Annapolis - 'The Sailing Capital of the World?' PFFFTTTT!!!

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Try Fort Lauderdale...Not sure how many boats, heard 18,000 a fewyears ago.

Not 18K sailboats.

[sneuman]

Two excellent places to look for such things in the Annapolis area:

Bacon Sails (http://www.baconsails.com/)

Fairwinds Marina (FAIRWINDS MARINA, INC.- Specializing in evinrude outboard engine parts, johnson outboard motor parts, chrysler outboard motor parts, omc stern drive parts, remanufactured lower units, obsolete outboard engine parts, mercruiser sterndrive parts, force)

The folks at Bacon are very knowledgeable and very helpful, but the "public" part of their used boat stuff is not nearly as extensive as Fairwinds.

[David M]

I still say count the number of sailboats out on a nice day....that's the true sailing capital of the US. Forget nautical heritage, tradition, or the number of sailboats tied to the dock....sailing means actual sailing and nothing else.

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by David M

I still say count the number of sailboats out on a nice day....that's the true sailing capital of the US. Forget nautical heritage, tradition, or the number of sailboats tied to the dock....sailing means actual sailing and nothing else.

Using that method, then the largest urban areas along the water will be the "sailing capitals" simply because of their size.

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Soundbounder

Using that method, then the largest urban areas along the water will be the "sailing capitals" simply because of their size.

Your point is well-taken, Soundbounder. It might be more accurate to judge the numbers on a per capita basis. In truth, any location where there are a lot of people using and enjoying their sailing vessels is a very good place to be.

TaoJones

[David M]

Originally Posted by Soundbounder

Using that method, then the largest urban areas along the water will be the "sailing capitals" simply because of their size.

I agree! Those are the sailing capitals then. Where the most people sail.

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by David M

I agree! Those are the sailing capitals then. Where the most people sail.

Well then, New York would be the sailing capital.
And I am not so sure I agree with that.

[David M]

Really?....there are more sailboats sailing the harbors around New York than anywhere else? I think that's great! So be it then. I can't think of a more relevant way of determining this than actual hulls out sailing.

[Herbseesmoore]

Just visited Deltaville, Va and was very impressed. Each small marina seemed to be 99.999 percent sailboats. So maybe not the capital, but it was the largest ratio of Sails to power I've ever "sees"

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by David M

Really?....there are more sailboats sailing the harbors around New York than anywhere else? I think that's great! So be it then. I can't think of a more relevant way of determining this than actual hulls out sailing.

I think it is a flawed way to look at it.

[David M]

Whats the best way to look at it? What really determines a sailing capital? Must it be an old New England port to make the short list? I just thought I would stir the pot a little by saying that.

[Christian Van H]

Lets say you are an American Caucasian who goes off to live and work in China for several years. You love it, but you still miss certain things "back home". One day you return, and it feels good to be among "your people". That is what it feels like for a sailor to visit Annapolis...

BTW, population has NOTHING to do with this...

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by David M

Whats the best way to look at it? What really determines a sailing capital? Must it be an old New England port to make the short list? I just thought I would stir the pot a little by saying that.

Provincialism has nothing to do with it. If it did, why would I be discounting New York???

I simply think you have to factor in population as TaoJones mentioned.
The percentage of the economy tied to sailing is something to consider also. Maybe events also.

Because of its size and diversity, New York might very well have more country music bars than any other place. But I would never consider it the Country Music Capital.

[David M]

Alright...good point. Where then?

[Soundbounder]

Originally Posted by David M

Alright...good point. Where then?

Personally I think it is somewhat of a foolish conversation.

San Diego, San Francisco, Puget Sound are all places to consider on the west coast. Newport, Annapolis, and Ft Lauderdale on the east coast. And all for different reasons. Lauderdale is not a big sailing area, but it is the US base for boats sailing to the islands, and also the destination for many boats sailing south. That is different than the other places mentioned.

But as the original post pointed out, gentrification has smothered a lot of these places, and their connection to the water (and sailing), has become secondary. A lot of the waterfronts today have more to do with condominiums, tourist shops, and hotels, than with sailing.