Insurance for Channel Crossing

[vjmehra]

Having only ever sailed within 12 miles of the coast before, this has always been covered by my travel insurance when sailing...however this weekend I'm heading out (weather dependant) on a slightly longer trip for the first time, maybe cross channel, maybe not, but there is a possibility we will go too far offshore for the insurance to cover it (also its in the UK, so not sure it would be covered anyway).

I have some trips planned later in the year personally, but for now am just looking for a single trip recommendation (as most of the crew are in the same situation and are unlikely to sail again this year), to cover a skippered charter (the boat is coded, etc etc.), with the max distance from the UK being Cherbourg.

Does anyone have any favourite companies they would care to recommend?

 

[vjmehra]

Some insurers (Aviva) won't even entertain the option! A flat out no unfortunately!

 

[Tranona]

What sort of insurance do you want? Ordinary travel insurance is no good as it covers risks related to holiday makers. Can't see any reason to have specific insurance for going to France from UK. Health problems are covered by EHIC, boat related risks by boat insurance. The only thing you might consider is personal accident. You can get specific policies for sailing from brokers like Bishop Skinner and Pantaenius, but make sure you are sitting down when you get the quote.

 

[vjmehra]

Was just looking for something to cover any injuries that may occur during the crossing really, also I guess if any possessions get damaged (but that is less of a concern)?

 

[Tranona]

In that case I would not bother. Risk is very low and the RNLI will not charge you, neither will the French (although they might charge towing costs in some circumstances). Possessions you can get cover as an extension on your household policy, although the only things that are normally an issue are expensive toys like cameras.

Anyway have a look at the Bishop Skinner/RYA policy - although not sure they do single trip.

 

[prv]

I think some other replies have missed that this is not the OP's boat and he's not asking about the sort of yacht insurance we have on our boats. He's sailing as a participating punter on a skippered charter holiday. He's correct that most holiday travel insurance excludes "sailing if more than twelve miles offshore".

I guess my question would be what costs you need the insurance to cover in mid-Channel? The RNLI aren't going to send you a bill if they need to rescue you, nor the French equivalent if it's a genuine emergency. If the vessel ends up needing a commercial tow then a) I'd expect the charter company to cover it since their skipper is in charge and b) I doubt your holiday travel insurance would cover such things even if inside the 12 mile limit. The only thing that would be questionable is if you end up falling ill, being rescued, taken to a French hospital which later presents a bill, and the insurance company says "you fell ill more than 12 miles offshore, we're not paying". Even then I'm not sure how much you would need to cover given the EHIC procedure, but it might be worth asking the insurance company exactly how they would handle this kind of situation.

If you do decide you need some more specialist cover, Topsail insurance would be the first place I would look. They cover me for crewing on a square-rigger (including work aloft) on ocean voyages, so a quick Channel crossing should be no bother.

Pete

 

[Pye_End]

Oops. Just seen charter bit.

 

[marklucas]

Try Hiscox - they have a specific option to cover off-shore (not ocean) sailing.

 

[Daydream believer]

Re the EHIC card
It has been reported that some European countries such as Spain are ignoring it & refusing treatment
Bearing how awkwardly anal some authorities can be it might be worth considering health insurance

 

[Tranona]

Re the EHIC card
It has been reported that some European countries such as Spain are ignoring it & refusing treatment
Bearing how awkwardly anal some authorities can be it might be worth considering health insurance

That is Daily Wail (or recently Torygraph) scaremongering. No real evidence. The Spanish thing is confusion between private and state hospitals where it is claimed that some hotels and taxi drivers, for example are referring people to private hospitals and collecting commission.

All emergency treatment is free under EHIC, and in fact travel insurance does not pay out for private care if the EHIC would cover it. Those who have used EHIC will confirm that it works as intended.

 

[Bobc]

Here you go:-

http://www.topsailinsurance.co.uk/yachtsmans_insurance.php

 

[mikemanor]

I use "Snowcard" www.snowcard.co.uk

On their single trip policy "Leisure Activities" includes Offshore Sailing within 60 miles of a safe haven.
If you take the multi-trip option Offshore Sailing within 60 miles of a safe haven is "Level 2"

 

[vyv_cox]

That is Daily Wail (or recently Torygraph) scaremongering. No real evidence. The Spanish thing is confusion between private and state hospitals where it is claimed that some hotels and taxi drivers, for example are referring people to private hospitals and collecting commission.

All emergency treatment is free under EHIC, and in fact travel insurance does not pay out for private care if the EHIC would cover it. Those who have used EHIC will confirm that it works as intended.

I cannot speak for Spain but I understand the case is as Tranona says. In Greece the treatment given under EHIC is quite frankly unbelievable. A friend of ours suffered a mini-stroke on Leros. After some treatment locally he was taken on a stretcher with a doctor and nurse in attendance, on a ferry to Rhodes. In another case a lady suffered a fracture that could not be treated in Leros. She was taken in the coastguard boat to Kalymnos for treatment there. Both caualties reported excellent treatment and no charge.

 

[jofb]

I cannot speak for Spain but I understand the case is as Tranona says. In Greece the treatment given under EHIC is quite frankly unbelievable. A friend of ours suffered a mini-stroke on Leros. After some treatment locally he was taken on a stretcher with a doctor and nurse in attendance, on a ferry to Rhodes. In another case a lady suffered a fracture that could not be treated in Leros. She was taken in the coastguard boat to Kalymnos for treatment there. Both caualties reported excellent treatment and no charge.

Travel insurance is my business, so I speak with some close knowledge, and I regret to say that this is not scaremongering at all, particularly in the main tourist areas of Spain where many State hospitals are increasingly simply refusing to accept the EHIC. The Spanish economy is pretty much bust and they refuse to accept that they should be paying for the medical care of holidaymakers that still have enough surplus cash to pay for trips abroad, whatever the rules and regulations of the reciprocal health agreements may say.

Of course it varies from area to area and country to country but the EHIC has never been a full replacement for travel insurance anyway, owing to its inherent limitations to the equivalent entitlement that applies in the country visited. In many cases this does not cover 100% of all medical costs, for example, or things like ambulance transfers or even the full cost of drugs. It certainly does not pay for additional costs like repatriation to the UK following injury, illness or death, which typically runs to thousands of Pounds.

The comment about commissions to hotels, taxi firms etc is true, however, and explains why most visitors, at least to the main Spanish and Canaries tourist areas, are taken straight to a private hospital. These often look magnificent in their range of facilities and equipment but where the actual medical care is often provided by less highly-qualified doctors, to the point that really serious cases often have to be moved to a State facility.

Emergency care in Greece is, indeed, normally very good, including transfers from remote islands to properly equipped hospitals, but then again many people are surprised to find out that most basic nursing care, washing, feeding etc, is often expected to be provided by the relatives of the patient.

 

[jerram]

Put £50.00 in the RNLI tin and you will never get better insurance cover anywhere for UK/ channel sailing.

 

[TeamSpirit]

I'm not sure about the relationship between skipper and crew and may have missed something in posts above but if this is business relationships on chartered boat you may be better pursuing public liability insurance.

 

[prv]

if this is business relationships on chartered boat you may be better pursuing public liability insurance.

He's the "public" in this case

He just wants general holiday travel insurance, the problem is that these generally have a list of activities they do not cover (high-speed camel racing, nude bungee jumping, whatever) and "offshore sailing (more than 12 miles offshore)" is a classic exclusion common to every general travel policy I've had.

Pete