The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will arrive next week in Annapolis, May 24-25, for their traditional U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Commissioning Week flight demonstration. Both days, the action will kick off at 2 p.m.
The show is free and open to the public. Parking and a free shuttles are available at the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. But as boaters, we know the best place to view the air show is from the water.
The Naval Academy Bridge (Md. Rt. 450) will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the times listed below. Vehicles entering and leaving Annapolis should use Rowe Boulevard or other alternate routes.
- Tuesday, May 24: closed 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m. and from 1:45 p.m. until the completion of rehearsal (approximately 4 p.m.).
- Wednesday, May 25: closed 1:45 p.m.- 4 p.m. or conclusion of flight demonstration.
In the event of inclement weather Tuesday, May 24, the Naval Academy Bridge (Md. Rt. 450) will also close from 10:45 a.m. until 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 25.Tuesday and Wednesday, Gate 8 will remain open to staff, faculty, residents, and high priority case-by-case delivery vehicular traffic.
The Severn River will also be closed to boating and other watercraft from the USNA Route 450 bridge to spa creek. Call the U.S. Coast Guard at (410) 576-2693 for further details. 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.
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.
Be kind and cautious. Be friendly. And make sure you have a sober skipper and a competent deckhand to make your own voyage more pleasant.
Both the flight rehearsal on May 24 and the flight demonstration on May 25 will begin at 2 p.m.
Congratulations Navy class of 2022!