Photo: Steve Britts and Jenn Mastro; Photo by Carol Barker Wyatt; Below: Steve, KT & Stevie Britts

A new effort is underway to raise the standard of boating safety on Lake Anna, and it’s being led by one of the lake’s most recognized captains. Steve Britts, owner of Cruise Rusty, has launched the Better Boater Academy, a hands-on program designed to educate boaters at every level.

“This isn’t just another course to check a box,” Britts said. “It’s not about the right way or the wrong way—it’s about showing people how to be safe, how to handle their boat, and how to be confident out on the water.”

Britts, a U.S. Coast Guard Master Inland Captain, said the evolution from cruise captain to boater safety advocate was a natural one, driven by what he sees on the water.

“The stuff I see people doing out there every day is just dangerous,” he said. “It’s not about bad intentions—it’s a lack of education. I don’t want my daughter growing up scared to be out on the lake.”
Britts’ Academy offers practical, on-the-water education tailored to each participant, and takes place on their boat, not in a classroom.

The urgency behind the Better Boater Academy is rooted in real tragedy. “There were five fatalities on the lake last year,” Britts said. “Two of them weren’t even in a boat—they were just on their dock.” For Britts, who recently became a father, the stakes have never felt higher. “Don’t do it for yourself—do it for the ones you love. Do it for them,” he said. “Having a kid changed a lot for me. I grew up on this lake, and it’s not the same place it was. You could be out here on a weekend and not even see another boat. Now it’s packed, and not everyone knows what they’re doing. I want Stevie Jane to grow up with confidence on the water—not fear.”

Developed by Britts as a hands-on, personalized alternative to generic online courses, the academy focuses on three core classes:

Boat Safety 101 – Reinforcement Class: A hands-on review of what’s taught in Virginia’s boater education program. Each session is personalized, including safety equipment checks, proper life jacket usage, and a departure checklist.

Boat Handling: Practical instruction on docking, maneuvering, and confidence-building on the water. “I’ve had people tell me that they’ve had a boat here 10 years and still can’t dock it. That’s not their fault. Nobody’s ever shown them.”

Boat Ownership: Covers both safety and basic maintenance—how to check your oil, keep your boat clean, and recognize issues before they become serious. “A clean boat tells a story,” Britts said. “You can spot problems faster if you take care of it.”

Enrollment isn’t open to just anyone—you have to already hold a valid Virginia Boater Education Card, and you must apply in advance so classes can be customized.

“This isn’t just another course to check a box,” Britts emphasized. “You can’t just book it online. This is about learning how to boat better, for real.”

The move comes at a time when boat traffic at Lake Anna is higher than ever, but boater education appears to be slipping. “Virginia doesn’t require boaters to show proof of training to rent a boat,” he said. “North and South of us, states have stepped up. We’re falling behind.”

Britts is working with local rental companies and marinas like Sturgeons Creek to integrate safety instruction directly into boat deliveries. He’s also teaming up with Jenn from the swim school, recognizing that water safety begins before you ever board a boat. “Swimming is elementary to boating. Life jackets save lives, but knowing how to swim is just as critical.”

Originally, Rusty Rat—the cruise boat that now hosts groups all season—was built as a floating dock for his rescue dog, a bull mastiff-lab mix who loved the water but couldn’t sit on upholstered seats. “I built it specifically for him,” Britts said. “The boat kind of named itself as I built it—it just had a personality.”
The cruise business grew organically. “People saw the boat and just said, ‘Build it and they will come,’” he laughed. “We still joke about that.”

What started as a floating dock turned into Cruise Rusty, one of Lake Anna’s most popular captained experiences. Now, with five years under his belt and a U.S. Coast Guard Master Inland captain license in hand, Britts is turning his attention to something more.

“This is a passion project,” he said. “I want to do something meaningful for the lake community.”
Britts has been on the water his entire life. “My granddad was a Delaware pilot. I was born on the bay, raised here at Lake Anna. I’ve never not been near the water.”

He helped open Mid Atlantic Watersports during COVID, calling it a dream job at the time. He’s fostered over 20 rescue dogs with his partner Kaitlin (KT). And now, he’s raising a daughter on the same lake he grew up on.

“A lot has changed,” he said. “Growing up, you could be out on the lake all weekend and not see a sigle boat. I want my daughter Stevie Jane to grow up with confidence on the water.”

To get involved or sign up for boater instruction, look up Lake Anna Better Boater Academy on Facebook.

New Clinics at Pleasants Landing Focus on Confident Parenting, Drowning Prevention

In addition to Better Boater Academy, Lake Anna Swim Company’s Jenn Mastro is also bringing family water safety to the shoreline through Family Water Safety Clinics.

“We just kind of found each other,” Jenn said of Britts. “It was completely organic. We’d never met before, but we’re on the same mission: better practices and better norms on and around the water.”

The 90-minute clinics, hosted Mondays in June and July at Pleasants Landing, are designed for entire families—not just the kids. From basic rescue techniques to water awareness and simple safety reminders, the sessions focus on what to do before an emergency happens.

“I’ve been a lifeguard since I was 14—it’s second nature for me,” Mastro said. “But for most parents, it’s not. Sometimes when something goes wrong, they panic or forget what they know. That’s why we train as a family—because I want the parent to feel calm, too.”

With two young children of her own, Jenn understands the pressures of parenting around water. “We’re both raising little ones,” she said, referring to her and Britts. “We’ve just been these lake babies our whole lives, and now it’s about raising them better—with more education and more confidence.”

While Jenn has taught swim lessons for years, the demand for more structured water safety guidance has grown. Her company now offers year-round lessons at Wilderness Resort, but these summer clinics are built for all types of swimmers—especially seasonal residents and visitors.

To sign up for a Family Water Safety Clinic, visit lakeannaswimcompany.com. Space is limited.

Jen Bailey

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