Quote from the recent N20 North Americans NOR:

"Competitor’s Insurance:
Each competitor must show proof of Liability Insurance with a minimum coverage in the amount of $300,000 USD that is valid while sailing in the United States. Competitors with foreign issued insurance policies must show proof that their insurance is valid while competing in the United States. Competitor’s proof of insurance and coverage must be provided at registration. . Anyone chartering a boat from Performance Catamarans, Inc. or a private individual must purchase Borrowed Boat and Liability Insurance at registration."

Some basic insurance comes with being a member of US Sailing? or is that for race organizers?

How do you purchase it, and from whom do you purchase it? Is there an insurance agent there at the registration table?

This whole insurance thing is a complete mystery to me. I don't understand how it works and what it is that you are supposed to present to show that you have insurance at the regattas that require it. Are you supposed to show a copy of an insurance policy on your boat or a copy of your homeowners insurance policy? WHAT? (Nobody has EVER asked us to prove we have insurance of any kind.)

And I REALLY don't understand how you can buy insurance at registration, considering how complicated it seems to be if you actually contact an insurance company personally.



P.S. This really should be a separate thread.

Insurance people will take your money however they can get it. If I can fill out a form, put in a check, stick it in an envelope, poke it in a recepticle in an airport, and get insurance for the flight (lugage, etc.) I'm bording 30' away in 10 minutes, they should be able to take your money at the registration desk at a regatta. WHY someone would buy insurance for a flight, I don't know....but it's there and you can do it.

Call some Insurance broker up with your twelve year old or older beachcat and explain what you want to do.Say I would like to have some insurance for my old beach cat because I want to race with the $12000.00 boats because when I hit one of them, I think I am going to back up and hit it again like a pod of dolphins on a hammerhead, can you help me . Give us a name of someone I will call tommorow.I have tried boat U.S. a while ago and it was a dead end.My homeowners insurance is nationwide now And do you have to have your own insurance in the Olympics ? There I did'nt jack the thread

Boat U.S. does not understand beach catamarans or dingys. They want powerboats, powerboats, more powerboats, and an occasional high dollar sail boat. I shopped extensively for insurance for my last boat and Boat U.S. took three weeks to call me back and say "Ohhhh...O.K. we figured out what kind of boat you have". Contact State Farm, Prudential, or Progressive for insurance on a beach cat - you'll find the contact pleasant, quick, friendly, and understanding. If you do have a boat on the ISAF one design list, look at insurance through U.S. Sailing...they were competitive with what I had. I set up insurance for a 1984 Hunter 23 and a 2004 Nacra F18 in one phone call with Progressive and I didn't have an account or had ever done anything with them before.

Fair call. I suppose the main point is coverage from the air certainly helps make for exciting tv. Cameras from RC planes etc would take a bit of development but would definatly be achievable for a fraction of the price.

Michael

Great Jake. I switched to Boat US from State Farm after State Farm would not cover the damage to Mark Smith's I-20 after I T-Boned him at Spring Fever. My Port Tack into his Starboard Tack, I was clearly at fault and admitted it freely. They stated that since my steering crossbar broke in the course of violently avoiding him (too much adrenaline on my part) that equipment failure caused the collision and I was not liable even though it broke when there was only 15 yards between boats on a port tack and the collision was inevitable. They had no understanding of right of way and wanted to see a copy of the rules of sailing which they apparently had no use for. They just looked for a loophole to avoid payment. They told me that was the understood risk I took when sailing in a race, as did the boat I impacted. I paid Mark's damages out of Pocket, I'm glad he was a pretty good sport about it. Glad I didn't roll him or clip his bows, there would have been a lawsuit.
Maybe if we ALL had the same insurance they'd realize they just have to pay so it would be easier.
Boat US was easy, they had no problems with racing boats, & I verified with the agent that the coverage would be what I needed to cover me in a Regatta situation.
[color:"red"] I think this topic needs its own thread. [/color]

thread here

And this is the problem with trying to insure boats with people who don't understand them. That collision must have cost $1,000's and because they did not understand the risk, they did not charge correctly and so worked very hard to get out of paying - and managed it.

Shocking.

Wow, shocking that State Farm wouldn't pay.

I have State Farm and they payed quickly and in full after they recieved an estimate. They are cheap but require you to have your Homeowners or Renters insurance through them.

Previously I had American National Insurance and they also payed on a boat I hit when I first started sailing. They took a little longer though.

Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com

It's my understanding that insurance coverage does not give a wit about the racing rules, rather they are controlled by the international rules of the road. I don't think it makes a difference what insurance company is involved.

Mark,

While that is true, they will be interested in the findings of the protest committee.

The less "road blocks "you create at this juncture the better, otherwise it will be a very secluded group or racers. Cat racing is not that big, to puncture it now is set it back another 10yrs in the U.S . There is way to much emphasis on insurance here .The big regatta years had few regulations. Yes or No

At at least through the mid eighties, the answer is a resounding YES.

That was before our American Society was so litigeous. Yes or No?

The answer again is a resounding YES.