We know it hasn’t been that long since we’ve written about sailing, but it is one of the things we love so it gets a lot of column inches. The best part of a town like Annapolis, MD is that it has more than one boat show per year. The shows aren’t small filler shows, either. The whole harbor is taken up by boats, letting you walk from one side to the other via a web of floating docks.

The main point of going this year is Amanda can go. My brother-in-law Matt and my sister will help her understand what we’re talking about when we reference size and makes of boats. Yes, this is an overt ploy to get her to go along with a plan to go in together to buy a larger boat in the hopes of sailing away into the sunset.

Zeke (me) Sailing the Chesapeake Bay in 2015

The annual in water boat show hosts more than 100 boat dealers and all classes of boats under sail, like monohauls, racers, catamarans, family cruisers and day sailors. You won’t have to look very hard for sailing accessories, with a navy’s worth of vendors lining the port. You can find the latest high-tech equipment, sailing toys and fashion. I know from experience that the vendors are some of the most knowledgeable in the business. If you have a question they have or will find an answer.

You don’t have to just go shopping and look at boats that have been tied up to the mooring posts. The Annapolis Junior Keelboat Regatta is also being held this weekend.  The race takes place at noon on April 23. The top high school sailing teams from the region will be competing. You can just find yourself a spot on the dock facing open water and watch these skillful sailors catch the wind.
The learn to sail workshop is sold out, but you can still have a lot of fun listing to the live music and attending one of the beer and wine tastings. You only have to take a short, dockside walk to Susan Cambell Park for music, dancing and beer. We will be skipping all that fun and heading to Chick and Ruth’s Diner, because who doesn’t want pancakes at 4 in the afternoon? If you have time this weekend, visit Annapolis or check out Annapolis Boat Shows for the next one.