Preparing a powerboat or sailboat for the boating season should include a check that critical marine safety items are in compliance with U.S. Coast Guard regulations.  Here are 10 critical safety items to check for compliance for peace of mind and to ensure you avoid a fine should a vessel inspection occur: 

1. Portable fire extinguisher (e.g., Kidde) must be UL1238 approved with metal (not plastic) handle.  Extinguishers expire 12 years from manufacture date stamped or printed on bottom, regardless of whether the gauge shows green. 
2. Inspection tag on built-in fire suppression system in engine bay must be punched current within 12 months.
3. All required handheld safety flares must be current.  Flares expire 42 months from manufacture date printed on the side.  Extra, expired flares can be carried, but do not count in the required total.
4. Electronic LED flare unit must be stored together with orange daytime distress flag, not separately.  Batteries must be demonstrably functional.
5. The Y-valve for black water tank discharge must be secured closed with zip tie or padlock, or the handle removed, such that the valve cannot be turned.
6. Label tags on USCG-certified lifejackets must be legible to read the type and approval, or they do not count in the required total. 
7. USCG Type V lifejackets must be worn to be counted among required total.
8. High-powered green laser pointed into the sky is illegal if it interferes with an aircraft, even if accidental and momentary.
9. For VHF radio, FCC certification for legal maritime use must be Part 80.
10. State registration sticker on hull must be current.  (An expired sticker is frequently the motivation for USCG vessel inspection.) 

If you could create a "playbook" with all the elements of how to make a sailboat go fast, what would it include?  That's what this four-part webinar from Speed&Smarts is all about.  St. Joseph River Yacht Club has arranged with the instructor - Dave Dellenbaugh - to rebroadcast his February 2026 webinar for our southwest Michigan sailing community for a group discount rate of $30 per person.    

David Dellenbaugh is the creator of the Speed&Smarts educational resource for sailors.  He is a champion helmsman, tactician, author, coach, rules expert, and seminar leader who has spent his career helping sailors sail faster and smarter.  

The webinar series takes a deep dive into speed topics such as boat tuning, mast pre-bend, sail trim, changing gears, speed communication, windward helm, crew weight placement, and much more.  The goal is to give everyone a useful list ("playbook") of top-priority tips and rules of thumb that will serve as your sailing go-fast guide.  The material is applicable to virtually any type of sailboat from dinghy to large keelboat.  

The webinar will be offered at the St. Joseph River Yacht Club, third-floor presentation space, in 4 sessions of about 2 hours each on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm EDT beginning on April 8.  The club restaurant and the bar will be open for us.  Everyone is invited – you need not be a member of St. Joseph River Yacht Club. 

This is the agenda of topics:  

• April 8:  Go-fast essentials groundwork for rig tune, boat trim, sail handling, sail shape, crew communication, etc. 
• April 15:  Sail trim rules of thumb for steering and to achieve boatspeed goals in different wind and wave conditions.
• April 22:  Boat trim specific guidelines for mainsail trim and jib/genoa trim, upwind and downwind.
• April 29:  Boat trim specific guidelines for symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnaker trim, and the speed loop for changing gears upwind.

The $30 registration fee will be collected either in advance or at any one of the sessions that you can attend.  It entitles you to view all 4 sessions and receive unlimited access to replay links so you can review them in the future.  You will also receive reading materials that support the webinar, including two selected Speed&Smarts newsletters on this topic, a clever boatspeed IQ test, a set of questions and answers from the original webinar, and a PDF document that contains all the boatspeed technique guidelines charted in the form of a playbook.

Dave Dellenbaugh's policy is that each registrant of his webinars is permitted to share the webinar and support materials with his or her crew.  There is a great deal to learn here in a practical format that everyone on the crew can understand and apply! 

If you would like to attend, please contact Paul Falk by email or cellphone. 
Payment will be accepted at the door.  We can accept Venmo, PayPal, cash, or check.
pfalk@falkspina.com or 312-405-0426

A blog (short for "weblog") is a frequently updated section of a website featuring articles, photos, or videos, typically written in a conversational style and arranged in reverse chronological order (newest first).  Blogs are used for sharing timely news and information, and often foster community interaction through comments.  

We are experimenting with a blog here for current Club news.  Find it under the News tab at the top of the page.  A list of current blog entries is also on the Home page.  Readers are encouraged to add comments to a blog entry to make it a dialog!

Crowley's infamous Yachtapalooza is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Chicago.  There are educational seminars, good deals on sailing gear, food and entertainment - it's an event not to miss!

Here's the link for more info:
https://crowleys.com/yachtapalooza

Show off your yacht club pride with SJRYC-branded swag!  Select from fleece tops, tee-shirts, and ball caps.  

Click/touch the Merchandise tab at the top of the page to access the merchandise for sale.