Every fall, the Annapolis Sailboat Show is where Chesapeake Bay sailors turn spec-sheet research into an actual decision. Norton Yachts will be there October 15 through 18 at City Dock, and this year that means the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455 making its public debut, the Sun Odyssey 415 alongside it, and the Saffier SE 28 Leopard, all under one dealer that’s been on this Bay since 1948.
This guide covers what Norton is showing, how the models compare, what 78 years of Chesapeake Bay dealing actually buys you as a customer, and how to plan a visit that leaves you closer to a decision than you were walking in.
Key Takeaways
- Show dates: Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at City Dock, Annapolis.
- The Sun Odyssey 455 makes its public debut at Annapolis, after Norton’s private North American preview in Newport this summer.
- The Sun Odyssey 415 sits alongside it as the smaller option in the current range.
- The Saffier SE 28 Leopard joins the display, and Norton is Virginia’s only authorized Saffier dealer.
- Norton carries the full Jeanneau Sun Odyssey range and matches buyers to the right size, not just the newest release.
- Book a private walkthrough before the show. Weekend dock traffic around new models is heavy.
- Norton’s role continues after the show, with commissioning, service, and sailing instruction from Deltaville, Virginia.
When and where is the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show?
The Annapolis Sailboat Show, officially the United States Sailboat Show, is one of the largest in-water sailboat shows in the world. Boats are displayed afloat on floating docks across Annapolis Harbor, so you step aboard, go below, and compare models side by side the way you would at a marina.
| Detail | 2026 information |
|---|---|
| Dates | Thursday, October 15 – Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Sunday |
| Location | City Dock, Annapolis, Maryland |
| Where to find Norton | [DOCK / SLIP NUMBER TO CONFIRM] |
| Tickets | Available through the official Annapolis Boat Shows website |
From Deltaville and the Middle Peninsula, Annapolis is roughly a three-hour drive. That makes Thursday or Friday a practical choice, and the docks are noticeably calmer than on Saturday.
What is Norton Yachts showing at Annapolis this year?
Three boats, two brands, one dealer. The Sun Odyssey 455 is the headline because it’s new to the water this year, but it’s one boat in a lineup Norton carries year-round: the Sun Odyssey 415 for a smaller footprint, and the Saffier SE 28 Leopard for sailors who want a true daysailer rather than a cruiser. If you’re shopping the Bay this fall, the show is the one weekend all three are in the same place at the same time.
New Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455: what’s new about it?
The Sun Odyssey 455 is the newest cruiser in the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey lineup, and Annapolis is the first chance for most Chesapeake sailors to see the new model in person. Norton hosted the exclusive North American preview of the 455 in Newport, Rhode Island, from July 30 to August 1. Annapolis is its public debut. For the full background, see our Sun Odyssey 415 and 455 announcement.
Jeanneau designed the 455 to be easy to move around and comfortable to live aboard: walkaround sidedecks, twin helms, a bright saloon with an L-shaped galley, a forward owner’s cabin, and four interior layouts. At 46’10” overall with 52 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of water, it is built for longer Bay passages with guests aboard.
What should you check aboard the new Sun Odyssey 455?
- Walk from the cockpit to the bow along the sidedecks and notice where you reach for handholds.
- Sit at each helm and check sightlines to the headsail, the instruments, and the bow.
- Compare the interior layouts against how many people actually sail with you.
- Open the lockers and workshop storage. Stowage is what a brochure photo never shows.
One honest note for Bay sailors: the 455’s standard draft is 7’9″. The main channels handle that easily, but many favorite anchorages and creek entrances in the Piankatank River, Mobjack Bay, and the Great Wicomico run much shallower. Ask our team which keel configurations are available and how each fits where you actually plan to anchor.
How does the Sun Odyssey 415 compare to the 455?
The Sun Odyssey 415 is the 455’s smaller sibling in the current Sun Odyssey range, with the same walkaround deck concept in a roughly 40-foot package. It is the newer, more compact addition to the lineup if 46 feet is more boat than you need.
| Sun Odyssey 415 | Sun Odyssey 455 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length overall | About 40’6″ | 46’10” |
| Cabin layouts | 2 or 3 cabins | 4 interior layouts |
| Fuel / water | About 52 gal / 87 gal | 52 gal / 100 gal |
| Typical fit | Couples and small families, weekend and coastal Bay cruising, short-handed sailing | Owners who want more volume for longer passages and regular guests |
Bigger is not automatically better on the Bay. If you mostly sail with two aboard and spend weekends in Milford Haven or up the Rappahannock, the 415 may be the smarter boat. We would rather tell you that at the dock than after the sale. Both are available new through Norton as an official Jeanneau Sun Odyssey dealer for sale in Virginia and North Carolina.
Why does Norton carry the full Sun Odyssey range, not just the newest model?
A new hull gets the press. It’s not the whole decision. Norton has sold and serviced Sun Odyssey sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay across multiple generations of the range, and that history is exactly why the 415 gets equal billing here instead of getting buried under the 455 launch. Our job as a Jeanneau dealer is matching the boat to how you actually sail, not steering every buyer toward whichever model is newest.
