Am I covered if I'm sailing?

Want to go sailing? As we’ve recently changed our insurer, please select the date you bought your policy to find out more:

Policies purchased on or after 1 Nov 2018 (GMT)

Policies purchased before 1 Nov 2018 (GMT)
 

For policies purchased on or after 1 Nov 2018:

If you want to go sailing/yachting while abroad, there’s cover available but you must choose the right adventure sports coverage depending on where you’ll be sailing and an additional premium may be applicable.

What’s covered

If sailing is on your ‘to do’ list, it’s as simple as adding ‘sailing’ when getting buying a policy. You will need to know a bit about where you’ll be sailing though - e.g. inside or outside coastal waters - as there are some Special Conditions and Exclusions to this cover depending on what type of sailing you'll be doing, so be aware of this.

When sailing outside coastal waters, you MUST be within 60 miles of a safe haven* or you will not be covered if something goes wrong. *A 'safe haven' is a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas.

Be sure to add all the adventures and activities you plan to try on your trip when you buy your policy. You won’t be able to make changes after your policy is issued.

How it works

To be covered at any level, you must be supervised by a professional, qualified instructor/licensed operator or guide or hold the appropriate membership, certification and/or licence from an accredited organisation for the activity.

If you suffer a serious illness or injury while out sailing, your policy can cover:

  • Evacuation if it’s urgent and medically necessary (by helicopter if medically necessary and available);

  • Emergency medical expenses overseas for treatment at the hospital or local medical facility and/or;

  • Repatriation home if you’re injured and unable to continue your trip.

If something happens, you or someone with you must contact the Emergency Medical Assistance Service immediately and remain in contact until you no longer require treatment or assistance.
Who pays for medical treatment (and by this we mean either you pay upfront and claim later or we pay) depends on what’s happened to you and the necessary treatment required.

What’s not covered

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything. Take the time to read the terms, conditions limitations and exclusions in the policy wording for full details on what is and isn’t covered. That way there are no surprises if you need to use it.
Here are some of the main things that aren’t covered:

  • Your personal liability while you’re sailing/yachting.

  • Sailing /yachting at a professional level i.e. you are being paid or sponsored;

  • You are competing at international events as a national representative.

  • ‘Search and rescue’ if you become lost at sea or at any other time.

  • Anything else that's listed in the General Exclusions, Specific Exclusions under Section 8 and any other exclusions in the policy

Note: For policies purchased after 1 August 2019, your World Nomads policy is backed by XL Insurance Company SE. For policies purchased between 1 November 2018 and 16 January 2019, your World Nomads policy is backed by certain underwriters at Lloyd’s. For policies purchased between 17 Jan 2019 and 31 July 2019, your World Nomads policy is backed by Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA.
 

 

For policies purchased before 1 Nov 2018:

If you want to go sailing/yachting while abroad, there’s cover available but you must choose the right adventure sports coverage depending on where you’ll be sailing so you’re covered should anything go wrong.

What’s covered

If sailing is on your ‘to do’ list, it’s as simple as adding ‘sailing’ when getting a quote. You will need to know a bit about where you’ll be sailing though, e.g. inside or outside coastal waters as there are some restrictions to this cover depending on what type of sailing you'll be doing so be aware of this.

When sailing outside coastal waters, you MUST be within 60 miles of a safe haven* or you will not be covered if something goes wrong.

*A 'safe haven' is a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas.

Be sure to add all the adventures and activities you plan to try on your trip when you buy your policy. You won’t be able to make changes after your policy is issued.

 

How it works:

To be covered at any level, you must be supervised by a qualified instructor/licensed operator or hold the appropriate membership, certification and/or licence from an accredited organisation for the activity.

If you suffer a serious illness or injury while out sailing, your policy can cover:

  • evacuation if urgent and medically necessary (by helicopter if medically necessary and available)
  • emergency medical expenses for treatment at the hospital or local medical facility and/or;
  • repatriation home if you’re seriously injured and unable to continue your trip.

If something happens, you or someone with you must contact the Emergency Medical Assistance Service immediately and remain in contact until you no longer require treatment or assistance.

Who pays for medical treatment (and by this we mean either you pay upfront and claim later or we pay) depends on what’s happened to you and the necessary treatment required.

What’s not covered

The policy isn’t designed to cover everything. Take the time to read the terms and conditions in the policy wording for full details on what is and isn’t covered. That way there are no surprises if you need to use it.

Here are the main things that aren’t covered:

  • your personal liability while you’re sailing/yachting .
  • sailing /yachting at a professional level i.e. you are being paid or sponsored or if you are competing at international events as a national representative.
  • ‘search and rescue’  if you become lost at sea or at any other time.
  • anything else that's listed in the exclusions on the policy
Note: For policies purchased before 1 Nov 2018, your World Nomads policy is backed by Millstream.

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