The Downtown Sailing Center upcoming events

Cruising Winterization Work Party (Saturday, November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:00:00 GMT

End-of-Season Work Party

All are welcome to come help and learn about taking sails down, engine maintenance, and other winterization tasks for our cruising fleet.

Location: B-Dock

If registration fills up, please join the waitlist and look for an email about coming down to help. Check Circle for more details and to post any questions.

Lighted Boat Parade (Saturday, December 05, 2026)

Sat, 05 Dec 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Lighted Boat Parade

Let's light up the Inner Harbor!

Join your DSC sailing friends for one of the most festive events of the year! We'll transform our cruising boats into floating holiday displays and join Baltimore's Lighted Boat Parade, bringing a little holiday magic to the Inner Harbor.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate another great sailing season, get creative with fellow members, and enjoy a memorable evening on the water. Whether you love decorating, have a great holiday theme in mind, or simply want to be part of the festivities, we'd love to have you aboard!

Get Creative & Join the Fun!

We're hoping to have as many DSC boats participating as possible, and we encourage skippers and crew to work together to dream up fun holiday themes!

From classic Christmas characters to colorful light displays, the possibilities are endless. Coordinate with your skipper and fellow crew members to plan decorations, gather supplies, and bring your boat's theme to life.

The more boats we have participating, the brighter the harbor will shine!

What to Expect

We'll gather at the DSC during the day to decorate our boats before heading to Anchorage Marina around 4 PM. From there, we'll join the illuminated parade through Inner Harbor, followed by a holiday celebration and awards for the best-decorated boats at Anchorage Marina.

Along the way, participants will also have an opportunity to experience nighttime cruising, including navigation using illuminated markers, identifying other vessels' lights, and docking after dark.

Good to Know Before You Go

Meeting Time: Skippers will coordinate decorating plans and specific dock-call times with their crews through Circle.
Decorations: Bring lights, decorations, batteries, and other festive supplies as coordinated with your skipper. Please check with your skipper before bringing electrical equipment or generators.
Shared Costs: No slip or dockage fees are expected. A $5 contribution to the DSC fuel fund is appreciated.
Waitlist: Additional crew may be admitted from the waitlist if more skippers register and another boat becomes available.
Weather: Any weather-related cancellation will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Questions?

Contact the DSC office at info@downtownsailing.org.

Ready to make the harbor sparkle? Register today and join the festivities!

Marine Diesel Engines Seminar (Wednesday, January 20, 2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 23:00:00 GMT

Marine Diesel Engines Seminar

Description

This Diesel Engines Seminar will provide you with an introduction to the engines aboard a recreational vessel like the DSC Cruisers. It will be taught at an introductory level and cover the basic and important knowledge any cruiser needs to know to do basic troubleshooting and repairs, and to understand the systems aboard their vessel.

The following topics will be covered:

Overview of how diesel engines work and the parts of an engine
Important engine components, including the cooling system, fuel system, and the connection to the Electrical System via the batteries and alternator
Pre-sail engine checks
Basic Troubleshooting

Bring your questions!

The class will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the day of the class with building entry instructions.

If the course is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!

Please review our FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy, and let us know if you have any questions (email info@downtownsailing.org).

Full payment is required to reserve your space in the course.

Marine Electrical Seminar (Wednesday, February 17, 2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 23:00:00 GMT

Marine Electrical Seminar

Description

New to the wiring and electrical systems aboard your boat? This seminar is an introduction to the electrical systems on a recreational vessel like the DSC Cruisers. It’s taught at an introductory level and covers the essentials every cruiser should know to understand their boat’s systems and handle basic troubleshooting and repairs.

During this seminar, you will:

Tell the difference between AC and DC power and recognize common wiring conventions
Understand how circuits, switches, resistors, and loads work together
Learn how battery chargers work
Use a multimeter and other basic tools
Work safely around electrical systems

Details:

The class will be held in the Liberty Room, on the 3rd floor of the brick building along Key Highway. You'll receive an email on the day of the class with building entry instructions.

If the course is full, please add yourself to the waitlist - we will contact you if a spot opens up!

Please review our FAQ page for additional information, including details on our cancellation policy, and let us know if you have any questions (email info@downtownsailing.org).

Full payment is required to reserve your spot for this course.

