Sunset Sails & History, aboard a 74-foot, classic wooden schooner, Woodwind.
We feature a History-slanted sunset sail every Monday night (mid-May through September). When you set sail from downtown Annapolis, you see the gorgeous historic skyline that has welcomed ships in for centuries. We sail past the United States Naval Academy and into the Chesapeake Bay. Come listen to the stories that make up the fabric of history in this terrific town. Topics change weekly.
Here’s a sample from our 2019 Calendar. 2020 will be posted soon.
Schedule for History Mondays 2019:
Monday, May 13: Tunes & Tales – Annapolis 1750-1783, Tom Guay 6:30-8:30
Join us on the Woodwind for a lively set of tunes & tales about life during the heyday of Annapolis (1750-1783), the social life and events that created the American Revolution.
Monday, May 20: The Key to Annapolis History, Jeff Holland 6:30-8:30
The key to Annapolis history lies somewhere in the harbor… Jeff uses his original songs and narrative verse to tell three centuries worth of stories about Annapolis, some of which are actually true.
Monday, May 27: History of Carr’s Beach, William Ridgley 6:30-8:30
Come learn of the origins of Carr’s Beach. Learn how the 180 acres of farmland on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula in 1926, turned in to the blacks only beach.
Monday, June 3: All about Schooners, Mike Williams 6:30-8:30
The history of the schooner is very much the history of America. Invented by the Dutch in the 16th or 17th century, the schooner was further developed, and one could say, perfected in North America. The schooner came into extensive use in New England from the early 18th century onward, helping the young America develop into a trading nation. Built for speed and windward ability, the schooner was a backbone of the early American economy participating in trading, slaving, privateering, blockade running and offshore fishing. In the Chesapeake Bay region, several special types of schooners such as the Baltimore clipper, the bugeye and the pungy developed. In this history Monday sail, Prof. Mike Williams of NYU, will explore the history of the schooner covering how the schooner and its rig developed, the construction of schooners over the centuries and their evolution from working boats into leisure yachts.
Monday, June 10: Tale of Two Cities, William Ridgley 6:30-8:30
Learn about The tale of two cities in Annapolis. These consist of the United States naval academy, and the actual city of Annapolis Maryland.
Monday, June 17: Legends & Lore of the Annapolis Waterfront, Dave Gendell 6:30-8:30
Lifelong Chesapeake Bay sailor Dave Gendell brings aboard a boatload of stories of the Annapolis waterfront with a special focus on the Schooner America, wooden boatbuilding in Annapolis during World War II, and the personalities and events that make the waters off Annapolis one of the world’s most vibrant sailing grounds.
Monday, June 24: The Maritime Republic of Eastport, Still revolting after all these years! Kevin Brooks 6:30-8:30
Join Eastport Oyster Boy and Local Revolutionary Kevin “Brother Shucker” Brooks for an entertaining look at the upstart “Maritime Republic of Eastport”‘s interesting and downright fun history through the past four centuries. Historic forts, world-class boat building centers, proud diversity, resilient waterman and becoming the ever fun and ever mighty Maritime Republic of Eastport!… Join Kevin for this fun, irreverent and music-filled journey through the “Gulf of Eastport and Around the Horn”…(Horn Point that is…) sunset sail through history, music, and mirth.
Monday, July 1: Tunes & Tales – Annapolis 1750-1783, Tom Guay 6:30-8:30
Join us on the Woodwind for a lively set of tunes & tales about life during the heyday of Annapolis (1750-1783), the social life and events that created the American Revolution.
Monday, July 8: Legends & Lore of the Annapolis Waterfront, Dave Gendell 6:30-8:30
Lifelong Chesapeake Bay sailor Dave Gendell brings aboard a boatload of stories of the Annapolis waterfront with a special focus on the Schooner America, wooden boatbuilding in Annapolis during World War II, and the personalities and events that make the waters off Annapolis one of the world’s most vibrant sailing grounds.
