Annapolis Sailors Get Ready for Blue Angels Flight Shows

For Sailors, the Blue Angels Rehearsal and Air Show a Highlight of USNA Commissioning Week 2022

With the U.S. Naval Academy’s Commissioning Week upon us, there’s one thing locals on the sailing scene want to know… When are the Blue Angels flying?

The Blue Angels Flight Rehearsal takes place Tuesday, May 24 at 2 p.m. and the actual air show unfolds Wednesday, May 25 at 2 p.m. On both days, the Naval Academy Bridge will close from 10:45 am. to 1 p.m. and again from 1:45 to 4 p.m.
 

On the water, stay clear of the Naval Academy Bridge all the way to Greenbury Point. If you forget, a very nice marine policeman will direct you out of the Blue Angels air space! Having said that, thousands of sailors and boaters will gather to watch the show on both days. The crowd will depend upon the weather (as will the show itself). As a rule, the sunnier it is, the more crowded.


Hundreds of sailboats and powerboats will converge upon Annapolis for the Blue Angels Air Show, part of US Naval Academy Commissioning Week 2022. Photo by Will Keyworth

With that in mind, remember that there are a lot of new boaters on the waters these days, and that could also mean new-to-anchoring boaters. Be kind and cautious. If you have anyone swimming near your boat, put a bright lifejacket on them and keep an eye on them—preferably keeping them very close to the boat and or on a tethered raft.

You may notice other boaters out there who make some common anchoring mistakes. An example: they may not let out enough anchor rode, making them more susceptible to dragging anchor in gusts or wakes. Keep a few fenders handy in case you may have to quickly fend off a dragging vessel or work on untangling your anchors.


The Blue Angels fly over Annapolis, Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay. Photo by Will Keyworth

Be kind and cautious. Be friendly.

As boaters on such occasions are known to kick back a beverage or two, make sure you have a sober skipper and a competent deckhand to make your own voyage more pleasant.

Enjoy yourself.... and CONGRATULATIONS, NAVY CLASS OF 2022! 

Find details on 2022 USNA Commissioning Week here.

Find more SpinSheet Blue Angels footage here.