The Schooner "Imagine" Under Full Sail on Spa Creek - Annapolis, Maryland

Since its settlement in the second half of the seventeenth century, Annapolis, has enjoyed a rich and colorful history. Once a major port of entry for ocean-going freighters and trading vessels, Annapolis' bustling harbor has always held a mystic appeal. This patriotic seaside city was the Nation's capital for over six months in the late 1780's, and served as the official site for the end of the Revolutionary War in 1784. Annapolis is also the current home to the U.S. Naval Academy since its establishment in 1845.

"Heading Out" depicts Annapolis in full, present-day, afternoon glory. This particular view, from "The Point's" high ground on the south side of Spa Creek, lends a fresh perspective to this steadfast harbor. The graceful schooner "Imagine...!" glides by with a few recreational sailors, while other smaller craft await their next trip docked in the foreground. Across the creek stands the historic city of Annapolis with its distinctive skyline. St. Anne's Episcopal Church spire gently pierces the sky in the left background, while Maryland's historic State House dome stands stoically in the center.

"Imagine...!", the central them in "Heading Out", was designed and built in 1997 by the well known Scarano Boat Builders, located in Albany, New York. This 76-foot gaff-rigged wooden schooner is a popular vessel for private charters and corporate leadership and team building excursions. "Imagine...!" sails regularly out of Annapolis and around the Chesapeake Bay, enjoying this celebrated sailing capital, its lasting legacy, and present-day beauty.

- John Barber