benjamin McCottry, and current Commodore Derrick Cogburn.

A few notable sailors the AYCF has supported includes Leo Boucher who is an All-American sailor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Joe Morris who made the Olympics in the International 49er Class in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and Tommy Sitzmann who was a standout in the International Optimist Dinghy Class. He finished 5th in the World Championship out of a 258-boat fleet in 2018. 

Currently, the AYCF is supporting Chesapeake Bay sailor, Peter Gibbons-Neff, one of 90 entrants in the Mini Transat. He is the only American in the race. The race stretches 4,050 miles on two legs that start in France to the Canary Islands and a second leg to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. The race boats are only 21 feet in length. Gibbons-Neff is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and serves active duty in the Marine Corps for 10 years. He was a member of the Academy’s Offshore Sailing Team as a midshipman. 

The Severn Sailing Association (SSA; severnsailing.org ) was founded in 1954. The mission of the organization is to promote one design racing and education through a vibrant junior sailing program for children between the ages of 5 and 18. The annual dues for a junior member is a modest $47 per year. 

The Seafarers Summer Youth Program was established for at-risk children between the ages of 8 and 12 years from Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties, providing instruction and practical experiences in first aid and life saving measures, water safety, swimming, fishing, boating, the science of navigation, math and reading skills, etiquette, information on career opportunities in the marine environment.

About 170 youngsters participate each summer. The club makes a point to enroll several children from Eastport that might not be able to afford any fees. In addition, the club sponsors three high school sailing teams during the spring and fall seasons. The club has hosted numerous major national and international championships over the years. Commodore Bruce Empey says SSA does not have a separate foundation like the other clubs in town but does host a regatta that raises funds for the Olivia Constants Foundation through a team race regatta. In 2011, Olivia tragically drowned when her small dinghy sailboat capsized. The regatta pairs sailors of all ages together in different boats. The event is well run and in 2014 was recognized by the U.S. Sailing Association for exceptional race management, awarding SSA with the prestigious St. Petersburg Trophy.

Severn Sailing Association works with local Scout troops to assist in maritime-oriented merit badges. Empey says, “Most of these young people are non-members nor children of members. We supply 60 oyster cages each year in conjunction with the Oyster Recovery Partnership and a local Scout troop. The oysters are recovered and are taken upriver for planting near the Route 50 bridge.” 

The Eastport Yacht Club is also heavily involved in the Oyster Recovery Partnership. Additionally, EYC has an Environmental Committee that works closely with Sailor’s for the Sea Clean Regatta’s Program. And one of the most popular events in Annapolis during the Christmas and holiday season is the annual Lights Parade. A portion of the sponsorship revenue goes into the Eastport Yacht Club Foundation.

Junior (youth) sailing programs are the hallmark of many yacht clubs, including Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Rock Hall Yacht Club, and Cambridge Yacht Club on the Eastern Shore, among many others.

On the Eastern Shore, the Rock Hall Yacht Club ( rockhallyachtclub.org ), established in 1937, has a long history of engaging the local community and philanthropic work. The Club’s sailing school offers camp partnerships and scholarships to the community to promote sailing and the enjoyment of the Chesapeake Bay. RHYC welcomes visitors for a day of learning basic sailing instruction and introducing water to children that may not otherwise have the opportunity.

A bit south, the Cambridge Yacht Club ( cambridgeyachtclub.com ), formed in 1911, hosts an annual fundraiser for the Choptank River Lighthouse and supports an awareness walk for suicide and mental health. Junior sailing is a high priority for the club along with neighboring Tred Avon Yacht Club ( tayc.com ) in Oxford, Maryland. Both clubs host Log Canoe racing that draws large crowds to watch the racing. 

The list of charitable programs supported by passionate sailors and local yacht clubs is long. Improving life for the whole community sets an important example for all. 

Gary Jobson is a world-class sailor, television commentator, author, longtime resident of Annapolis, and pre-eminent ambassador for sailing of the United States. He either serves on or has served on the boards of Operation Sail, US Sailing, Olympic Sailing Committee, Leukemia Cup Regatta Series, Annapolis Yacht Club, National Sailing Hall of Fame, Chesapeake Bay Trust Board of Directors, and  Visit Annapolis, among many others.

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