Thursday, April 23rd
2026
Join Sails up 4 Cancer (SU4C) at J. McLaughlin, located at 3 Main Street, Essex, CT, Thursday, April 23rd, from 4-6pm for sips and spring shopping with host Bob Davis, founder SEO of SU4C. Don’t miss out on the chance to mingle while supporting a great cause – J. McLaughlin will be donating 10% of sales to Sails Up 4 Cancer.
Friday,
April 24th
2026
Show Hours: 1pm - 6pm
Food by Siren Kitchen & Bar
Coffee by Deep River Roasters
Beverage Sampling by Drift
Beer sampling by Surfridge Brewing Company East
Live Music
Music by: SoundWaves • 2 to 4:30pm
Carol Dyson and Ken Barber both have decades of experience performing in restaurants, marinas, clubs and private events across Connecticut. Their acoustic repertoire covers an eclectic range of styles, including old standards to contemporary, with artists such as Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, Allison Kraus, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer and Hootie & the Blowfish. They offer something for everyone no matter what your musical taste! Whether you want to sing along or sit back and just listen you’re bound to enjoy the show!
Live Music
Saturday,
April 25th
Show Hours: 10am - 5pm
Food by Siren Kitchen & Bar
Coffee by Deep River Roasters
Beer sampling by Surfridge Brewing Company East
Beverage Sampling by Drift
Live Music
Fishing Seminars
CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC
Off The Hook Fundraiser Party for Sails Up For Cancer
Fishing Seminars hosted by Mike Roy
12:45 Mike Roy, Fishing for Beginners – The Basics
2:15 - 3:00pm Matt Stone, Long Island Sound Striped Bass Fishing
Mike Roy • 12:45pm
Fishing for Beginners – The Basics
Professional Fishing Guide Mike Roy will set at ease even the most intimidated fishing novice with his easy teaching style and great enthusiasm. So come along and learn the basics of to get you started in this great sport.
Matt Stone • 2:15 - 3:00pm
Long Island Sound Striped Bass Fishing
Matt Stone is a veteran saltwater kayak angler based in Chester, Connecticut. He focuses on targeting striped bass, false albacore, and tautog in the Long Island Sound, while representing Black Hall Outfitters, Old Town, Yak Attack, Danco, Hook'd Gear, and others. Matt is a columnist for On The Water Magazine and has also been published in Anglers' Journal, Coastal Angler Magazine, and The Farmer's Almanac, among others. He provides weekly written and video fishing reports for The Fisherman Magazine and On The Water. Matt documents his adventures on his Instagram page, @sunrisekayakfishing.
CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC
Get Your License! New this year, the show will offer a CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC, the only DEEP & NASBLA Approved and Better Business Bureau Accredited “Safe Boating Course Agent” education provider in the State, and for eight consecutive years. The course will be taught over the two morning on site at the CT Spring Boat Show, April 25th and 26th. The class will start at 8:30am and end at 12:30pm, each day. Cost is $120 and includes a a pass to the Boat Show for all three days. The course provides the student with a CT Safe Boating License.
Live Music
Music by: Cherry Pie Band • 2:00 - 4:30pm
Jump, jive, and kick your heels up to swing, rockabilly, Latin and a few sultry ballads thrown in for just for fun. Cherry Pie...mmm, sounds delicious!
Off The Hook Fundraiser Party!
For Sails Up For Cancer
Saturday, April 25th
Party dockside with comedy, food, beverages and fun at The CT Spring Boat Show. Three comedy acts are planned. Doors open at 5:00 pm and the show starts at 6:00 pm. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the gate. Price includes a drink ticket and light hor d’oevres. Arrive at 5:00 pm, Saturday April 25th to purchase for the Party alone. A $60 combo price gets you into the Show as well for all three days and the Party on Saturday night.
Tickets: $30 in advance, $40 at the door - Table of 8 $200 (party-only, entry after 5 PM Saturday).
Package Deal: $60 (includes three-day Boat Show access & party)
Sunday,
April 26th
Show Hours: 10am - 5pm
Food by Siren Kitchen & Bar
Coffee by Deep River Roasters
Beer sampling by Surfridge Brewing Company East
Beverage Sampling by Drift
Live Music
Boating Seminars
CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC
Boating Seminars
This year we focus on helping couples enjoy more. Each talk is 45 minutes.
12:00pm Making Sailing More Fun with Ben Cesare
12:00pm Proactive offshore fishing with Captain Brian Moskey
1:00pm Anchoring, Mooring and Departing...without the yelling!
2:00 pm Electric Propulsion on the Water - What is real and what is not.
3:00pm Boating for Couples with Mark Vining
Multi - time national champion and Publisher of WindCheck Magazine, Ben Cesare uses humor and analogies to teach basic sail controls that will help you enjoy sailing more.
Ben Cesare • 12pm
Making Sailing More Fun
Brian Moskey • 12:00pm
Proactive Offshore Fishing
Brian will dive into the different decisions that going offshore presents. From the safety side to the fishing side, there are choices that each captain makes in order to lead a successful and safe trip. Whether it’s a decision of switching out different lures or making that run to a spot you’ve received intel from, each one adds up to make the overall experience of a trip a positive one.
Instructor TBD • 1pm
Anchoring, Mooring and Departing...without the yelling!
Come learn how to make these maneuvers easier.
Alex Yuknat from Advanced Propulsion Systems • 2pm
Electric Propulsion on the Water - What is real and what is not.
Mark owns Safe Boating Connecticut and has taught thousands so they can get their boating license in CT. In this talk, he will educate on how to handle some of the situations like docking or leaving the dock that make voices rise!
Mark Vining • 3pm
Boating for Couples
Get Your License! New this year, the show will offer a CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC, the only DEEP & NASBLA Approved and Better Business Bureau Accredited “Safe Boating Course Agent” education provider in the State, and for eight consecutive years. The course will be taught over the two morning on site at the CT Spring Boat Show, April 25th and 26th. The class will start at 8:30am and end at 12:30pm, each day. Cost is $120 and includes a a pass to the Boat Show for all three days. The course provides the student with a CT Safe Boating License.
CT Safe Boaters License Course taught by Boat Safe Connecticut, LLC
Music by: The Vitas • 2:00 - 3:30pm
The Vitas are a group of three musicians who are heavily influenced by grunge and classic rock music. They bring a unique blend of these styles to their original songs, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh. The Vitas believe that music is a way to inspire and connect people, and they want to share that experience with as many people as possible.
Live Music
