Annapolis Sailing School Celebrates 60th Anniversary

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The first recreational sailing school for adults in the nation has roots in Annapolis that dates back 60 years. Annapolis Sailing School celebrated its 60th anniversary on July 4. Owner Rick Nelson bought the school with his wife Jenny, a former teacher, in November 2014.

"When I purchased Annapolis Sailing School five years ago, I was well aware of its legacy and high-quality sailing experience. I also loved the school's secluded and convenient location just a mile by water from the United States Naval Academy," Rick Nelson said in a statement.

Founder Jerry Wood started the school in 1959, offering lessons in sailing and sailboat rentals. He eventually commissioned the Rainbow 24 training vessel, a safe and uncapsizable sloop, to better explain the "Annapolis Way" of hands-on training supplemented by classroom instruction.

"Sixty years later, the school's goal remains the same: to prepare as many folks as possible to enjoy seriously fun sailing through a day sail on the Bay to an overnight on their own boat, or even a tropical charter trip. But the definition of 'folks' has evolved, and I knew we needed to infuse our program with new energy and ideas to serve what we like to call the 'modern sailing family,'" Nelson said in a press release.

So far, the Nelsons have updated their fleet and rolled out paddleboards and kayaks for rent. They also have renovated bathrooms, installed new solar panels at the classroom and office buildings, constructed the Sail Shed that serves as a clubhouse with a big screen TV and bar, and added a large tent perfect for hosting weddings and other special events. There also are new floating wooden docks and a large floating platform to protect Back Creek by attenuating waves.

"It's been amazing to see Annapolis Sailing School grow so much over my decades of involvement with it, and I'm excited to be part of this next generation" said John Cosby, who started working there as a junior instructor in 1977 and now serves as its managing director.