U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Guilford CT 24-4

Time to start planning for May 15: Wear Your Life Jacket at Work, Home, or Play!

Hosted by the National Safe Boating Council, this annual event is a fun way to heighten life jacket awareness and highlight the various styles of life jackets just prior to the official launch of the busy boating season! ☀️

Anyone can join the fun! Wear your life jacket at work – from home, the office, in a suit, or on the water – and share a picture with us!

Be sure to tag on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok using hashtags and

Each year, we're amazed by your creativity. We're excited to see where we find you in your life jacket this year!

Lots of planning for Sail250!

The International Naval Review is bringing more than 30 tall ships, an aircraft carrier, and allied and U.S. naval vessels to New York Harbor from July 3-8 during .

Mapping the path for a fleet this size is no easy feat. NOAA’s Navigation Response Team in New London is surveying and charting the waterway — collecting updated bathymetry to ensure all ships can transit and dock safely.

Follow survey progress here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/855b7102bd0d42d6974c41fa4f8829b9?item=3

And learn more about the Naval Review here: https://www.navy.mil/Navy-250/Events/INR-2026/

Boaters, Sailors, Paddlers: Volunteer for the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey!

The National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS) is a nationwide survey sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard to understand how many people go boating, what types of boats they use, and how often they are on the water. As part of the survey, we are asking for volunteers to complete a brief sign-up page asking about their boating habits and share their contact information with the Coast Guard so a wide range of boaters can be invited to participate in the larger NRBSS survey later in the year.

To volunteer, please go to: https://norcfed.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0ezfBlrTYxLdG4e.

Looking for something to do while home this winter? Of course you have already taken the free American Canoe Association’s “Smart Start for Safe Paddling” online course. Have you taken the associated free Paddlecraft Angling Safety course? Or the free Rescue Techniques course? Or the Nautical Rules of the Road course?

And...all of these courses are offered in Spanish language versions. Scroll down on the ACA Paddlesports Smart Start course website for all of these courses.

And... please share this post on your personal page, and to any paddling Facebook groups that you might belong to. Why? Saving lives! Safe paddling is fun paddling!

That link again...

Smart Start for Safe Paddling Online Course - ACA Get ready for your day on the water with this free online paddlesports training program brought to you by the ACA and the U.S. Coast guard!

When the water is cold, dress for immersion and always wear your life jacket.

Mark your calendars for these boating safety events!

Did You Know....

That the 2026 Boating Safety Calendar is here! Save this nifty calendar to help keep yourself and others safe out on the water.

🖼: National Safe Boating Council

We all can help.

Every piece of plastic you choose not to use is a lifeline for marine life. 🐋

Did you know that up to 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans every year? It's poisoning our waters and killing countless sea animals who mistake it for food or get tragically entangled.

TOGETHER, WE CAN TURN THE TIDE!

Here are 3 simple actions you can take today:

🙅‍♀️ Say NO to Single-Use Plastic: Ditch plastic straws, bags, and water bottles. Carry reusable alternatives!

🗑️ Properly Dispose: Always recycle and ensure your trash doesn't become ocean litter.

🗣️ Spread the Word: Share this post to encourage your friends and family to join the movement.

Check your local conservation groups for beach and river cleanup opportunities, but it’s better to stop trash before it ever gets to our waterways.

📢 Urgent Environmental Alert: The Ocean's Trash Problem! 🌊🚮
Did you know that a significant majority of the solid waste polluting our oceans actually starts right here, on land?
* Estimates suggest that up to 80% of all marine debris, including the vast amounts of plastic, comes from land-based sources!
* This pollution, primarily mismanaged plastic waste, is carried to the sea by rivers, wind, and coastal runoff.
* The numbers are staggering: Earlier studies estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean in a single year (2010), and more recent research suggests millions of tons are still leaking into aquatic environments annually.
This isn't just about litter on the beach; it's a massive crisis for marine life, ecosystems, and even human health through the food chain.
What can YOU do to help stop the flow?
* Reduce your consumption of single-use plastics.
* Reuse items whenever possible.
* Recycle correctly and responsibly.
* Support better waste management initiatives in your community.
Every choice we make on land has an impact on the sea. Let's protect our blue planet! 💙

Paddlers, stay safe while you’re having fun on the water! Best practice is to *always* wear your life jacket.

🍂🚣‍♀️ Heads up paddlers! From October 1 – May 31, state law requires everyone in or operating a canoe, kayak, SUP or other manually propelled vessel to wear their life jacket.

Life jackets save lives. Don’t just bring it—wear it. 🦺💧

Have fun and stay safe, be like U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound: wear your life jacket and follow safety tips!

We are wearing our lifejackets...and you should, too!

As you head out on the water this Labor Day weekend, keep these top safety tips in mind to keep you and your loved ones safe. 🛟

Wear your lifejacket: When you are out on the water, a lifejacket is not just a safety precaution, it’s a lifesaver. The best lifejacket is the one you wear – they come in many different types, styles, and sizes! 🦺

Boat responsibly: Boating under the influence is the single greatest contributing factor of recreational boating fatalities – think before you drink. 👎

Know where you’re going and travel at safe speeds: Be familiar with the area, local boating speed zones, and always travel at a safe speed, especially at night or in reduced visibility. 🐌

File a float plan: Always let someone on shore know the trip itinerary, including operator and passenger information, boat type and registration, and communication equipment on board. Send them a picture of the boat, too. 📸

Watch the weather: Always check the forecast before departing on the water and frequently while underway. Follow local weather advisories from US National Weather Service New York NY and other sources. 🌩️

Keep in touch: Have more than one communication device that works when wet. VHF radios, emergency locator beacons, satellite phones, and cell phones with GPS technology can all be important devices in an emergency. 🎙️

Visit Safe Boating Campaign for additional safety tips and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to find a boating safety class near you! 👍

New paddlers often do not know the vital importance of always wearing a life jacket. Share this story and save a life.

Paddlecraft Safety Month! Have fun and stay safe.