Boat Show Season Comes to Annapolis

by Craig Leweck, Scuttlebutt
Now in its 49th year, the annual United States Sailboat Show is the nation’s largest and oldest show of new sailboats and will include nearly 600 exhibitors and over 200 boats from 16 to 75 feet in size. With the balmy weather anticipated for the 2018 edition on October 4-8 in Annapolis… here I come.

I rarely miss this show as it is that one event where I can see everything and everybody, plus the town lends itself well to afterhour’s events (if you know what I mean). Aside from leaning on Peter Harken for the latest from Pewaukee, or checking in with Al Johnstone for what’s lurking from the J/Boats design studio, I will be certain to check in with the following:

• The RS21 from RS Sailing is a new 21 foot keelboat, designed to offer progressive and affordable one-design sailing for all skill levels. The goal is to conquer the two biggest challenges in our sport, affordability and accessibility, allowing more people to get the water. There’s already a lot of interest in this one.

• The Figaro Beneteau 3 is the first production foiling one-design monohull ever to grace the seas. A distillation of technology and innovation, the Figaro Beneteau 3 is the result of a collaboration between Beneteau and Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost, the architects of the last two Vendée Globe winners. Sounds cool but I will be looking for drink holders.

• The new M-Series M52 looks to be an exquisite yacht showcasing classic Morris styling, superior sailing performance and all the ease-of-handling features their yachts are known for. As is the spirit of a true coastal voyager, the M52 was designed to be a social vessel, comfortably seating eight adults around the cockpit’s teak drop-leaf table. I am so in on this.

• Being a huge fan of the Alerion Yachts, I am eager to catch up with the new owners for an update. David Pritchard with Gill is one of my oldest friends, and he’s always gushing with new products that make sailing better. Also, New England Ropes will be showcasing its new Viper Series for cruising and club sailors – performance without going in debt.

Looking at the exhibitor list, this is a fraction of what I want to see while there October 4 and 5. The boat show has even attracted Washington Redskins great Brian Mitchell for a live ESPN broadcast on October 5th from 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Good times ahead!