Estrella Insurance backs boating safety push ahead of summer

By AI, Created 9:56 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Estrella Insurance is urging boaters to refresh safety habits ahead of National Safe Boating Week and the summer season. The company and the Monica Burguera Foundation are expanding free boating safety education in South Florida to help prevent accidents and save lives.

Why it matters: - Boating accidents can turn deadly fast, especially when operators lack formal safety training. - More than 11,000 people have already completed the free safety course, showing demand for practical, low-cost prevention. - National Safe Boating Week runs May 16-22 and marks the seasonal kickoff for peak boating months.

What happened: - Estrella Insurance is urging boaters to put safety first as the busy boating season approaches. - The company’s push is tied to the Monica Burguera Foundation, created after a fatal boating accident in 2006 that affected the Estrella family. - The Foundation works with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to offer free boating safety courses. - Estrella Insurance and the Monica Burguera Foundation are hosting in-person classes in South Florida at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club, local community centers and Miami-area Estrella offices. - The organizations also offer virtual online classes.

The details: - Certified volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary teach the course. - The curriculum covers pre-launch preparation, navigation rules, emergency response procedures and required onboard safety equipment. - Participants also learn how to file a float plan so someone on land knows the route and expected return time. - Estrella Insurance says the float plan can make a life-saving difference in an emergency. - The company also supports the Monica Burguera Foundation through fundraising events including golf and fishing tournaments, plus annual initiatives. - The Foundation’s mission centers on safety, awareness and prevention. - The company’s insurance portfolio includes auto, home, commercial, business, life and health coverage. - Estrella Insurance says it provides more than 200 offices across the U.S. - More information is available through the Monica Burguera Foundation and Estrella Insurance franchising. - The U.S. Coast Guard says more than 80% of fatal boating accidents involve operators who have not received formal boating safety instruction.

Between the lines: - The campaign blends public safety messaging with a personal family story, which gives the effort an emotional anchor beyond standard seasonal reminders. - The free-course model lowers the barrier to entry for new or occasional boaters, who are often the group most likely to benefit from basic training. - The emphasis on life jackets, safety courses and no-alcohol operation reflects the most common risk factors officials try to reduce before summer weekends.

What’s next: - Estrella Insurance is encouraging boaters to refresh safety knowledge before summer and during National Safe Boating Week. - The company and Foundation are likely to continue using education and fundraising events to support their safety mission. - Boaters can use the Foundation’s courses and seasonal reminders to prepare before peak waterways traffic rises.