Monday, October 8, 2012

United States Sailboat Show - Annapolis Maryland

 A view of the docks Monday afternoon.
 
Lizzy and Mommy ready to get underway!
 
Maddie climbing into the captain's chair of a 40' catamaran.
 
Our pick for the best live aboard monohull in show - Island Packet 370
 
Our pick for best catamaran in show - Gemini Legacy 35
 

Our pick for the most attractive boat in show - Rivolta Yachts 43 Vintage
 

Best trailer-sailor in show - Doughdish, LLC - H-Class
 

 
Best small boat - Crawford Boatbuilding's Melonseed Skiff
 
 
I've heard about the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis for years and always wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  Since we now only live a few hours away, Amber and I decided we should make the trip with the girls for a little weekend get-away.  We met some really facinating people, including Liza Copeland, author of Just Cruising, who with her husband and three sons, spent 6 years cruising the globe.  We bought two of her books which she signed along with a personal note.
 
I think the girls climbed over every inch of every boat we boarded and, to our surprise, no one really seemed to mind.  Amber had a few heart attacks while we tossed them from the dock onto the stern of the boats and back off again, but I think they had a lot of fun!  Most importantly, Amber and I got to get a feel for some different layouts, aminities, and features of boats in the size range we would like to own one of these days.  We ate some great food and took in the sites of downtown Annapolis.  Amber really liked the big catamarans with their spacious salons and I really liked the more traditional monohull designs.  There were also vendors from all the usual big names right down to the custom boutique shops.  We bought a few t-shirts for good measure and walked away with a bag stuffed full of trade-show freebies.
 
In short, we had a great time!  If you're a boating enthusiast or just like to dream, we would highly recommend checking out the show if you get the opportunity.

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