2014 Annapolis Sail Boat Show Collage

We rolled the dice and luckily picked the sunny day (Sunday) for this year's trip to the boat show.  The preceding Saturday was cold and wet as a big storm front rolled past.  Columbus Day (Monday) also had it's share of "unsettled" weather.  What follows is a collection of photos of some of what we saw at this year's show.  Join us as we take a stroll.

We arrived at the boat show a couple hours before opening.  We did this so we could grab a parking spot just over the Spa Creek bridge at Eastport Elementary school.  We planned to meet up with friends at the Boat Yard Bar & Grill for supper and the last shuttle bus back to the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium leaves the show area at an inconvenient 5pm.  We started off at Sofi's Crepes.  That definitely took the curse out of the early start to the day.

A quick glance at the chart to refresh my memory as to the location of the Hendrick's gin barge (near the east end of the show by dock E2).  I noticed that this year there was also a rum and wine tasting tent at the west end of Ego Alley.  Important stuff.  Prudent sailors and charts go way back.

We frittered away some time looking at the contents of this expensive clock shop.  All the downtown shops were open early in the hope of separating boat show attendees from their money.

Here's a little wall hanging for Isle of Wight Len. 

They had 3D charts, clocks, tea trays, etc. from all locations imaginable.

Finally the gates opened.  We immediately bumped into fellow Classic Mothist Ed Salva.  Ed and I were quite taken by this demonstration of swaging.  This tool could be yours for a small sum...

Constant readers know by now that I never set foot on any of the big tubs that draw most of the show goers.  I stick to the small craft like this Zim 15.

Hull weight 180 lbs.  I never buy boats that weigh more than I do.  Who needs another hernia?  Time to move along.

This RS Aero is more like it.

The spars have nicely graduated scales etched on for the outhaul and Cunningham.  No need for messy stickers.

Unlike the Laser, the Aero has a luft bolt rope groove and and a proper halyard.

It's hard to see in this pix, but another nice touch is that the bitter ends of all the double handed sail shape controls are led through the shear and kept tidy by shock cord underneath the lip of the deck.  No dragging lines, no tangles.  A great solution to an annoying problem.

Hull weight 66 lbs!  That's what I'm talking about!

Ah, yes, the Hendrick's gin barge.  Our very next stop.  I ought to look into this guy's job.

Oh.  Sadly the position appears to require talent (besides that related to drinking gin).

Gin wasn't enough for diaristwoman.  She needed a "painkiller" from the Pusser's Rum stand as well.  This tided her over until we got to the Fleet Reserve Club for our annual roast beast sandwiches (rare with lots of raw onions and horseradish piled high, washed down with a big beer).

Of course we visited the tasting tent at the other end of the show.  I'm not a big fan of flavored rums but the New Zealand Sauvignon blanc on offer made up for it.

As always, the mooring field was heaving with interesting boats like this little gaff rigger.

Many mahogany trees died in order for Tempus Fugit to be built.

A bit over my budget at $5.5m.

Just one of these turnbuckles probably weighs more than a Moth Boat.

Once again the Comet Class Association had a boat on display.  I wandered over to chew the fat with the guy standing next to the boat.

As this photo demonstrates, Comets are still actively raced in Bermuda.

I asked him how much the class had to pay in order to have a display at the show.  He said $1500 dollars.  That's a lot of money for a small class.  I asked him because I've always wondered if it would make sense for the CMBA to have a boat or two on display.  He said lots of people came over to chat and reminisce.  I left wondering to myself how many of those "tire kickers" actually translated into more boats on regatta starting lines.  As the CMBA secretary/treasurer that's my ultimate calculus.  Something to think about.

As the day worn on I spotted this Morris sloop.  She has nice lines.  Reminds me of a Swedish Folkboat.

However, this little cat boat from Massachusetts is what I think of as a "big boat".

If I ever retire it might be tempting to have a boat like this for day sails on the bay.

This is who built that little cat.

At the other extreme we have this "devise" from the folks at MX.  Not a whole lot of buoyancy in that pointy bow.

Stern view.  The guys manning the display claim they've never seen one nose dive.  I remain unconvinced.

Diaristwoman found some countrymen to talk with.  Here she's attempting (unsuccessfully) to ignore the candy dish full of Swedish liquorice and hallon (raspberry) gummies.

It was soon time to cross the Spa Creek bridge for a bit of tucker.

A day that ends with a bit of Ahi tuna at the Boatyard is a good one.