Sailing a "hazardous" sport?

[Saguday]

Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

Just back from the US of A and I've been sent an insurance "medical update" form for our UK house mortgage protection policy and it asks if I partake in any hazardous activities like climbing, parachuting, diving, aviation or yachting!!

This is the first time I've ever seen this - at what point did sailing become a risk sport from an underwriters point of view? It certainly wasn't when I left the UK 3 years ago...

Have you lot got reckless recently or is it an Environmental Elf issue with all those FB pies and dodgy curries?

 

[Guest]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

Sounds like your "Insurance Company" is looking for even more ways to get out of paying out! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[sailorgirl]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

Nope its always been the case - 10 years ago my employers had to stump up more on the health insurance 'cos quite a few of us indulged in dangerous sports defined as offshore sailing, mountain climbing and flying.

 

[Saguday]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

Well, it hasn't always been the case for me - I've been a-dinghy-ing for 16 years and a-yachting for 7 years and this has never come up on any of my personal insurances before.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Malcb]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

I remember some years ago, one of the exclusions from my companies insurance was 'climbing with ropes'
So I thought, OK, I'll stop using ropes /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobF]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport?

This question typically appears on life insurance products. As always, different underwriters have different views on what sports are considered to be risky. However, sufficient lives and limbs have been lost at sea to make offshore sailing a risk. If you sail a Wayfarer on a lake the insurer won't worry. If you're competing on a 60' boat in a trans-pacific race this is sufficiently risky to add an extra premium (or reduce your cover). Sorry to provide such a sensible answer.

 

[Gunfleet]

Re: Sailing a \"hazardous\" sport? Logical fallacy.

It's not a very sensible answer, Rob. What's the incidence of drowning in baths versus small boats, in small boats versus big boats and in big boats versus ocean racers? Is there any evidence that Wayfarers are safer than yachts? I would have thought the incidences of drowning fall as the size of the boat and professionalism of the crew 'rise', on the basis lilos are more dangerous than 60 ft cats. Of course, 'Tony Bullimore missing' has better headline value than 'idiot drowns exploring beach on foot.' But I don't have any evidence either. Sorry to greet you on a negative point!