Annual holiday insurance - appropriate for cruising?

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brownsox

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Cruising in your own boat isn't what holiday insurance co's are thinking of when they write policies. But I've found one that allows "yachting in territorial waters" (so won't cover us for the cross channel leg) and although we hope to be on the boat a lot this season we'll have to keep coming home so no one trip will exceed the stated 31 days. Has anyone got experience of using such insurance - and especially of making any claims?
 
Your boat insurance will most likely cover (amongst other things) your personal belongings up to a value agreed (but check), and your E111 covers any medical treatment. I'm not sure what your holiday insurance would cover that isnt covered already.

But in any case, isnt letting insurance rule your hols a bit like the tail wagging the ....
 
It certainly isn't threatening to "rule the hols" - just one bit of the planning jigsaw. Say a leg dropped off and you had to be flown home ... worth having some cover I think. Many thanks for the RYA link - hadn't realised they did it. Sorted.
 
I did a bit of digging on this a year ago. My policy supposedly covered me up to 12 miles offshore. However when I checked the insurer only covered the policyholder if they were not skippering or actively involved in crewing the yacht!. Additionally if I made it to France in the boat & then tripped over in the hypermarket car park & would not be covered since I had come by boat! The policy was in effect useless for what I needed. I suspect only the specialist policies mentioned above (& Noble Marine) will cover you for medical issues if injured on the boat.
 
SWMBO and I have had annual Pantaneus travel policies for years. Cannot remember what we pay but I know its inexpensive and as bluedragon says includes cover when travelling by private craft. Never had to claim but they have a reasonable reputation.
Our Westerly Owners Association scheme yacht policy with Eagle Star also includes medical expenses, personal accident cover for crew and guests on board and provides get you home cover for both boat and crew in the event of an accident
 
I had annual travel insurance and tried to get written confirmation that we were covered if taken ill abroad while on a sailing holiday. At each stage of the long chain that I enquired I was assured we were covered but once I asked could I confirm that in writing back to them they kicked the question upstairs.

I was concerned as I have noticed a worrying trend of insurance companies looking hard for reasons that you are not insured in the event of a claim. These days if a watch is stolen they want the receipt, warantee, orginal box and instructions before they will pay out. I explained that I did not expect a helicopter lift off in mid channel paid for but say being taken ill in Cherbourg Marina.

The end result is that travel insurance is for normal travel NOT SAILING. If a claim is a minor amount I suspect they won't ask you to produce tickets but ask for a claim form when you take out the insurance and they normally insist on the "holiday booking receipt" accompaning any claim.

I gave up and went to Bishops Skinner for a RYA approved policy. Only claim so far was for cancelled flights and found out they only paid set amounts per 24hrs etc not the actual cost of delay. I had carefully kept receipts but found the amount due more than the actual cost!
 
Try this lot: http://www.direct-travel.co.uk

Their policies cover sailing, no limits on distance offshore and seem to be much cheaper than alternatives. Haven't had to claim yet but have no reason not to trust them.

Jonathan (no connection, just pleased with the pricing, the clarity of their policy documents and the simplicity of their web site)
 
Can you point me in the direction that specifically states you are covered while sailing abroad not scheduled holiday or travel please? What is the cost please.

I think our current policy for 2 is about £180 but its free winter sports I was pleased to find. Like everyone I would be overjoyed to find a cheaper insurance with the same cover.

Just tried FAQ and found scuba diving only covered while under the instruction of a dive master so thats the rope still stuck on the prop mid channel then!!
 
If you go to their FAQs and look up what sports are covered, sailing and yachting are both listed with no qualifications. I wanted cover for a trip across the Bay of Biscay, not on my own boat, and called them to check and they said it was covered. I didn't ask about cover for cruising on my own boat as I only wanted the cover for the one trip.

Jonathan
 
I don't know iof this is any help but . . .

I've always kept Boat Insurance for pranging the boat - but never have - and Travel Insurance for land-based hols. So I'm coaxed into chartering a big AWB for the Round the Island. What happens if I break a leg the night before? Seven angry crew riding me out of town on a rail! So persuaded the Travel mob (Nationwide) to specify sailing, and they said Europe, max 31 days, min 2 nights. Cost £96 for 12 months.
A lotta dosh? Wait until you're my age Sunshine!!

CJH
 
[ QUOTE ]
Can you point me in the direction that specifically states you are covered while sailing abroad not scheduled holiday or travel please? What is the cost please.


[/ QUOTE ]

I am quoting from my Pantaenius annual multi-trip travel policy - General conditions
"No single trip may exceed 31 days unless principal purpose of the trip is sailing and the majority of policy period is aboard a private and pleasure yacht."

There are various other references to yachting in the policy with regard to travel delays causing additional expenses. In this case they require the orignal passage plan and the cause of the diversion.

The annual policy costs £140 all in for SWMBO and myself
 
Many thanks for all this. Direct insurance outfit recommended above looks great - £40ish for 2 of us - europe, max 30 days per trip, no possessions cover. They talk about travelling rather than just holidays, business too, so not narrow definitions. Our possessions are covered on our home contents policy when we're away from home, and I have also discovered that our boat insurance through GJW direct covers us for Personal Accident whilst on the boat. So this looks like a good cheap solution, adding a get you home service, severed limbs in hypermarket compensation etc at low cost.
 
My travel policy (AXA) but provided by Lloyds Bank says not covered for yacht racing or ocean going yachting, not covered for racing in motor boats, not covered any sport as a professional, not covered if you are being paid to crew a private motor or sailing vessel. So I assume that I am covered when cruising in my own boat on the Channel, North Sea etc.In any event if you need medical treatment in the EU make sure you have your European Health Insurance Card (successor to E111) and make use of it; if you do not your own insurance is unlikely to cover you for treatment covered by the EHIC.
 
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