Annapolis Sailboat Show 2024 Preview
What better place than Annapolis, MD, to hold the world’s best in-water sailboat show?
Annapolis, MD, is known as the “Sailing Capitol of the World,” so it only makes sense that the Annapolis Sailboat Show is one of the biggest and best venues to see the latest and greatest sailboats on the planet. In fact, this event has been named among the 10 Best Boat Shows in the US. When it first started up all the way back in 1970 it represented a new approach to boat shows, being the first sailboat show in the country to features the sailboats in the water. From that humble 51-boat beginning the show has grown to include miles of floating docks which are used to construct a temporary marina in the downtown Annapolis harbor, where hundreds of boats can be displayed while afloat in the same place at the same time.
New Sailboats Debuting at the Annapolis Sailboat Show
The Annapolis Sailboat Show has a significant international contingent, and new model boat will be arriving here for their North American or worldwide debut. These include models from 17’ to 60’, including unusual creations like foiling boats and catamarans, coming to town from far-flung locations like Cape Town, South Africa, and Saint-Herblain, France. The list include:
- 17 Salish Voyager
- Allures 51.9
- Bali 5.8
- Birdyfish
- Dufour 44
- Garcia Exploration 52
- Jeanneu Sun Odyssey 350
- Mackay Bieker Moth
- Mackay VX Two
- Vision 444
- Windelo 54
Activities at the Annapolis Sailboat Show
While all the sailboats on display are certainly the main draw, there’s a lot more to see and do at the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Sailing gear ranging from winches to windbreakers will be filling booths lining the shore, and housed in 10 different tents. There will be a “Vacation Basin,” focused on charter companies and tourism boards that can help you learn about cruising opportunities all around the globe. And your favorite sailing influencers can be found in the Cruisers Creating Content Booth.
Another big attraction is the show’s educational opportunities. This is the venue for the Fall 2024 Cruisers University, where a comprehensive curriculum is taught to sailors seeking to learn more about a wide range of cruising topics. Classes are held in the Historic Inns of Annapolis and attending the University includes show admission for all days. Whether you’re looking to learn more about cruising the Bahamas, avoiding hurricanes, essential knot tying, or how to use charts and a chartplotter, Cruisers University is the place to gain knowledge from beginner to advanced levels. And for those looking for a lighter educational experience the show also has free daily seminars. Topics such as celestial navigation, an introduction to sailboat racing, and transiting the Erie Canal are just a few of the those that will be covered; see the Seminar Schedule for the full list.
People new to sailing may want to check out the First Sail Workshop, a hands-on workshop including a 45-minute classroom overview of sailing basics followed by 90 minutes of real-world sailing aboard a Beneteau First 22. Presented by the American Sailing Association, slots for this activity are limited; check out the details and buy tickets at the First Sail Workshop webpage.
Annapolis Sailboat Show Details and Logistics
The Annapolis Sailboats Show runs October 10 through October 14, at the City Docks in downtown Annapolis. Daily hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. except for Monday the 14th, when the show closes at 5:00 p.m. Prepurchase tickets online to get a price break, and note that on Sunday the 13th military personnel get an added discount.
Parking is available at several garages in downtown Annapolis, but these do fill up and on-street parking in town is difficult even without the boat show. Attendees are encouraged to park at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave, and spots can be reserved via the ParkMobile app. Shuttle busses will run from the stadium to the show beginning one hour prior to opening through one hour after the show closes.
Sure, there are larger boat shows—but they generally feature big, expensive gas-guzzlers. When it comes to seeing the latest and greatest in sailboats, the Annapolis Sailboat Show simply can’t be beat.
