Baltimore Inner Harbor: Sail Schooner Summer Wind with Skipper

4.63

(125 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Li was already waving at us from the dock by the Rusty Scupper — I almost walked right past because I got distracted by the smell of fried crab cakes drifting over from somewhere. She laughed when I asked if it always smells like that here. “Only when you’re hungry,” she said. We climbed aboard Summer Wind, and I instantly noticed how soft the old wood felt under my hand, kind of warm even though it was breezy out. There were just a few of us, so everyone found their own spot to sprawl or lean.

The first few minutes sailing out into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor were quieter than I expected — just some gulls and the low hum of the city behind us. Our skipper pointed out Domino Sugar’s neon sign blinking in the distance (I’d only seen it in photos before), and someone else started guessing which rowhouse belonged to John Waters. The water looked almost greenish up close, but then it caught the sun and turned silver for a second. It’s funny how different everything feels from this angle — like you’re part of the city but not really in it.

I kept catching little moments: a couple sharing a blanket at the bow, somebody trying (and failing) to tie a proper knot, Li telling us how fast these schooners used to go back when they actually raced them across the bay. She showed me how to sit with my legs dangling over the side — honestly, I was worried about dropping my phone in, but then just let it go for once. The whole 1.5-hour sail went by slower than I thought it would, but also too fast? Hard to explain unless you’ve done it.