The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show kicks off April 25 for a weekend of boats, gear, sailing seminars. The show will be located farther into the City Dock to make room for the scheduled construction. (Purchase Tickets)

“We’re very excited about the move into Ego Alley,” said Mary Ewenson, Annapolis Boat Shows president. “The stunning backdrop of Annapolis Harbor and the lively atmosphere of Ego Alley make it the perfect place to shop, socialize, and enjoy a fantastic weekend kicking off the tourism and sailing seasons.”

The Annapolis City Dock Project will redevelop the historic waterfront to address flooding, enhance public spaces, and create a more resilient and accessible downtown area. Plans include improved stormwater management, expanded pedestrian-friendly zones, and increased green spaces for community gatherings.

The Spring Sailboat Show has long been described as the season opener for sailing enthusiasts, with sailors, boat dealers and marine professionals gathering from all over. It also marks the beginning of the high season for Annapolis tourism.

“It’s the kind of event where you expect all of your friends to turn up,” Ewenson said.

In addition to boats ranging from accessible to high-performance, visitors will also be able to shop sailing gear, attend free educational sailing seminars, and explore local vendors. The show will also feature live music every afternoon in the No Wake Zone.

During its three-day run, the Spring Sailboat Show features popular highlights.

Boats: Smaller in volume than the fall show, the spring show offers an impressive range of boats. There will be a selection of electric yacht tenders, racing dinghies, daysailers, cruisers, and multihulls with LOAs ranging from 11’ to 60’ (See full list.) A notable outlier is the 157-foot Pride of Baltimore II. The recreation 19th century Baltimore clipper may not be available for purchase but, like all the boats featured at the show, attendees are welcome to climb aboard and explore.

Exhibitors: The 2024 Annapolis Spring Sailboat show will feature over 100 exhibitors, a quarter of which are displaying boats. The remainder offer a wide variety of goods and services that cover every facet of the marine sphere and beyond (see exhibitor list).

First Sail workshop: Presented by the American Sailing Association, First Sail Workshop is a hands-on class that affords people aged 18 and up the opportunity to establish the foundations of sailing. The workshop is divided into a 45-minute classroom session and a 90-minute, on-water lesson aboard a Beneteau First 22. The class is priced at $65 per person and includes admission to the show and a one-year membership to BoatUS.

Free Daily Seminars presented by BoatUS: The show’s series of free boating seminars, presented by BoatUS, covers a wide variety of topics relevant to all skill levels. All attendees are welcome to participate in expert-led, 45-minute classes that cover crewing aboard tall ships, docking and dining, point-to-point racing, and more (see full schedule). Highlights include: Rules of the Road with Captain Deb Marlor; Essential Knots and How to Tie Them with Ben and Teresa Carey; Line Handling and Safe Docking with Ben and Teresa Carey;

VHF Etiquette on the Water with John Herlig; Empowering Women Behind the Wheel with Captain Deb Marlor.

No Wake Zone: New to the show this year is the No Wake Zone – an area set aside for attendees to relax while highlighting local brands and artists. The outdoor lounge area has been furnished by Gabby & Summer Classics. Live music will be performed by local musician Sean Owen. Samples of Maryland-made bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, and wine will be offered, and bottles will be available for purchase. On Saturday, fashion shows will be held to showcase active wear from Shanks Golf Apparel and Made Plus shoes (read more).

Oakcliff Collaboration Tour:  4 to 6 p.m. April 26 and 9 to 11 a.m. April 27. Join Oakcliff for high-energy, entertaining working sessions that cover the ins and outs of competitive sailing.

Along with a selection of dinghies, the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show has a lot to offer young sailors and their parents. A notable addition to this year’s show is the Rooster sailing gear trailer. There will be a wide variety of sailing apparel available for purchase as well as knowledgeable staff to direct parents as to what gear their child needs and proper fitting. Loaner life jackets will be made available at the show entrances courtesy of BoatUS.

Youth Sailing Panel Discussion

All are invited for a youth sailing panel discussion and Q&A session on Saturday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. Whether parents have already registered their child for a youth sailing program this season or simply wonder whether such a program would be right for their family, they won’t want to miss the casual and lively panel discussion planned for families who have questions about youth sailing. Moderated by SpinSheet staff, this session will touch on all the essentials that families need to know to get their youngsters sailing. A group of coaches, parents, and recent college sailors will discuss the gear kids need, safety, costs, how kids progress to bigger boats, and more. More generally, panelists will discuss how sailing fosters life skills, problem-solving, and independence. Children are encouraged to attend accompanied by an adult.

Start Sailing Now Reunion

SpinSheet Publishing will be holding a meetup at the Spring Sailboat Show on the morning of Sunday, April 28 for the sailors it has interviewed over the past 10 years as part of SpinSheet’s Start Sailing Now campaign.

Start Sailing Now shares the stories of people who started sailing as adults and aims to encourage other adults to take up sailing. Show-goers who are at the show as it opens on Sunday morning are invited to join these sailors (made identifiable by their Start Sailing Now badges) huddled around the SpinSheet booth swapping stories and offering encouragement.

Additionally, there will be lots of events happening in Annapolis that weekend to accompany attendees’ trip to show.

Sail America Industry Conference April 22-24 at Annapolis Yacht Club 

Marine & Maritime Career Expo Thursday at Eastport Yacht Club

Ewe Spirit Cup Fundraising Kick Off Thursday at Forward Brewing

Bump (play) April 25-27 at Colonial Players of Annapolis

Spring Field Market (farmers market) Saturday  at Wildberry Farm

Patty Griffin (concert) Saturday  at Rams Head On Stage

Colonial Games Day Saturday at Hogshead Trades Museum

Cars and Coffee Sunday at Annapolis Town Center

SpinSheet Crew Party Sunday Eastport Yacht Club

The Kings of Queen (concert) Sunday at Rams Head 

For more concurrent events, dining, and lodging options, visit VistAnnapolis.com.

The Annapolis Boat Shows team produces the premier boat show series for power- and sailboats. Alongside boats that range from accessible to elite, show tents are stocked with the latest in nautical gear and accessories, electronics, communication equipment, sails, rigging, education, charter companies, clubs, and more. The Spring Sailboat Show runs from April 25-27. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit AnnapolisSpringSailboatShow.com.