Anchorline From the NSBC | Sponsored by Chapman School of Seamanship

A Letter from the Executive Director

IBWSS25 was an amazing event in Glendale, Arizona. Our friends with Arizona Game and Fish Department were welcoming partners and provided support in establishing our program and speaker line up. Thank you to Danny and your entire team for your commitment to excellence and for sharing your beautiful state with the RBS community. We hosted attendees from across the U.S. and 5 countries, and our team has been receiving high praise on the program, location, hotel, and food. This year, we hosted a cold-water workshop in the pool and hands-on gear stations, which were very popular with the attendees. Thank you to our friend and industry leader, Kim Sweers – The Boat Boss – for a wonderful job as our emcee. We look forward to showcasing Florida in 2026! Learn more at www.ibwss.org.

The NSBC and NASBLA partnered to lead a U.S. contingency to Yokohama Japan to attend the Japan Boating and Water Safety Summit. Japan is a strong boating safety partner and emulates both our Safe Boating Campaign and IBWSS. NSBC Chairman Alan Dennison, NASBLA Chairman Joe McCullough, and I attended JBWSS which was hosted in tandem with the Japan Boat Show. Thank you to Captain Schmadeke and Verne Gifford for facilitating a private meeting with the Japan Coast Guard during our trip. We were able to share trends, data, and analysis of boating safety cultures and laws.

Our team and national partners were very busy during the month of May and specifically National Safe Boating Week. Social media partner pages were peppered with the Safe Boating Campaign content, and we appreciate your partnership as we spread the boating safety message and officially kick off boating season. Free resources are available all summer long, so please visit safeboatingcampaign.com, and let’s keep the messaging rolling.

As we prepare for the busy summer season, please share boatoncourse.com on your websites and newsletters. This free online learning series just might help a boater remember to practice basic safety behaviors. There are other opportunities this summer for professional development. The NSBC is hosting our instructor certification course nationwide, so if you’re interested in improving your powerboat handling skills and want to be part of our train-the-trainer network, you can find an application here.

Enjoy some time with family and friends this summer and share your boating pictures with us. We want to tag along on your adventures!

Peg Phillips

Executive Director

A special thank you to Chapman School of Seamanship for your support of the NSBC and generous sponsorship of this edition of Anchorline. Chapman.Org

Chapman School of Seamanship: Commitment to Boating Safety Through Education

Learn more at Chapman.Org
Offer hope. Create change. One wave at a time. WavesofHopeBoating.org

Changing the Tide Together

Celebrating Collaboration and Resilience at the 28th Annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit

The 28th annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) was held April 14–17, 2025 in sunny Glendale, Arizona, bringing together leaders, innovators, and advocates from across the recreational boating and water safety community. Against the vibrant desert backdrop, this year’s Summit served as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through unity, resilience, and shared purpose.

Continuing its tradition of excellence, the Summit welcomed a diverse audience including manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, educators, law enforcement, state agencies, our Waves of Hope families, and boaters from across the globe. This wide-reaching community gathered under the theme "Changing the Tide Together," reflecting the collective responsibility we all share in protecting lives on and around the water, while also recognizing the evolving landscape of boating and water safety efforts.

Planning the 2025 Summit came with its share of challenges this year. The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), the driving force behind IBWSS, faced complications stemming from the recent administrative change, including new federal travel restrictions that impacted participation for several key partners. These hurdles tested the team’s flexibility and resourcefulness, as we worked diligently to ensure representation from across the boating safety spectrum while still delivering a high-impact event.

Over the course of four dynamic days, attendees participated in workshops, panel discussions, product showcases, and networking events designed to spark meaningful dialogue and long-lasting connections. The Summit spotlighted advances in life jacket technology, creative public outreach campaigns, water rescue techniques, and the latest in safety education.

The NSBC was deeply honored to host this community once again and remains incredibly grateful to the U.S. Coast Guard, sponsors, expert speakers, local partners, and passionate attendees who made IBWSS 2025 a success.

Together, we’re not just promoting safety. We’re shaping a culture where every boater feels confident, informed, and empowered.

Be sure to view select 2025 presentations here.

From left to right: NSBC Vice Chair Grant Brown (CO Parks & Wildlife), NSBC Executive Director Peg Phillips, Arizona Boating Law Administrator Danny Rodriguez (Arizona Game and Fish Department), and NSBC Chair Alan Dennison (BoatU.S. Foundation).
It was wonderful to see all of these NSBC Instructors in one room together! See you all again in 2026?

10th Annual JBWSS Highlights

Our friends from the Japan Coast Guard and Marine Sports Foundation have been strong boating safety partners for more than a decade. Emulating both the Safe Boating Campaign and IBWSS, the Japan programs have played a vital role in saving lives and reducing injuries and property damage. We look forward to the participation from Japan at IBWSS each year, and in 2025, the NSBC led a delegation to Yokohama for the 10th annual JBWSS. This shared focus brought together representatives from the United States delegation of the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and on March 22 at the 10th Japanese Boating and Water Safety Summit in Yokohama, Japan.

NSBC Chair Alan Dennison, Executive Director Peg Phillips, and NASBLA Chair Joe McCullough were hosted by the Marine Sports Foundation at JBWSS which took place in conjunction with the Japan Boat Show. With interpreters, Alan and Peg led a panel discussion during the Japan Boat Show with a Q&A session from the audience.

Captain Brent Schmadeke and Verne Gifford facilitated a private meeting with the Japan Coast Guard. The delegation exchanged program ideas, compared data, and discussed boating safety trends and statistics. U.S. Coast Guard Commander Jeffrey P. Owens and Captain James B. Suffern, stationed in Tokyo, attended and provided translation.

Reciprocity is a key principle in Japanese culture, and it is important that the NSBC and NASBLA team recognize the attendance from the Japan Coast Guard and Marine Sports Foundation at our annual conferences. Thank you to our allies in Japan for your continued loyalty to our partnership and shared mission.

From left to right: Joseph McCullough (NASBLA; AK Office of Boating Safety), Alan Dennison (Boat U.S. Foundation), and Peg Phillips (NSBC)
A safe day on the water is a perfect day on the water. Take a boating safety course with us. SafeBoatingCouncil.org/Training

NSBC Names Past Chair, Chris Stec, to the Boating Safety Hall of Fame

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), a national catalyst for recreational boating safety, inducted Chris Stec into the Boating Safety Hall of Fame, the organization’s most prestigious award recognizing those who provided vital leadership in making our waterways safer throughout their career. Stec was honored at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Glendale, AZ on April 14, 2025.

Chris Stec is past chairman of the National Safe Boating Council and is certified as an American Canoe Association Whitewater Canoe and SUP Instructor Trainer Educator. During his tenure as the Chief Operating Officer of the American Canoe Association for 12 years, Chris served on many national committees including the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee, International Whitewater Hall of Fame, and he played a vital role in the development of the U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan.

Chris has been recognized for his excellence in boating safety by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Meritorious Public Service Award. And, now – we are proud to induct Christopher Stec into the Boating Safety Hall of Fame.

Chris shared, "I'm humbled and grateful for this recognition and honored to have received it from close friends, NSBC Executive Director, Peg Phillips, and two boating legends, Pam Dillon and Virgil Chambers. Keep up the great work, everyone; and remember to Wear It!"

The NSBC’s Boating Safety Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and recognizes individuals who have made, or continue to generate, substantial and lasting contributions toward the advancement of recreational boating safety. Learn more here.

Understand the Nav Rules. Learn for free. BoatonCourse.Com

NSBC Recognizes Captain John Dial with the 2025 Silver Schooner Award

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC), a national catalyst for recreational boating safety, recognized Captain John Dial with the 2025 Silver Schooner Award at the International Boating and Water Safety Summit in Glendale, AZ on April 14, 2025.

The Silver Schooner Award was established by the United Safe Boating Institute (USBI), and the NSBC continues the legacy by honoring those with significant contributions to the Council. The award may be given to individuals, organizations, commercial concerns, governmental agencies, and public and private clubs. Learn more about the Silver Schooner Award.

