Dear C-Tow Community,

Summer is in full swing and with the season comes many, many reminders to stay safe.

Why do we talk so much about safety? Well, it’s because we see what happens when people cut corners or simply don’t have the right knowledge or training. Saying ‘safety first’ is one thing, but our captains see what happens when safety doesn’t come first, every day. At best, skimping on safety can result in an annoying, frustrating day. But at worst, skipping critical safety measures leads to injury or even death. 

Captain Darin Alderton of C-Tow Windsor knows that very well, having salvaged two vessels in the span of about a week — in one scenario, safety and foresight kept the situation better controlled than it could have been, while in another, a safer approach could have prevented the problem. You’ll read about those situations in this edition of Towline.

As we have shared before, we don’t believe that safety comes in the form of following a checklist. Instead, it’s a mindset that every captain must develop, and an especially important consideration for new mariners. All of our C-Tow captains strive to be great examples of a safety-first mindset. Read on as our captain of the month, Andrew Newman, shares a bit about safety and why it matters.

You will also pick up some tips from an experienced mariner and instructor, Bruce Stott, who is digging into everything you need to know about tides.

When you commit to safety first, every time, you can really enjoy this lifestyle we all love. That’s evidenced by stories from Sailing Magic Carpet and Wayward Life Sailing. From the Mediterranean to Desolation Sound, these experienced mariners showcase how to have fun and travel the waters of the world, without putting anyone or anything at risk.

We hope you find this edition of Towline inspiring and informative! We’ll see you on the water, lifejackets on and safety mindset in place.

Yours in boating,

C-Tow