Monday, July 15: The Key to Annapolis History, Jeff Holland 6:30-8:30
The key to Annapolis history lies somewhere in the harbor… Jeff uses his original songs and narrative verse to tell three centuries worth of stories about Annapolis, some of which are actually true.
Monday, July 22: Pirates of the Chesapeake Bay, Heather Ersts 6:30-8:30
Pirates have plied the waters of the Chesapeake Bay for hundreds of years and still do today. Hear tales of Black Beard, the town dubbed the “Nest of Pirates,” and today’s modern pirates as you sail along the same waterways they have sailed.
Monday, July 29: Tunes & Tales – Annapolis 1750-1783, Tom Guay 6:30-8:30
Join us on the Woodwind for a lively set of tunes & tales about life during the heyday of Annapolis (1750-1783), the social life and events that created the American Revolution.
Monday, August 5: Battle of the Severn and the War of 1812, William Ridgley 6:30-8:30
The Battle of the Severn took place right in the middle of the Severn River, in between Horn Point and Hospital Point. The Chesapeake part of the war of 1812 will be specifically on the lookouts standing on top of the statehouse and the Royal Navy anchoring right in the Severn River. Also there we will be discussing the Forts Severn, Horn Point (Eastport), and Fort Nonsense (Naval Academy bridge).
Monday, August 12: Birds of the Chesapeake Bay, Heather Ersts 6:30-8:30
Osprey, herons, and eagles call the Chesapeake Bay home. Learn about these soaring Bay beauties, their domestic habits and vacation plans.
Private Event, History Monday Cancelled: Monday, August 19: The Key to Annapolis History, Jeff Holland 6:30-8:30
The key to Annapolis history lies somewhere in the harbor… Jeff uses his original songs and narrative verse to tell three centuries worth of stories about Annapolis, some of which are actually true.
Monday, August 26: Legends & Lore of the Annapolis Waterfront, Dave Gendell 5:30-7:30
Lifelong Chesapeake Bay sailor Dave Gendell brings aboard a boatload of stories of the Annapolis waterfront with a special focus on the Schooner America, wooden boatbuilding in Annapolis during World War II, and the personalities and events that make the waters off Annapolis one of the world’s most vibrant sailing grounds.
Monday, September 2: Tunes & Tales – Annapolis 1750-1783, Tom Guay 5:30-7:30
Join us on the Woodwind for a lively set of tunes & tales about life during the heyday of Annapolis (1750-1783), the social life and events that created the American Revolution.
Monday, September 9: Annapolis and the US Navy, Mike Williams 5:30-7:30
George Washington, despite having been General of the Continental Army, remarked that it was the Navy that was the most important aspect of American defense, saying “It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious.” Annapolis is the home of the US Naval Academy and one of the most important cities to the development of the professional US Navy. Join military sociologist Prof. Michael Williams, on this history Monday to learn about the role Annapolis played in the development of the Navy and some of the more colorful characters that have rolled out of ‘The Yard’ and onto the High Seas to the benefit (and sometimes amusement) of the United States. In addition to learning about naval personalities and development, Michael will also explore how the Naval Base at Annapolis has been a hub of technological innovation and development, to the extent that it can even be said Annapolis is the birthplace of the American space program!
Monday, September 16: The Key to Annapolis History, Jeff Holland 5:30-7:30
The key to Annapolis history lies somewhere in the harbor… Jeff uses his original songs and narrative verse to tell three centuries worth of stories about Annapolis, some of which are actually true.
Monday, Sept. 23: Legends & Lore of the Annapolis Waterfront, Dave Gendell 5:30-7:30
Lifelong Chesapeake Bay sailor Dave Gendell brings aboard a boatload of stories of the Annapolis waterfront with a special focus on the Schooner America, wooden boatbuilding in Annapolis during World War II, and the personalities and events that make the waters off Annapolis one of the world’s most vibrant sailing grounds.
