American Sailing Tours · Inner Harbor Marina
The Summer Wind is a 48-foot, two-masted schooner that takes six guests at most around Baltimore's harbor for 90 minutes. Pick it for the pace: guests come back talking about the quiet and the breeze, and some about a good look at Fort McHenry.
American Sailing Tours calls the Summer Wind Baltimore's only small tall ship: 48 feet long, two masts, sails that rise about 50 feet, room for six guests on the cabin tops. Captain Tom Kirwan, who learned to sail in Maine, skippers many trips, and guests also name Captains Chris and Amanda and deckhands Patrick and James. You meet at the Inner Harbor Marina on Key Highway and spend 90 minutes on the harbor, with soft drinks and water from the cooler and your own snacks.
Be careful with the fort here. The Viator itinerary lists only the historic ships and the Inner Harbor, so Fort McHenry is not promised. Guests do report seeing it: one in August 2024 "got a good view of Fort McHenry with the Star Spangled Banner yet waving", another learned "some history of Fort McHenry". If the fort is the point, book the schooner sail, whose listing goes out to it. Neither lands, and the $15 star fort entry is sold only by the National Park Service.
This is a sail, not a tour. Guests who wanted narration were let down: one in August 2023 said the boat motored most of the time and the crew rarely said what they were passing. Guests who wanted calm loved it, and it holds a 4.6 from 125 reviews. When we checked on 16 October 2026, the next open date on Viator was in April 2027.
Inner Harbor Marina, 400 Key Hwy, next to the Rusty Scupper restaurant. A crew member meets you at the gate.
Motor out past the historic ships, settle on the cabin top and grab a drink from the cooler.
Wind permitting, the crew raises the sails for the open water between Federal Hill, Fells Point and Locust Point.
On many sails the boat gets far enough down the harbor to see Fort McHenry and its flag. The route depends on wind and timing.
Return to the marina on Key Highway.
★★★★★It was very enjoyable and relaxing. We saw the recently damaged Key Bridge further out in the harbor! We also got a good view of Fort McHenry with the Star Spangled Banner yet waving!
★★★★★Our captain and first mate were friendly and available for questions without dominating our conversation or needing to fill every moment with trivia. We had a great time.
★★★★★This was a fun, relaxing, small group experience that was worth every moment. Our captain and deck hand were fun, knowledgeable, and made great conversation. They also gave us some great food and drink recommendations in the area.
★★★★★Definitely a step up from a large boat tour! Fresher air, experience more breeze, and have less diesel smoke [...]
Read next:
Not by promise. The Viator itinerary lists the historic ships and the Inner Harbor only. Guests often report a good view of the fort, but if it matters, book the schooner sail, whose listing heads out to the fort.
No. The star fort is $15 per adult aged 16 and over (under 16 free), and only the National Park Service sells it, at the visitor center desk or on recreation.gov.
Water and soft drinks from a cooler, free. You can bring your own food and drinks, including wine, the operator says.
From spring to fall. On 16 October 2026 the next date open on Viator was in April 2027. It leaves from the Inner Harbor Marina, 400 Key Hwy.
Ready to book
90 relaxed minutes under sail on the Inner Harbor, in a group of six or fewer.
Small-Group Schooner Sail to Fort McHenrySix guests at most on a small schooner, sailing from Key Highway past the aquarium and out to Fort McHenry.★ 4.8 · 1.5 hours · from $65
Inner Harbor BYOB Sunset SailAn evening sail on the Summer Wind with your own bottle, glasses provided, six guests at most. Not a fort trip.★ 4.9 · 1.5 hours · from $75
Inner Harbor History Boat TourBaltimore Heritage's live guide on a Water Taxi boat, 90 minutes from Harborplace out to the fort and back.New · 1.5 hours · from $28