Crowds, Boats, and Some Cool, New Stuff at the U.S. Sailboat Show
Published: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
By: Ken Quant, Broad Reach Marketing
After a year hiatus due to Covid, the U.S Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD, made a triumphant return in October (2021). Fueled by pent-up demand and a shifting work-life balance, huge crowds lined up early to get a look at what’s happening in the world of sailing. I hesitate to say that there were record crowds because show management never releases exact attendance numbers, but I can say that in the thirty-plus years I’ve been attending that show, I’ve never seen longer lines waiting to get in. One thing is for certain—the dream of owning a sailboat seems alive and well.
With the large crowd and fewer boats due to supply shortages, the long lines did not end at the entrance. All the in-water boats were also filled with interested show-goers patiently waiting their turns to tour each manufacturer’s offerings. Despite the waits, everyone seemed unbelievably upbeat, simply enjoying the fact that the show was back after a year off.
Although much of the show looked and felt very familiar, there were definitely new things about this year’s event. One of the most interesting developments is the growing number of millennial couples who have, or are considering, ditching the “real world” and heading out to live their dreams. I was amazed at how many of these young cruising couples stopped by the Forespar booth, where I was helping out, to ask well researched and thoughtful questions. But they were not just there to see boats and products. They were largely driven to the show to see the YouTube cruisers that they have been intently following throughout the pandemic. It is quite obvious that these online sailors are the newest form of sailing celebrities as long lines formed to meet them in-person.
In the tents, many of the traditional products offerings were back and still as interesting to the crowds as ever. However, there were also many cool new products that caught my eyes as well. One in particular provided me a true “why didn’t I think of that” moment. Just introduced this month, the brand new Smart Hatch offers a way to automatically control your hatches, even when you’re not aboard. Retrofittable to existing hatches, it’s a small motor that lifts and closes them on command from either a phone app or push-button controller. And better yet, just in case you are not monitoring your phone and it starts raining, built-in moisture sensors will automatically close the hatch for you. 
Having slept in my share of wet berths after a surprise shower, this feature seems like a no-brainer for all cruising sailors. Check them out at www.smart-hatch.com.
All-in-all, I think this year’s show was an amazing success. Sure there were a few empty booths and the large manufacturer parties were few and far between, but the simple fact that so many people went to the show is a great sign for the future of sailing in the post-pandemic world.
About the Author
Ken sails his T10, Eclipse, out of McKinley Marina in Milwaukee. He races regularly with the South Shore Yacht Club and MAST sailing club.
A version of this article appeared in the Buyer's Guide (November/December) 2022 of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine.
tags: Boat Show, COVID-19, East Coast, Sailing
