Slow Is Pro: A New Boating Safety Movement Born From Personal Loss
A new nonprofit born from tragedy is teaching Virgin Islands crews that slow is pro.
Slow Is Pro is a new boating-safety nonprofit that launched an information tent at this year’s USVI Charter Yacht Show, carrying forward the motto of Captain Stephen L. Cross Jr. Cross, a longtime St. Thomas charter captain, died late on November 22, 2024, after a speeding vessel struck his dinghy in a Virgin Gorda mooring field at night, while he was maneuvering to get his guests out of its path — a no-wake zone where the collision should never have happened. His fiancée, Caitie Rosko, founded the organization to carry his safety-first philosophy forward.
“Our mission was to honor Stephen by helping prevent tragedies before they happen,” says Rosko, founder of Slow Is Pro and Uncharted Yacht Charters, and Cross’s fiancée. “If we could give crews the tools to respond confidently and encourage boaters to slow down, stay aware, and look out for each other, then we would be making real progress.”
At the show, the Slow Is Pro team staffed the tent with practical safety guides and emergency resources for crews, alongside a look at the program’s early initiatives. Those include destination-specific Emergency Action Sheets that give vessels a quick reference for on-water incidents, Harbor Watch — a confidential tool that lets captains anonymously flag unsafe behavior, in the spirit of a neighborhood watch — and the Stephen L. Cross Jr. Scholarship, which supports yachting professionals who demonstrate a commitment to safety and environmental stewardship.
Slow Is Pro operates as a fiscally sponsored project of Sea Corps Maritime, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in St. Thomas, so contributions are tax-deductible. With a growing network of supporters and expanding resources, the organization is building toward long-term, community-driven change in Caribbean waters — one captain, one crew briefing, and one slower approach to a mooring field at a time. Crews and charter guests who want to get involved, apply for the scholarship, or download the Emergency Action Sheets can find all of it at slowispro.org.
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