John is the founder of At the Helm Training and is a tremendous partner to the NSBC with on-water training and support of IBWSS as the premier sponsor two years in a row. At the Helm Training has conducted thousands of on-water courses with novice boaters using the NSBC Boat Control On-Water Training curriculum. In his dedication to boating safety, John is a great collaborator and has introduced Peg and her team to many partners who help advance the mission of the NSBC. Learn more at atthehelmtraining.com.

Established in 1958, the National Safe Boating Council is the foremost coalition for the advancement and promotion of safer boating through education, outreach, and training. For more information about NSBC programs and professional development opportunities, visit www.safeboatingcouncil.org.

National Safe Boating Week a Success

This year’s National Safe Boating Week was a resounding success, uniting thousands of boating safety advocates across the country. Thousands of individuals participated in local and national media events, spreading the word about the importance of responsible boating. Social media engagement soared, with tens of thousands of safety images and tips shared using campaign hashtags - reaching an estimated 3.2 million people online. From Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day to coordinated safety demonstrations, the week highlighted the power of collective action in promoting safer waterways for all.

The NSBC was invited by the U.S. Coast Guard to help share the #safeboating message at a Tampa Bay Rays game during National Safe Boating Week! It turns out the WEAR IT logo looks incredible on the big screen!

A brief history of National Safe Boating Week (information courtesy The History of Recreational Boating):

National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) has a long-standing history rooted in promoting boating safety and awareness in the United States. Following is a summary of its development over time:

• 1952: The idea for a national boating safety campaign began taking shape when the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer arm of the U.S. Coast Guard, initiated efforts to promote safe boating practices.

• 1957: The first official National Safe Boating Week was observed, organized by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and supported by various boating organizations. It was initially celebrated in June to coincide with the start of the boating season.

• 1958: U.S. Congress recognized the week officially by passing a joint resolution, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed The Federal Boating Act of 1958 into law, making it a nationally recognized observance.

• 1971: On August 10, 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the Federal Boat Safety Act (FBSA). The act mandated a cooperative Federal-State effort to improve the safety of recreational boating in the United States. It also established the National Recreational Boating Safety Program and gave the U.S. Coast Guard the authority to establish mandatory boat manufacturing and safety standards.

Over the decades, National Safe Boating Week has evolved to include broader public education efforts, including life jacket awareness, alcohol-related boating safety, and proper vessel maintenance. Since the late 90’s, the National Safe Boating Council now manages and coordinates NSBW with greater intensity, especially through national and international partnerships and federal support.

The NSBC, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, launched the Safe Boating Campaign to encourage consistent life jacket wear. As part of the Safe Boating Campaign, Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day was introduced as a fun, awareness-raising kickoff event just before the official week starts.

Today, National Safe Boating Week takes place during the full week leading up to Memorial Day Weekend, which is considered the traditional start of recreational boating season in the U.S.

National Safe Boating Week was initially created to address several core challenges that were contributing to a rising number of incidents and fatalities on U.S. waterways during the post-WWII recreational boating boom. The primary concerns included lack of boating education, high rate of drownings, rapid growth in recreational boating, inadequate equipment and vessel maintenance, alcohol use on the water, and lack of safety regulations and enforcement.

By focusing on education, life jacket use, and public awareness, National Safe Boating Week aims to foster a culture of safety that could grow alongside the popularity of recreational boating.

The goal of the Safe Boating Campaign, both during National Safe Boating Week and year-round, is to promote safe and responsible boating behaviors - with a primary focus on encouraging life jacket use to reduce injuries and fatalities on the water. We seek to change behavior through awareness, education, and normalization of safe boating habits, especially wearing a life jacket every time you're on the water.

The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) uses a comprehensive approach in measuring the success of National Safe Boating Week including tracking social media, website traffic, and PR metrics. The NSBC also collects valuable feedback each year in an annual survey sent to members, partners, and industry stakeholders. The greatest metric, of course, is changed behavior. Our most effective strategy in encouraging boaters to adopt safe boating practices is sharing positive safety messages and emphasizing the fun, boating lifestyle over fear-based marketing.

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