Insurance for SAR?

[Aeolus]

I'm planning to crew on a sailing boat from the UK to northern Spain and have been recommended to take out hazardous pursuits personal insurance. I have a 'standard' travel policy and the only advantage of the recommended policy seems to be that it included coverage for search and rescue services.

Do the UK, French or Spanish SAR organisations charge for their services? It's not my boat so I really only need to worry about falling overboard or needing to be rescued for emergency medical treatment.

Do they rescue you and then send the bill, or do they just rescue you?

Jonathan

 

[bobgoode]

From what I have read in the magazines, they charge.

 

[shantymanuk]

most insurances only cover you within 12 miles of land ,therefor extra insurance is needed

 

[HenryB]

I'm fairly certain that the saving of life is free, but you can (and most likely will) be charged for saving your boat.
For example, no charge if they send out a lifeboat to save you from a liferaft, but a charge if a lifeboat comes out to tow in your yacht.

 

[BrickSailor]

Certainly in France they will send you a bill, and expect you to have suitable insurance to pay it. I'm not sure what they do if you can't pay - take you back out and drop you off??

 

[Aeolus]

Thanks very much. Sounds like it might be worth having the insurance. I imagine that helicopters etc. would probably run up a hefty bill. Not that I plan to need them but...

Jonathan

 

[Sea Devil]

Assuming you have insurance on your boat then that will cover the the towing - recovery saving of the boat - They may want you to try to arrange a Lloyds towing agreement - no cure no pay.

The life saving part of a French, Spanish, and I think Portuguese rescue is just that - live saving and will incur no costs - the towing or saving or helping of the boat will incur commercial charges and may well be carried out by a commercial company as well as the national navy or SAR but as I pointed out your normal yacht insurance will cover this!
Michael