Gary Jobson Speaker Biography

World-Class Sailor, Television Commentator and Author, Named “Admiral of the Chesapeake”

As a sailor, Gary Jobson has enjoyed a long and successful career in boats small and large. He was twice named College Sailor of the Year. He has won many of the world’s offshore races, and he was tactician on the winning America’s Cup yacht, Courageous, in 1977, with skipper Ted Turner. He started his career as a sailing coach at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and later at the U.S. Naval Academy. Since then, Jobson has authored 23 books on sailing, narrated or produced 1,200 television programs and films, has given over 2,900 lectures, and has competed in 6,000 races. His articles appear regularly in Sailing World magazine, Cruising World magazine, and What’s Up Annapolis. In addition to these achievements, Jobson spent 31 years with ESPN covering nine America’s Cup events and producing many documentaries. He has covered seven Olympics and an America’s Cup for NBC, most recently Paris 2024. For his work in television, Jobson has been presented with three Emmys, six Tellys and an ACE Award.

Boards

Jobson is a Trustee Emeritus at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Chair of the Friends of St. John’s College, and Co-Chair of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. He is also a Past President of US Sailing, America’s governing body of sailing, and Past Vice President of World Sailing.

Commentator

Jobson spent 31 years with ESPN covering nine America’s Cup events and producing many documentaries. He has covered seven Olympics (including the upcoming Tokyo Olympics) and an America’s Cup for NBC. For his work in television, Jobson has been presented with two Emmys, four Tellys and an ACE Award.

Philanthropy

For many years, Jobson has been actively involved with education, environmental issues and healthcare. From 1993-2017 he served as Chair of the Leukemia Cup Regatta Series, which has raised over $60 million. Jobson spent 15 years on the Board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Virginia. In 2012 the Gary Jobson Professorship of Medical Oncology was established at the University of Maryland Medical School for Dr. Aaron Rapoport. (Jobson survived a two-year battle with lymphoma in 2003-04).

Honors and Awards

Jobson was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame (2011) and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame (2003) by the Herreshoff Marine Museum. In 1999 he won the Nathanael G. Herreshoff Trophy, US SAILING’s most prestigious award.

Education

Jobson is a Graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College. He attended Graduate School at CW Post College (Political Science) and was awarded a Doctor of Letters from the State University of New York in 2005, and a Doctor of Humane Letters by Lakeland College in 2013.

Gary and his wife, Janice, have three grown daughters and five grand children. The Jobsons have lived in Annapolis, Maryland since 1977. Jobson’s hobbies include daysailing Whirlwind, his open cockpit sloop, skiing, flyfishing, reading and taking long walks.