Cruising Full Worm Moon Sail (Sunday, March 21, 2027)

Sun, 21 Mar 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Worm Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. Although this full moon will peak on Monday March 22, the best time to view it locally will be Sunday evening on the 21st. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the "Worm Moon" is a traditional North American name given to the March full moon signifying the transition of season from winter to spring. As the ground thaws, earthworms emerge from the soil prompting the return of migrating birds. Look toward the eastern horizon on Sunday evening to catch the moonrise at 18:48 (6:48 PM) at a position of 91° (due east).

The plan is to head out around sunset (please check Circle for a message from the skippers about a specific time to meet!), sail through dusk, and be on the water as the moon rises. Depending on conditions, we’ll keep things flexible—maybe a relaxed cruise, maybe a bit more hands-on sailing if people are interested. Everyone is welcome to participate as much or as little as they’d like, whether that’s helping out with the boat or just settling in and taking it all in. If you need access to Circle please reach out to info@downtownsailing.org.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the DSC office at info@downtownsailing.org or rebekah@downtownsailing.org for registration or cruising logistic issues. Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Cruising Full Pink Moon Sail (Tuesday, April 20, 2027)

Tue, 20 Apr 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Pink Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. The "Pink" naming originates from Native American traditions adopted by early American almanacs. It honors Phlox subulata (commonly known as moss pink or creeping ground phlox), one of the earliest widespread spring wildflowers to carpet the eastern United States. Look toward the East-Southeast horizon around 7:40-8:00pm on Tuesday the 20th for a massive deeply luminous view. If weather doesn't cooperate, there is a second chance as the view will be excellent the next evening at the same time as well. As a bonus, this full moon coincides with the annual Lyrid meteor shower which will peak between April 22-23. Keep an eye out for shooting stars, although the heavy wash of moonlight will mask the fainter ones.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Flower Moon Sail (Thursday, May 20, 2027)

Thu, 20 May 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Flower Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. The "Flower Moon" marks the abundance of springtime blooms. Because peak fullness will occur during daylight hours, the best viewing times will be both evenings surrounding the peak. (Wednesday May 19, but Thursday May 20 can ber a second chance.) Watch the moonrise at 9:03pm on the East-Southeast horizon, at 125°.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising First Thursday Sail (Thursday, June 03, 2027)

Thu, 03 Jun 2027 21:30:00 GMT

Cruising First Thursday Sail

Join us for an evening sail as we meander to the Canton Waterfront park to take-in WTMD’s First Thursday concert! We may or may not dock in Canton, so plan to bring a snack to hold you over on this evening sail.

Learning objectives: participate in coordinating an evening cruise with an experienced skipper, handling lines while docking in a busy marina, or anchoring near a large public event.

Event Start Time

1730

Event End Time

2130

The plan is to head out around 5:30 (please check Circle for a message from the skippers about a specific time to meet!), sail for a bit, and head over to Canton for the music. Depending on conditions, we’ll keep things flexible—maybe a relaxed cruise, maybe a bit more hands-on sailing if people are interested. If docking at a marina there will be some shared costs, and as always, please consider a $5 donation to the fuel fund. If you need access to Circle please reach out to info@downtownsailing.org.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Strawberry Moon Sail (Friday, June 18, 2027)

Fri, 18 Jun 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Strawberry Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. The name comes primarily from northeastern Native American Algonquian tribes (as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, Lakota, and Haida peoples) to signal that "June-bearing" strawberries were ripe and ready to be gathered. Peak viewing will be on Friday June 18 at 8:44pm facing the East-Southeast horizon around 125°. Because this full moon occurs right around the summer solstice, it will follow a remarkably low, shallow trajectory across the southern sky. Looking through the thickest parts of the earth's atmosphere at this low angle can cause the moon to have an amber or reddish hue as it filters out the blue light wavelengths. Obstructions on land can make it hard to catch sight of the moon from this angle, so look for a wide open area if possible.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising First Thursday Sail (Thursday, July 01, 2027)

Thu, 01 Jul 2027 21:30:00 GMT

Cruising First Thursday Sail

Learning objectives: participate in coordinating an evening cruise with an experienced skipper, handling lines while docking in a busy marina, or anchoring near a large public event.

