Sailing liability insurance for teams, camps, competitions, instructors
- Get your free quote online
- Flexible and customizable
- General Liability, Umbrella, and Accident coverage
- Non-Owned and Hired Auto Liability
- Sex Abuse/Molestation
We have options for:
- Sailing camp insurance
- Sailing team insurance
- Insurance for sailing instructors
- Sailing competition insurance
What are the risks?
Though competitive sailing has many benefits, it comes with risks as well, such as:
- Injuries to participants during a sailing lesson or class
- Injuries to participants on another sailboat (collision)
- Damage to the property of others (other sailboats, docks, etc.)
Some of the most common sailing injuries include:
- Rope burns
- Dehydration
- Concussions
- Cuts & bruises
- Muscle strain
- Dislocated shoulder
- Knee injuries
- Fractures in the hand or wrist
- Drowning
It’s critical to conduct a thorough assessment of the risks involved with your sailing business. For instance, where and how could injuries take place? Do you need to make any improvements to your property or equipment? The golden rule of risk management is to try and be one step ahead of any and all risks that could result in financial losses.
Sailing risk management
Now that you understand some of the risks involved with competitive sailing, let’s explore some risk management strategies you can implement.
General guidelines:
According to US Sailing, there are several precautions sailing coaches should put in place to protect themselves and their students:
- Thoughtfully plan each sailing class
- Assess risks periodically
- Be aware of your students’ capabilities and limitations
- Maintain a safe physical environment
- Provide proper equipment
- Teach “state-of-the-art” methods
- Provide careful supervision of all activities
- Prepare for emergencies
- Maintain complete records of all activities
- Pre-participation instruction, training, and risk warning
Some additional ways to prevent injuries during a sailing lesson include:
- Warming up at the start of a lesson
- Stretching exercises that focus on the shoulders and lower back
- Proper water safety training
- Don’t conduct classes during inclement weather
- Make sure everyone stays hydrated during lessons
- Emphasize the importance of good communication
- Create emergency signals and make sure all crew members know them
- Ensure all crew members understand their roles before setting sail
We recommend having participants sign waiver/release forms. You can check out our sample templates here:
You can also check out our risk management page for more information on ways to help mitigate your risks.
Another way to further manage your risk as a sailing instructor, team, or camp that teaches sailing as a competitive sport is to purchase an insurance policy.
What is sailing insurance?
Any good risk management strategy will typically involve transferring some of your risk to a third party, typically an insurance company. Sailing insurance allows you to continue doing what you love without the stress of unexpected financial losses.
Why do I need sailing insurance?
Accidents and injuries are unpredictable, which is why sailing instructors, teams, competitions, and camps must be proactive and prepare for the risks.
One injury sustained during a sailing lesson can cause a significant financial setback, and you don’t want to have to bear that burden alone. Sailing insurance can offer protection for some of the most common sailing-related claims, such as damage to the boat or dock or injuries to the crew.
What does sailing insurance cover?
Our insurance includes coverage for the following competitive sailing risks:
- General liability
- Medical expenses
- Equipment insurance
- Umbrella liability
- Incidental auto exposures
Our insurance policies are fully customizable, so we can create a plan that suits your specific needs and budget.
How can you get coverage?
If you are a sailing instructor, a sailing camp, a competition host, or a team owner, purchasing insurance is vital. Having reliable General Liability coverage helps protect you from unexpected financial costs that could impact your bottom line.
Sadler & Company Insurance has been protecting sports and recreation organizations since 1957. We specialize in providing low-cost coverage without sacrificing quality – because what’s the point of having insurance if it’s not there for you when you need it most?
Our simple application process takes minutes, and you will receive your quote right away.
Are you ready to set sail with total peace of mind?
What is sailing?
Sailing is a type of boating that harnesses the wind to power a boat instead of motors. Sailing has been present throughout world history and began as a means of transportation. For example, the Vikings famously used sailboats to sail to North America in the 10th century.
Centuries later, sailing expanded into an activity enjoyed recreationally. For many years, sailing was a luxury only accessible to the wealthy. However, with the rise of cheaper materials and boat construction, the barrier to entry is much lower. Today, sailing is a sport enjoyed by many, both recreationally and competitively.
Sailing can occur in various types of bodies of water, such as the ocean, rivers, lakes, and bays. Unsurprisingly, your sailing experience will vary significantly based on the surface you choose. For example, sailing in the ocean will generally be more challenging than a river or lake.
What are the benefits?
Competitive sailing is widely known for its vast physical and mental health benefits, such as:
- Increased agility: Sailing involves various agility-building tasks such as line pulling, hoisting sails, and maintaining your balance on a moving vessel.
- Heart health: Improved cardiovascular health is another benefit of taking to the seas on a sailboat. The tasks involved with sailing increase your heart rate, which helps keep your heart strong and boosts your endurance.
- Builds muscle: Operating a sailboat requires incredible upper body strength. Pulling ropes and managing the keel both ask a lot of your core and arm muscles, making it a challenging yet fun strength training exercise.
- Improved mental health: It’s no secret that fresh air can do wonders for mental health – and the salty air of the open seas provides an extra boost. The negative ions in the ocean air help your body absorb oxygen faster and balance your serotonin levels, a chemical well-known for its mood-boosting abilities.
- Builds discipline: Sailing is an excellent way to build discipline. After just a few lessons, students will learn to follow directions faster and more accurately, as sailing requires incredible focus and precision.
- Communication skills: Sailing helps build communication skills because the crew must work together to stabilize the boat. One miscommunication on a sailboat can cause an accident, which is why clear communication is one of the first skills taught in sailing.
- Team-building: With sailing, you quickly learn that all crew members play a crucial role in the boat’s safety. For that reason, crew members quickly learn to function not as one but as a team.