Related Guides

Popular Cities in Maryland

Online Favorites

Travel Resources

ShoulderSeason

Special Issues

Photo Galleries

Screensavers
share this article del.icio.us DIGG Facebook StumbleUpon
Annapolis: "America's Sailing Capital"
by Marty LeGrand

As children we all were sailors once. Who hasn't launched a toy boat on a neighborhood pond or creek? The thrill was vicarious, of course; you couldn't actually feel the sea spray on your face or watch the canvas sails billowing overhead. Here's your chance: visit Annapolis.

Maryland's capital city is also the seat of sailpower on Washington and Baltimore's big backyard pond, Chesapeake Bay. Annapolis, known as "America's Sailing Capital," and the county in which it's located, Anne Arundel, embrace more than 400 miles of the bay and its tributaries. On a warm breezy weekend these waterways are dotted with tufts of white-sailboats of all sizes racing in the wind or cruising the shoreline at a leisurely pace.

You don't have to own your own sailboat to participate in this quintessential Chesapeake Bay experience. Several of the large cruise boats that depart from the historic Annapolis waterfront are also floating classrooms on which passengers can learn the basics of sailing, help hoist a sail, or briefly take the wheel. No, you won't become skipper enough to skillfully negotiate the narrow confines of City Dock's "Ego Alley." You will, however, see the U.S. Naval Academy, Thomas Point Lighthouse, and other Annapolis sights under sail while getting hands-on practice with something more than a can of Natty Boh, the local brew of choice.

If you do want to learn the fundamentals of sailing more thoroughly, the Annapolis Sailing School, the country's oldest and largest sailing school, offers three basic courses, lasting two, three or five days, plus a special four-part beginners course for area residents.

For those who already know a jib from a centerboard, a number of area outfitters rent small sailboats by the afternoon or weekend. (If you're 28 or younger they'll need to see your Maryland boater's safety certificate or out-of-state equivalent first.) Vendors often offer instruction for non-licensed novices who want to start living their childhood fantasies. Not ready to tackle the open bay? Don't worry. Annapolis is surrounded by scenic, more sheltered waterways on which to get your feet wet, so to speak.

Practically Speaking
Annapolis is nearly equidistant from Washington, D.C., (33 miles) and Baltimore (26 miles). At the foot of Main Street, City Dock is the heart of the harbor area. Nearby, at the Annapolis Marriott on Compromise Street, the 74-foot schooners "Woodwind" and "Woodwind II" offer two-hour sightseeing cruises daily during the warm months (410-263-7837). Sailboats can be rented (with or without instruction) from Annapolis Sailing School (800-638-9192), from the Marriott (410-263-8994) or from South River Boat Rentals (410-956-9729) in Edgewater.

Related Links
Annapolis Sailing School
Schooner Woodwind Cruises
Annapolis Visitor Information
Marty LeGrand, who still has her toy boat, is senior editor for the regional travel magazine Chesapeake and has written for its boating-oriented sister publication, Chesapeake Bay Magazine. She prefers canoes to sailboats and fishing to just about everything.

Photo: Courtesy Running Free, Inc.
Sponsored Results