2024 Sailing Season is coming! See you April 13, 2024!

Classic Boat Regatta

Elf Schooner moves swiftly by in the light breeze

The Fifth Annual NSHOF Classic Sailboat was held Sunday.  It was sponsored by the National Sailing Hall of Fame which is adjacent to City Dock.  What a great event!  What makes this event unique and special is that all the boats are made out of wood.  No “plastic fantastics” here.  There are many reasons to marvel … Read more

Star Spangled Sailabration

The Lynx is rigged similar to the Pride of Baltimore II. The original Lynx was a privateer built in Fells Point and was used during the War of 1812. Notice her split lower square sail on her foremast.

This past weekend was the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore which took place Sept 12 – 13, toward the end of the War of 1812.  It was one of the most significant battles of the war.  Francis Scott Key witnessed the event from on board a British warship while trying to secure the … Read more

Stacey’s First Sail, Dramatic Sky

The threatening cloud points directly at Woodwind under jib and main.

Sunday, the southwest wind  blew between 15 to 20 knots, producing ideal sailing conditions.  We tacked out of the harbor and then eased our course and toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  Stacey had never sailed before, but she enjoyed the experience so much that she asked to take the helm a second time.  Later in … Read more

History, Violin, and Taking the Helm

Tom plays a popular tune that might have been played as the ship "Peggy Stewart" burned to the waterline and then sank.

Tom Gay has a perspective of Annapolis that is unusual.  He shares that perspective with our guests as we sail towards the Bay Bridge, explaining how Governor Preston Lane ran for re-election on the promise that the bridge would only cost “pennies a day”.  Everyone new what that meant: TAXES.  And they did not want … Read more

Launching of Woodwind III

I know many of you have have been asking about the possibility of a third vessel.  Well, after much head scratching and fund raising efforts, we finally are announcing today that Woodwind III has been launched.  We will now share these photos of our new venture.  Sam was chosen as captain, Mike W as 1st … Read more

Kids, Food and Yacht

Women and four children steering the schooner

Pleasant temperatures and a light breeze make for a pleasant day.  This young couple takes the helm and our conversation turns to food.  They are from India, whose cuisine is one of my favorites.  Then our conversation turns to Pizza and other guests offer their favorites.  This makes everyone hungry, but fortunately we have some … Read more

What’s a YP anyway?

YP stands for Yard Patrol.  The midshipmen cruise these vessels near the YARD (it’s not  a campus).  These steel hulled vessels we saw were less than 2 years old.  The Navy is gradually replacing their aging fleet of 40+ year old, wooden hulled vessels.  Here we can see a MOB (man overboard) drill in progress. … Read more

Boat and Breakfast

Great breakfast after spending the night on Woodwind.

Hosting the Boat and Breakfast gives me a chance to meet some of our guests in a more relaxed setting.  This Saturday I met Chris and Brad who live near the Severn River in Virginia.  This Severn River is part of Mobjack Bay just North of Norfolk.  There they keep their classic sailing Catalina 30. … Read more

Great breakfast after spending the night on Woodwind.

This Saturday I met Chris and Brad who live near the Severn River in Virginia.  This Severn River is part of Mobjack Bay just North of Norfolk.  There they keep their classic sailing Catalina 30.  There are 3 Severn Rivers.  The second, of course, forms Annapolis Harbor and the last is actually The River Severn, … Read more

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