Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show Builds Community Connections at City Dock
Date: April 28, 2026
For immediate release | Annapolis, MD – The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show returned to City Dock this past weekend, bringing sailors, exhibitors, and boating enthusiasts together for the start of the spring season. A beautiful Friday welcomed strong foot traffic and steady engagement across the show grounds, setting an encouraging tone for the weekend ahead. As overcast conditions settled in through the remainder of the weekend, the crowds shifted to dedicated sailors and serious buyers who made the trip to explore boats, gear, and marine services. The result was meaningful engagement and strong sales opportunities across the show grounds.
Exhibitors reported valuable conversations, strong engagement, and good connections with visitors throughout the weekend. Many shared that the quality of interactions remained high, with attendees arriving ready to learn more about boats, equipment, and upcoming time on the water.
Mark Rossetti of Atlantic Cruising Yachts shared, “We had a lot of buyers and we did very well.” Tyler Andrews of Flying Scot added, “The show was good for us this year. We’re pretty sure we sold a couple of boats at least.” Neil from Summit noted, “We’ve got some good leads so we were very happy with the result. It seemed the turnout was pretty good from what we were expecting.”
Additional exhibitors echoed the value of face-to-face connections made throughout the show. Marianna Fleischman of Spite Sailing added, “The show was really good. We got to meet a lot of people. There was a lot of interest in the boat, which was exciting,” Emily Decker of the Marine Trades Association of Maryland noted that their team connected with many visitors interested in learning more about workforce development opportunities within the marine trades.
One of the weekend’s most memorable highlights was the Foulest Foulies Fashion Show, which brought energy, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie to the waterfront. The event invited duct tape devotees to showcase their most worn-out, patched-up, and salt-crusted foul-weather gear in front of a panel of judges. Participants proudly modeled their gear, celebrating perseverance and the realities of life on the water. The sailor with the foulest foulies was to walk away with a new Gill OS2 Offshore Jacket and Bibs and a 60L Voyager Duffel Bag courtesy of Gill Marine. However, the contest was so close, local retailer, 727 Sailbags, awarded Gill gear to two contestants!
This year’s spring show also introduced an updated layout designed to adapt to the evolving construction at City Dock. The revised footprint served as an important trial run, allowing Boat Show organizers to observe movement patterns, identify issues, and gather valuable feedback from exhibitors and attendees while working to maintain strong connections to the surrounding downtown area.
“Our neighbors matter, and supporting downtown businesses remains a priority as we continue to plan future shows,” said Mary Ewenson, Annapolis Boat Shows President.
In the weeks leading up to the show, organizers launched the Dock Street Is Open campaign to support downtown Annapolis businesses during the construction period, encouraging residents and visitors to shop, dine, and explore local establishments. That effort continued throughout the show weekend through dedicated social media content highlighting downtown businesses and encouraging visitors to support shops and restaurants while visiting the show.
Feedback collected during the weekend will play a key role in refining the layout and enhancing the overall experience as preparations continue for the fall shows. The Annapolis Boat Shows remain deeply rooted in the Annapolis community, and that connection continues to guide every step forward. As improvements take shape along the waterfront, the focus remains on delivering an elevated show environment that feels exciting, accessible, and enjoyable for exhibitors, guests, and local partners alike.
The team looks forward to welcoming visitors back to City Dock this October for the Annapolis Powerboat Show (October 8-11) and the Annapolis Sailboat Show (October 15-18).
For more information on the fall shows or to purchase tickets, visit AnnapolisBoatShows.com.
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Annapolis Boat Shows
Founded in 1970, Annapolis Boat Shows is the producer of the world’s first and largest in-water sailboat show and a leader in premier marine events. The company hosts four annual shows on the Chesapeake Bay — including the Annapolis Sailboat Show, Annapolis Powerboat Show, Bay Bridge Boat Show at Safe Harbor Narrows Point, and Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show — that draw tens of thousands of attendees and hundreds of exhibitors from around the world. Guided by its mission to foster a thriving boating community, Annapolis Boat Shows promotes accessibility, education, community, and sustainability while setting the standard for marine events worldwide.
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Media Contact
Ryan Gullang
ryan@annapolisboatshows.com
(410) 268 8828