Event Start Time

1730

Event End Time

2130

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Buck Moon Sail (Saturday, July 17, 2027)

Sat, 17 Jul 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Buck Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. July's full moon gets this traditional name because male deer (bucks) are actively growing new velvet antlers at this time of year. It is also historically know as the Thunder moon, Hay Moon, or Salmon Moon due to summer storms and agricultural seasons.

Because this full moon will peak in illumination during the daylight hours of Sunday July 18, the best viewing times will be the evenings of Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18 as a second chance. To catch it as it first appears, face the southeastern horizon around 8:45pm. Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: On July 18, the moon will pass through the faint outer edge of Earth’s shadow. While a penumbral eclipse only causes a subtle, dim shading over the lunar surface rather than a dramatic "bite" out of the moon, it adds a unique trait for stargazers tracking the event.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising First Thursday Sail (Thursday, August 05, 2027)

Thu, 05 Aug 2027 21:30:00 GMT

Cruising First Thursday Sail

Learning objectives: participate in coordinating an evening cruise with an experienced skipper, handling lines while docking in a busy marina, or anchoring near a large public event.

Event Start Time

1730

Event End Time

2130

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Sturgeon Moon Sail (Monday, August 16, 2027)

Mon, 16 Aug 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Sturgeon Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. This full moon gets it's name from the giant lake sturgeon, a large freshwater fish found in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Northeastern and Great Lakes Indigenous tribes, including Algonquian nations, gave the moon this name because these massive fish were most easily and abundantly caught during late summer.

Because this full moon will peak in illumination in the early morning of August 17, the best viewing will be Monday evening on August 16. Look to the East-Southeast around 7:43 for the moonrise. This specific Sturgeon Moon coincides with a penumbral lunar eclipse. The moon will pass through the outer edge of Earth’s shadow (the penumbra), causing it to dim slightly rather than turning completely dark or bright red.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising First Thursday Sail (Thursday, September 02, 2027)

Thu, 02 Sep 2027 21:30:00 GMT

Cruising First Thursday Sail

Learning objectives: participate in coordinating an evening cruise with an experienced skipper, handling lines while docking in a busy marina, or anchoring near a large public event.

Event Start Time

1730

Event End Time

2130

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Corn Moon Sail (Wednesday, September 15, 2027)

Wed, 15 Sep 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Corn Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. The name comes from Algonquian and other Native American traditions, marking the end of the growing season and the gathering of crops. The Corn Moon rises shortly after sunset for several consecutive nights, historically giving farmers extra time to finish gathering crops before the frost. This full moon is also widely known as the Harvest Moon because it falls closest to the autumn equinox.

Because the moon reaches peak illumination at 7:03pm, you can watch it rise as a spectacular orange orb right at the horizon. Look directly East to watch it rise. It will travel high across the sky toward the South as the night progresses. If the weather doesn't cooperate, you can still catch the moon looking visibly full to the naked eye on both Tuesday(the 14th) and Thursday (the 16th) nights.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!

Have Questions?

Cruising Full Hunter's Moon Sail (Friday, October 15, 2027)

Fri, 15 Oct 2027 21:00:00 GMT

Cruising Full Hunter's Moon Sail

Join us for a casual evening sail to catch the full moon out on the water. The name comes from traditional European and Native American practices. With fields cleared after the autumn harvest, animals like deer and foxes would come out to scavenge remaining crops. The bright moonlight gave hunters clear visibility to track and stock up on meat before the harsh winter months. The Hunter's Moon is the first full moon that occurs immediately after the Harvest Moon. Because the peak occurs during mid-morning daylight hours in Maryland, the best times for viewing the fully illuminated moon will be during moonrise on the evening of Friday, October 15, as well as the night prior (Thursday, October 14) Watch for the moon to rise in the east almost immediately after sunset at 6:10pm.

Learning Objectives: practice night navigation, recognizing other vessels lights and using lighted markers, docking at night.

Skipper(s) will contact participants via Circle to communicate the actual dock-call time and cruising logistics.

Weather cancellations will be announced by 11 AM on the day of the event.

Event Start Time

1700-1800

Event End Time

2130

Shared Costs

No slip or dockage fees expected. Please consider a $5 contribution to the fuel fund!

Crew sign-ups may be admitted from the waitlist if additional skippers register for the event and we’re able to add another boat.

If any availability remains a week prior to the event, dayfleet skippers and crew are able and encouraged to register and check out all the Cruising program has to offer at the DSC!