Eight Bells: Maggie Flanigan

Maggie Flanigan, an active member of the Annapolis sailing community, passed away suddenly on August 18, 2024. She was 34 years old.

Sailing was in Maggie Flanigan’s blood. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, into a family of sailors and learned to walk on a cruise from Long Island Sound to the Chesapeake Bay. A third-generation female sailor, Maggie continued the legacy started by her grandmother, who founded a community sailing program and raced a Sabre 34 until she was 94 years old.

A member of the Quantum Sails loft in Annapolis, she was a strong advocate of getting more and more women out sailing and racing.

“She brought laughter, warmth and energy that radiated out from her, regardless of weather or situation,” noted Pete Boland, her frequent skipper on the J/105 London Calling. “She was always first on the team sheet and last to leave the boat after we docked.”

Remembering the spirit of J/105 racer Maggie Flanigan, the 2024 J/105 Women’s Regatta will be awarding the Maggie Flanigan Perpetual Trophy to the “Best Dressed Crew” of the regatta on Sunday, September 1.

She was a member of 2023 winner of the Best Dressed Crew, a trophy that did not exist until they arrived on the racecourse, to the delight of the race committee, in their bright pink and white attire. A self-proclaimed “Seamstress, Fiber Artist, Costumer, Sailor” the trophy remembers the joy, light, and humor which she brought to her serious pursuits.

A celebration of life is planned for August 30 from 11:00am at Kurtz’s Beach, 2070 Kurtz Avenue, Pasadena, MD, 21122.

During the Annapolis Yacht Club Wednesday Night Race on August 21, the J/105 Class honored Maggie with a special tribute:

Additional details: https://www.peacefulalternatives.com/obituary/maggie-flanigan