That matters more on the Chesapeake than most places. Draft, air draft under the Bay Bridge, and how a boat handles the Bay’s short, steep summer chop all shift the right answer depending on size and layout. A buyer sold on size alone, without walking both boats, is a buyer who might be happier, and better served, one size down. Bring your specific sailing plans to Annapolis and we’ll work through the range with you, not just the model on the dock.
Why is Saffier worth a stop at Annapolis too?
Norton Yachts is Virginia’s only authorized Saffier dealer, the same way Norton was Virginia’s Jeanneau dealer before adding Saffier to the lineup. The SE 28 Leopard is the newest model in Saffier’s Elegance line, introduced at boot Düsseldorf in January 2026 with a completely new hull and an inverted bow for faster, more responsive sailing, according to Saffier.
At about 30 feet overall, with lines led below deck to the cockpit and a Yanmar 15 hp diesel on a saildrive, it is built for sailors who want to get off the dock in minutes and sail alone or with one friend. It suits experienced owners downsizing from a larger cruiser and sailors who want a true daysailer for evening sails off Stingray Point. See current Saffier Yachts for sale through Norton.
What does 78 years on the Chesapeake Bay actually get you as a buyer?
Founded in 1948, Norton Yachts is one of the few dealers on the Bay that covers the whole ownership arc: sales, a full-service boatyard and marina, and an ASA-accredited sailing school, all from Deltaville, Virginia. That matters more than it sounds like at a boat show, where every exhibitor’s pitch centers on the boat and nobody’s pitch centers on year six of ownership.
- Official Jeanneau dealer. Sales, commissioning, and warranty support for the Sun Odyssey range in Virginia and North Carolina.
- Virginia’s only authorized Saffier dealer. Not a side listing, an actual dealer relationship with factory support.
- Full-service in-house operation. Commissioning, installation, warranty work, maintenance, repairs, and storage handled at Deltaville, including the boatyard’s Awlgrip refinishing team, led by the #1 Awlgrip painter in the United States, for owners who eventually want a hull that still looks new after a few Bay summers.
- ASA-accredited sailing school, led by Anton, Chief Sailing Officer, for owners who want to build confidence on the boat they just bought rather than figure it out alone.
None of that shows up on a spec sheet. It shows up the first time something needs warranty work, or the first time you want lessons on the boat you actually own instead of a rental fleet keelboat.
How should you plan your visit to the Annapolis boat show?
| Stage | What to do |
|---|---|
| Before the show | Book a private walkthrough. Write down crew size, where you sail, your draft limit, and your budget range. |
| At the boat show | Arrive on time, bring your list, and photograph the layouts. Ask about build slots, delivery timing, and commissioning. |
| After the show | Review your notes within a week, request a sea trial, and look at financing options if you plan to finance. |
[ANTON QUOTE, 1–2 sentences: what he looks at first when stepping aboard a new model at a boat show, and how he’d advise a buyer choosing between the 415 and 455. Attribute to Anton, Chief Sailing Officer. Publish only with his approved wording.]
What happens after the boat show?
The excitement of a show weekend fades quickly. What stays is who commissions the boat, handles warranty work, and services it in season. Norton handles commissioning, installation, warranty, maintenance, repairs, and storage in-house in Deltaville, and our ASA-accredited sailing school helps new owners build confidence on their own boat, whether that’s a new Sun Odyssey or a Saffier daysailer.
We will also film a live walkthrough of the 455 at Annapolis and publish a recap after the show for anyone who cannot make the trip, along with what buyers responded to on the dock.
Bottom line
Annapolis is the one weekend each fall when you can step aboard the new Sun Odyssey 455, compare it against the Sun Odyssey 415, and see whether the Saffier SE 28 Leopard changes your mind, all with the same dealer that will commission, service, and teach you to sail whichever one you choose. Book your time before the show opens. Schedule a private walkthrough with our sales team or call (804) 682-3227, and browse our current new sailboat inventory in the meantime.
FAQ
Do I need an appointment to see the boats at the Annapolis sailboat show?
A question we often hear from Chesapeake sailors planning their visit, and, no. General admission gets you onto the docks, but new models draw long lines on Saturday. A private walkthrough with Norton gives you time aboard with someone from our team who can walk you through layout, systems, and ownership questions, with no line behind you.
When is the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show?
Thursday, October 15 through Sunday, October 18, 2026, at City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland.
What’s new about the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 455?
It is the newest model in the Sun Odyssey range: walkaround sidedecks, twin helms, four interior layouts, and 46’10” overall, making its public debut at Annapolis after Norton’s private preview in Newport.
Is the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey for sale in Virginia?
Yes. Norton Yachts is an official Jeanneau dealer serving Virginia and North Carolina and can spec a Sun Odyssey 415 or 455 to your layout. Build slots and delivery timing vary, so ask at your appointment.
Where can I buy a Saffier yacht in Virginia?
Norton Yachts in Deltaville is Virginia’s only authorized Saffier dealer.
Does Norton Yachts sell more than the newest Jeanneau models?
Yes. Norton carries the Sun Odyssey range and works with buyers on sizing, not just whichever model launched most recently.
What happens after I buy a boat from Norton at the show?
Commissioning, installation, warranty work, maintenance, and storage are all handled in-house at Norton’s Deltaville facility, and new owners can build skills through Norton’s ASA-accredited sailing school.
