Crowds to Cockpits: What Annapolis 2025 Revealed About the Future of Sailing
The Windelo 50 drew crowds and revealed a shift toward smarter, more thoughtful design that brings sailors closer to the experience.
It’s been just over two weeks since the boats sailed off and docks were disassembled, allowing Annapolis to slip back into its normal rhythm after the 2025 Annapolis Sailboat Show. Since then, I’ve spent most of my time finalizing new listings, catching up with clients and friends I met at the show, and just taking a minute to process the show as a whole.
If I’m being 100% honest, heading into the Annapolis show this year my expectations were pretty low. The last 12 months or so, consumer confidence indexes have been either drifting down or wobbling around (depending on which index you follow), so I assumed attendance, and overall energy, might reflect that. But I was happily proven wrong almost immediately. Day 1 showed up strong - Annapolis showed us some perfect fall weather, the crowds were out in full force, and it turned into one of the busiest opening days I can remember.
Each year I usually cover the Annapolis Sailboat Show as a whole, highlighting standout boats and brands, new technologies, and innovative accessories. This time, though, the Windelo 50 display kept me so busy that I barely had time to grab a sandwich, let alone walk the docks. From what I heard though, the show was exceptional. Since I didn’t get to explore much beyond the Just Catamarans + Windelo display, today I’ll focus on what turned out to be the most talked about feature on the private tours I conducted of the Windelo 50.
Over the past several sailboat shows representing Windelo, I’ve spent most of my time introducing sailors to the company’s history, what the brand represents, and how the technology works: its mission, sustainable construction materials and methods, and the innovative DNA that goes into each and every hull. But this show felt much different. For the first time I can recall, visitors were largely already familiar with Windelo, and came by specifically to check out the features that intrigued them most. From engine bays that are more like storage bays, to massive lithium power banks and solar panel arrays, we covered everything under the sun. The single feature that seemed to draw more interest and attention than anything else though, was the protected forward cockpit.
Designed for Short-handed Sailing
With dual helms and the option for dual navigation stations, plus electric winches and all the control lines leading directly into the forward cockpit, short-handed sailing on a Windelo is simply enjoyable. The workflow is intuitive; everything you need is close, organized, and sheltered from the elements, which means fewer trips, and in most cases, no trips up on deck. Functionally, that equates to far less drama when the breeze kicks up unexpectedly, which leads me to reefing. Reefing is one of the most notable for me as a solo sailor. On a Windelo it’s a quick and confident choice to reef rather than an internal debate on pros/cons vs. effort. When it comes to managing sail trim, after a few times out on the water it’ll feel like part of your natural rhythm rather than a chore. The result is a cockpit and control station that encourages smart decisions to take place earlier, and keeps you fully engaged with the fun part, sailing! Simply put, for solo or short-handed sailors, the layout of the Windelo forward cockpit builds trust, minimizes stress, and makes stretching your horizons a pleasant part of the experience.
Systems Monitoring at Your Fingertips
The forward cockpit also gives you direct access to core systems without ever leaving your dry, protected workspace. Everything is centralized, so checking battery and solar charging status, toggling between navigation systems, and even turning lights on and off throughout the boat, becomes a seamless part of your everyday flow and rhythm. From evaluating your battery levels heading into an overnight sail and activating hydrogeneration, to transferring fuel and monitoring weather and wind conditions, the information you need is right where you’re already working. It’s a small detail that makes a huge difference, especially when you’re on an offshore passage, on watch, or short-handed: fewer steps, fewer distractions, and a stronger sense of control over the entire boat.
Center of Gravity for a Stable Sail
One of my personal favorite features of the forward cockpit is its relationship to the boats center of gravity. On a Windelo, the forward cockpit sits just forward of the salon and galley, placing it just inches from the boat’s natural balance point. Because this is one of the most stable areas of the boat, you feel less motion when working sails, adjusting systems, or standing watch. To someone like me who suffers from motion sickness in heavier conditions, that stability matters in a big way. It is yet another small design feature that pays off every time you step forward to handle the boat, especially in heavier weather conditions.
360 Degree Protected View
One of the things I heard most from visitors was that they were surprised with the view from the forward cockpit since it sits forward and at deck level rather than perched above like most other sailing catamarans. When you choose the U-shaped galley layout with the larger bulkhead windows, you gain an almost full-circle line of sight from both helm stations, making it easy to keep an eye on your sails, the foredeck, the salon, and the water around you all at the same time. And now with Dockmate available as an upgrade, you can step anywhere on the boat while docking and position yourself from the vantage point you’re most comfortable operating from. On a personal note, it took me only once docking this boat to get comfortable with the view from the cockpit.
Connectedness to Life Onboard
One of the most visible benefits of the Windelo forward cockpit is how it naturally connects to life onboard. It’s not a separate work station like on many production catamarans. And unlike most of the performance catamarans out there, line handling is protected and integrated into the living space, but is easily separated if necessary using sliding doors. The indoor/outdoor forward cockpit opens into the salon and galley through these doors, so the skipper, whether trimming sails, adjusting daggerboards, reefing, or anchoring, remains part of the conversation onboard. On most sailing catamarans, skippers feel cut off while at the helm or line handling, and only rejoin the group once they reach their destination or when someone relieves them from watch duties. The forward cockpit changes all of that. It supports the social side of cruising without sacrificing anything operationally, allowing for a sense of connection that makes long passages, mooring, and day to day life feel more communal, calm, and enjoyable.
The Big Picture
The Windelo 50 forward cockpit drew more interest than any other feature onboard at the boat show. It represents the evolution so many sailors came searching for: practical innovation that makes sailing easier, safer, and more enjoyable, but without sacrificing the journey that all of us sailors dream about. Standing there, you could sense how this single design choice completely reshapes life at sea. From trimming, anchoring, and reefing, to socializing from one protected space that keeps you connected to the water and life aboard, rather than separated from it. The 2025 Annapolis Sailboat Show made one thing clear: the future of sailing will be defined not just by speed or style, but by thoughtful design that brings sailors closer to the experience and those they choose to share it with.
Pre-owned Windelo 50 Yachting Opportunity
VAGABOND, a 2024 Windelo 50 Yachting, is the first ever pre-owned Windelo 50 Version 2 to hit market! I’m excited to showcase this listing for those in the market to take immediate delivery of a lightly sailed, very well-equipped Windelo 50.
Below are some of VAGABOND’s most notable features:
4-cabin/2-head w/full skipper forepeak cabin + L-shaped galley layout
Port forward cabin includes home office setup with 2 fold-out beds
Award-winning Windelo forward cockpit design
Full-batten squaretop mainsail, solent, Code 0, and Gennaker
Garmin full electronics and navigation package
Air conditioning throughout cabins and living spaces
56 kWh + 7.5 kWh LiFePO₄ (lithium iron phosphate) battery banks w/4,516W of solar
