travel insurance

[rkane]

Anyone got any ideas about the best place to go for holiday insurance that will cover you for yachting? We've not taken our boat abroad before and I thought it would be simple but am finding it difficult to get a policy that will cover us. I'm not too worried about being covered for the actual crossing, as we sail around Britain quite happily with our boat rather than us covered, but what about when we're sailing in French waters? What's the situation if you need assistance and are not covered? Should we just go for normal holiday insurance with dangerous sports
cover (which I've been told yachting is considered as) or is there a better way of doing it?

thanks in advance

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[Aja]

Have just checked with our (life) underwriting section. Yachting is not considered a dangerous sport. Your policy would not be loaded as a participant. Dont see why travel insurance should be any different.

Regards

Donald

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[boatless]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.optionsinsurance.co.uk/general/default.asp>http://www.optionsinsurance.co.uk/general/default.asp</A>

Have used them for annual cover for about ten years, sailing is not excepted.

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[zefender]

I've been through this a few times before with insurers. Generally, as long as you are not racing, there should be no problem with your standard travel insurance. It's a good idea to call and let them know your intentions though. Incidentally, these days, probably the most important 'travel insurance' document is the form E111 which means you will benefit from vastly superior French NHS at no cost.

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[zefender]

Correction

E111 not entirely free. In France, it's about 75% free I believe.

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[pandroid]

Most travel insurances will cover you OK, but will only work for short periods (e.g. 2/4 weeks). St Margarets do a 'yachtsman' Travel Policy which will cover longer cruising periods and has more yottie specific clauses.

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[AIDY]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bishopskinner.com/yachtsmans_travel_insurance.html> Travel Insurance </A>

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>

 

[dralex]

Be careful about wording- a lot of polices will only cover you for up to 12 miles off shore- we did a lot of research recently as we had a standard anual policy which covered yachting in theory- we called the compay to check- they said only for coastal sailing. I can't remember offhand the company our policy is through. I'll try to find it this evening if I remember.

Alex

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now.

 

[bedouin]

I've had annual travel policies with a couple of companies. One excluded crewing on a boat so I switched to Pantaenius (who also insure the boat). Their policy does cover sailing.

Just checked my current policy - with a 3rd company - that excludes crewing on a vessel outside UK waters.

The moral is - it pays to read the small print!<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by bedouin on 30/06/2004 14:35 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Fill]

We recently posted a similar enquiry. While most annual travel policies cover frequent short trips they don't give yotties the flexibility needed when you don't know the duration of the time away. Ie there is no allowance for delays caused by, for example, poor weather. We have now found a policy offered by GH Insurance Services Ltd. called "Yachtsmans Gold" which we have just arranged for ourselves. It is essentially an annual travel policy but with extended duration trips as standard. Very hepful on the phone, 01892 543158

PS No connection with them, nor do we get commission!

<hr width=100% size=1>Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

 

[charles_reed]

E111

In France you pay doctor and pharmacist and reclaim from Social Security. You'll get back 65% as an EU citizen unless you're over 60, in which case you get it all back.
In Spain and Portugal it's altogether free but I'm not sure about Italy - haven't been ill there (yet).

Your Boat insurance covers the yacht and possibly (if it's specified) personal belongings. Your home insurance will probably cover you for valuables lost on holiday - the cost of delays etc don't count. And you've been grieviously misinformed if you think sailing is rated a dangerous sport.

I actually don't see why yotties going foriegn in the EU nee
d holiday cover - in any case my bank provide it for "free" as part of my account.

However if you're going outside Europe you definitely need cover. David Teall gave me the name of his insurers, which I have mislaid, and their package was tailored to liveaboards in foriegn waters.

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[pandroid]

Re: E111

< in any case my bank provide it for "free" as part of my account.>

You may have a better bank than me, but most schemes of this type give you cover only if you've purchased the travel with their credit/debit card - which wont be the case here unless you charge yourself for the use of the yacht /forums/images/icons/smile.gif and, as documented elsewhere, are time limited.

The E111 works fine in Scandanavia, and you pay the same as the locals, about £15 a 'consultation'. I havent enquired as to whether you can claim it back...


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[BarryT]

There is definitely a problem with many annual policies only covering coastal sailing. My previous policy would not cover sailing between countries. They confirmed I was not covered when sailing from France to Belgium !

After a bit of research I found www.direct-travel.co.uk (underwritten by AXA) seemed to have a sensible approach to sports, covering activities that many other policies exclude as being dangerous. e.g. as well as sailing the policy covers off piste snow skiing. If I recall correctly diving can also be an extra on many policies.

Barry

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[TrailerSailer]

I use Direct Travel - have done for a few years now. Cover me quite happilly for dinghy sailing in the Med for 3 weeks each year and I read it that they would cover me if I took our trailer sailer over. Seem to offer very competative prices for annual family cover in Europe.

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[Sailfree]

I paid for a fully comprehensive annual travel policy for years that I was assured over the phone covered landing ill off a yacht anywhere. I checked after a few years and asked if they would put it in writing. My querry then got elevated up the ranks with an different answer at each level until finally if you are not travelling by charter airlines or coventional holidays you are not covered. Remember insurance is a money making/losing business if it does not specifically state it covers your circumstances it definatly won't when you try to claim. We finally use Bishop Skinner travel policy for yachties and pay the small extra charge for winter sports.
I also found that booking holiday insurance for a caribean trip did not cover cancellation if caused by a broken leg from an earlier skiing holiday! My advice keep ALL your travel insurance on one policy or you will fall through the cracks!

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