FAR to dangerous to sail to France in boats less than 24ft

[mark_turner]

Why is it that a solidly built and seaworthy boats that happen to be less than 24 feet in length can no longer safely get across the channel?

According to many insurance companies this is the case. They will not quote insurance - not even third party only!

The PBO last month had an article about a number of smaller boats racing across the Atlantic. As, I seem to recall the race was set up, that they were fed up because various racing rules are squeezing smaller boats out.

Is there evidence to support this view that smaller boats cannot tackle anything more I wonder? Or are these just an arbitrary rulings made by faceless people in insurance offices who don’t care, or by people with the money and opportunity to own a bigger vessel who believe they have the right to dictate to the rest of us?

Having had my little rant, I wonder if anyone can suggest some companies that might be happy to provide a quotation for a 21.5footer that will give insurance cover for occasional trips to France and Channel Islands. At present I get cover through Westerly Owners Association, but with a £40 increase in premium this year I would like to see if there are any competitive quotations to be had.

Thanks

 

[fireball]

Bishop Skinner had no such restrictions on the 22'er I used to sail.... I often told the owner that in bad weather he'll give up long before the boat does ... It was an excellent little boat, just not big enough for 4 adults to spend more than a day on!!

 

[Lakesailor]

Hunter 19 has crossed the Atlantic. Probably was a bit hairy

 

[FullCircle]

I had this problem with my Jouet 680 (22ft)in the last few years, but not in previous times (10 years or more ago). The Insurance people sounded on the phone like they were conversing with a lunatic, incredulous that anyone should consider such a thing.
I am afraid that there is a creeping miasma of RCD, licensing, surveying, equipping 'requirements' , which soon will preclude any such activity by UK insurers.
However, there are still some out there, as I have single handed use on my policy, who will quote, but of course there is a premium attached.

It may be helpful if you can show that your craft is at least equipped to the smallest offshore category for RORC, to up the SSS number, thats what I did with my Evolution 25.

Try Traffords, they were helpful to me this year.

Of course, with the Limbo and then my Jouet 680, they werent worth very much, and I had the Basic Boat 3rd party policy for a couple of years at 70-75 quid. Insure your possessions on the boat by another policy for loss.


Best of luck

Jim

 

[reginaldon]

Shane Acton circumnavigated with his 18' Mk 1 Caprice. I can see the French coast from my house and people swim it, Needles to Chichester is further!

 

[FullCircle]

Shane didnt even recognise the term 'Insurance'. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[graham]

I read an article in the latest Sailing Today mag (September issue)that suggested that "Navigator and General" are sympathetic to smaller boats . I noticed lately that St Margarets has changed my cover to UK coastal only. we rarely venture abroad anyway but probably means I was unwittingly uninsured in Ireland last year. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[graham]

Re singlehanding.My policy says no "overnight"single handing.This is open to a certain amount of interpretation in my opinion.IE would I be covered if the wind went off light and a daysail stretched until 2 AM ? Or if I set off before dawn to catch the tide .

Also my kids are more competent than many adults but would I be classed as singlehanded with one of them as crew?

 

[FullCircle]

I interpret the term daylight 'loosely'. After all its daylight somewhere, all the time. Mine says that I can single hand at any time in local waters, so i can move the boat from the mooring to the pontoon at 0200, and vice versa.

Anyone who has pretensions of being human counts as crew, as they could be taught to raise the alarm at the very least, even at 3 or 4 years old.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone who has pretensions of being human counts as crew

[/ QUOTE ]

I do sometimes wonder /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[steve_cronin]

Surely everyone knows that to be true.....

..don't they?

Encouraging persons of limited means to embarque upon riskey voyages in unsuitable boats puts lives at risk. Good luck to the insurance companies if they're going to save us from ourselves.

Perhaps T Blair & co will soon introduce legislation to BAN such small vessels from going out of spitting distance from the shore. That'll put and end to their owners adventurism. Shouldn't be allowed (Harruummphh!) and I hope that the responsible yachting press will support such a ban

( <span style="color:red"> Motor Boat & Yachting March 1976 </span>)

Wouldn't have happened in MY day!

Steve Cronin

 

[mark_turner]

Thanks for the suggestion - Just rang Bishop Skinner and got a quote of £189. - Happens to be £8 more than my current one (which is with Navigators and General) so I will probably stick with them for now.

 

[Malish]

Try Pole Star insurance:

http://www.polestarinsure.co.uk/

I found them £100 lower than Nav and Gen for a 32' yacht

 

[reginaldon]

Agreed Steve - we don't want any common riff raff or the hoi polloi sailing 'yachts' do we?

 

[steve_cronin]

Which bit....

...of "Tongue in Cheek" are you having difficulty with?

Steve Cronin

 

[Guest]

Try Polestar Insurance ..... (KC Powell)
or
Giles and Partners

various others ....

 

[Rabbie]

I wonder if Stanley T. Smith, designer and builder of the 14'0" West Wight Potter was insured when he sailed one single-handed from Yarmouth IOW to Kloster Fiord in Sweden in October/November 1965, covering some 780 miles in winds up to F9?. Somehow I dont think he would have been bothered. Another unsung hero.

 

[Black Sheep]

Basic Boat Liability:
£89 from Elbe to Brest, happy with my 18 footer, no mention of single handing or not. Mind you, 3rd party only.

 

[moondancer]

It probably has something to do with the introduction of the RCD categories. Most boats under 24 footer rate as Category C and the insurance companies probably feel they can only give coastal insurance. They probably feel it irrelevant that it would be perfectly safe to make cross channel passages in reasonable conditions and are more worried about how a Court woiuld look at them providing cross channel cover for coastal rated boats. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: NIGHT SAILING & SINGLEHANDED INSURANCE

Night is dusk to dawn, quite specific. And as with singlehanding your intentions must be delared to your insurers or they might reject any claim. Are you prepared to gamble that?

Oh, hoi poloi = the common people, from the Greek. The hoi poloi = the the common people. It's not a typo, just a common (oops) mistake.