Weekend Wanderings: Sailing in Annapolis

Annapolis is a great place to explore. You can tour the Naval Academy (fantastic to tour!), you have your pick of specialty shops and the seafood is amazing. But if that's not enough to lure you to Annapolis, sailing the Woodwind or the Woodwind II should.

Piloted by a husband and wife team, the Woodwind or Woodwind II will take you from Annapolis's historic waterfront, past the banks of the Naval Academy, into a two hour tour of the Chesapeake Bay. They leave several times a day from the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront Hotel. The crew is jovial as they invite you into the action of raising the sails or chanting to "pull" while others do the work. And most every cruise, someone is chosen to help pilot the vessel through the cresting water... or sometimes past an egret nest or two.

The Woodwind is a 74 foot schooner whose mahogany gleams in the sun. It was custom designed for the owner to sail these waters. Their past life as teachers shine through as they explain the basics of sailing the waters, wildlife you see on the tour as well as sights of interest. Though I've only been on the day cruises, I hear their sunset cruises are wonderful too!

Tour prices are reasonable and you can easily make a day of sailing, shopping and dining in this wonderful city by the Bay.