The Maritime Committee of the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) awarded the 2025 Marion Brewington Prize for Maritime History to David Gendell for his book “The Last Days of the Schooner America: A Lost Icon at the Annapolis Warship Factory” (2024, Lyons Press). Chosen from a competitive selection of titles on the Chesapeake Bay and U.S. maritime history published throughout 2024, Gendell’s text traces the history of the famous vessel America, from her design, build, and early racing career, through her lesser-known Civil War service and the never-before-told story of her final days and moments on the ground at Annapolis.
In the summer of 1851, the Schooner America crossed the Atlantic and sailed to an upset victory against a fleet of champions. The silver cup she won that day—renamed America’s Cup—is still coveted by sportsmen. After that famous victory, she began a decades-long run of adventure, neglect, rehabilitations, and hard sailing, always surrounded by colorful, passionate personalities. America’s story is set against a vivid picture of the entrepreneurial forces behind the fast, focused rise of the Annapolis Yacht Yard as the United States prepares for and enters World War II.
An Annapolis native, Gendell says, “While I always knew there was some connection between the schooner America and Annapolis, and while I always knew there was a warship building program in Annapolis during World War II, I had no idea how closely the two were connected.”
To bring this unique story to life, Gendell delved into archival sources and oral histories and interviewed some of the last living people who saw America at the Annapolis Yacht Yard.
Having grown up on boats, Gendell earned his Coast Guard Captain’s License at age 19. In 1995, he cofounded SpinSheet and served as editor for 12 years. In 2005, he cofounded PropTalk. Gendell is also the author of “Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse: A Chesapeake Bay Icon” (2020, The History Press).
Gendell’s third book, “Battles at Annapolis: Two Remarkable Football Games in the Army-Navy Rivalry” was released in August by Globe Pequot/Lyons Press. Learn more at davidgendellbooks.com.