The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary of Albany is offering an 8-hour Boating Safety Course right here at the Albany Yacht Club on Tuesday, May 5th and Thursday, May 7th from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM. This course satisfies New York State’s safe boating education requirement, which becomes mandatory to legally operate a boat beginning in 2026.

Participants will receive their certificate and official ID card immediately upon completion. The cost is $25, and space is limited to 25 people, so early registration is strongly encouraged. Even better—AYC members, friends, and family who already hold a boating safety certificate are invited to attend as a refresher free of charge, making this a great opportunity to brush up before the season begins.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary—an all-volunteer force supporting active-duty and reserve missions in recreational boating safety—brings valuable expertise to this training, and the Albany flotilla is proudly based right here at AYC.

Be sure to sign up by May 1st to secure your spot. To register or for more information, contact Gary Sacks at (518) 229-2220 or sacks.uscga@gmail.com.

Boaters can start planning their season, as the New York State Canal System is scheduled to open for navigation on Friday, May 15, 2026, weather and water conditions permitting. This marks the official start of the annual navigation season across the canal network.

For 2026, recreational boating remains toll-free, making it another great year to explore New York’s waterways. Standard operating hours will run daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through October 14, with select high-traffic locks and lift bridges offering extended hours until 9:00 p.m. between May 15 and September 9.

Boaters should be aware that staffing levels may impact operations, and hours at some locations could vary early in the season. Updates will continue to be shared through official Notice to Mariners communications as seasonal staff are hired.

As always, mariners are encouraged to plan ahead—arriving before posted closing times will generally allow passage, and special provisions remain in place for key lock sequences like the Waterford Flight.

Finally, canal users are reminded to do their part in protecting these waterways by helping prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Get your boat ready—canal season is just around the corner!

Good news for early-season boaters and anglers: Erie Canal Lock E-23 in Brewerton will begin limited operations from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily starting Friday, May 1, 2026, to support the Walleye and Northern Pike fishing season. Beginning Friday, May 15, the lock will transition to full operating hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Conditions permitting, the entire New York State Canal System is also scheduled to open for the navigation season on May 15.

As we get closer to the boating season, just a heads-up that the New York State Canal System is still not open yet.

Water levels are currently very high across a number of lakes and connecting rivers, including Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, and the Oswego River system. Because of that, a lot of normal shorelines are underwater, debris is floating around, and it’s difficult to see what’s just below the surface. Even areas that are usually safe can be unpredictable right now.

Running a boat in these conditions isn’t just risky for you and your vessel, it can also cause shoreline damage from wakes and create environmental issues while the water is this high.

Bottom line: it’s best to stay off these waterways for now and wait until levels drop and the Canal System officially opens.

The Albany Yacht Club is offering an important opportunity for members to gain lifesaving skills with a CPR and AED certification course on Sunday, April 26th from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the Clubhouse. Lunch will be served following the session, making it both a valuable and enjoyable way to spend your morning at the Club.

The course will be conducted by the Clifton Park & Halfmoon Emergency Corps, an authorized training center of the American Heart Association. Upon completion, participants will receive certification in Adult and Pediatric CPR as well as AED use, equipping you with the confidence and knowledge to respond in emergency situations.

AYC is covering the cost for the first 10 members who sign up. Additional participants are welcome, with non-members able to attend for a $100 fee payable to the Club. Space is limited to 15 total participants, and members will be given priority.

A head count is needed by Sunday, April 19th, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible to secure your spot. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dave Pettis at 518-269-7057.

This is a great opportunity to build essential skills that can make a real difference - don’t miss it.

The Albany Yacht Club continues to invest in meaningful improvements for our members, and we’re excited to share that the installation of a new fuel pump is currently underway. This much-needed upgrade represents an important step forward in enhancing the reliability and efficiency of our fuel dock operations. Once completed, members can expect a smoother, faster, and more dependable fueling experience, especially during the peak of the boating season when demand is at its highest. The new system is designed to better meet the needs of our growing membership while supporting safe and consistent service on the waterfront.

As the boating season approaches, the Albany Yacht Club is once again preparing to tackle one of the ongoing challenges we face each year—the buildup of debris in the Hudson River near our marina. Over the winter and early spring, the river carries down branches, logs, and other floating hazards that can pose serious risks to boats, docks, and navigation.

The annual debris run is our collective effort to address this challenge head-on. Members come together to remove debris from the water, helping to ensure safer conditions for everyone as the season begins. It’s a hands-on, practical task that makes an immediate difference for the entire club.

In preparation for this year’s effort, the club has upgraded its equipment by installing new heads on the pike poles. These improvements will allow for better reach, grip, and control when handling debris, making the process more efficient and safer for those involved.

This effort is essential to getting the marina ready for the season. It’s not just about cleanup—it’s about protecting our boats, our docks, and each other. Members are encouraged to lend a hand and take part in this important work, helping to ensure that our waters are safe, clear, and ready for another great year on the river.

The New York State Canal Corporation has announced that, conditions permitting, all portions of the New York State Canal System are scheduled to open for the 2026 navigation season on Friday, May 15. This year marks the 202nd consecutive season of canal navigation across the state.

Recreational boaters can once again enjoy the canals with no tolls or usage fees for the entire season. The system will remain open through Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00 pm.

Additional details, including standard operating hours and updates on efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, will be shared in upcoming Notices to Mariners. For the latest news, visit www.canals.ny.gov or follow the Canal Corporation on social media.

To report any issues along the canal system, call the Emergency Call Center at 833-538-1042.

The Albany Yacht Club (AYC) will open Striper Season docking reservations on January 2, 2026. This reservation period applies only to the Striper Season and is open to both members and non-members.

Striper Season dockage supports boaters participating in the spring striped bass run on the Hudson River, a time when boating and fishing activity increases significantly. The program provides short-term seasonal dockage tailored specifically to this period, separate from regular seasonal or transient docking arrangements.

Dock space for the Striper Season is limited, and reservations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Boaters planning to take advantage of the spring season are encouraged to prepare in advance to ensure timely submission once reservations open.

Warm holiday wishes from the AYC kitchen!

Following our Friendsgiving Feast, we experienced an unexpected issue with the freezer door opening, which unfortunately resulted in the loss of the food stored inside. To help prevent this from happening again, Mike Lochner has purchased temperature monitors for both the refrigerator and freezer, allowing chairs to receive alerts before a problem becomes a loss.

As a result of this incident, the meals that had been planned for the period immediately following Thanksgiving and through mid-December were canceled. I wanted to be sure everyone understood the reason for these cancellations.

Rather than trying to replan these dates on short notice, I shifted my focus to the New Year, with the goal of building strong, consistent kitchen offerings starting in January.

If you’ve helped in the kitchen over the past year, I’ll be reaching out soon to see how you might be interested in helping in the year ahead. I’ll also be connecting with others who have expressed a willingness to support the kitchen. Thank you in advance for your time and contributions—your help truly makes a difference.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy holiday season!

Kristi Farina, Kitchen Chair