Optimist Dinghy Insurance

The cost of this cover comes in at approx £0.04p per day – a total of £15.00 plus Insurance Premium Tax.

Offers cover to pursue losses not covered under your vessel policy against those who have caused you to suffer loss of, for example, your policy excess or other out-of-pocket expenses.

Example:

You’re hit by a third party and damage is caused to your boat. You will be liable to pay your policy excess. If our claims team are unable to make a full recovery your excess will not be returned, as a result you can use the Marine Legal policy to pursue this loss.  

Offers cover to pursue damage claims against a third party whose negligence has resulted in you suffering injury or death.

Example:

You’re hit by a third party and as a result you suffer injury. Our policy will pay based on the Personal Accident section, however this cover is limited, certainly in cases whereby you suffer an injury requiring months or years of treatment. You would be able to use the Marine Legal policy to pursue damages for pain and suffering as well as the costs that you may have to pay for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

Offers cover to defend you against legal action brought against you in relation to a criminal offence following your ownership or use of the vessel.

Example:

You’re arrested under suspicion of trafficking drugs into the country by using your boat. So long as there is a 51% or greater prospect of winning, the Marine Legal policy will assist in proving a legal defence for you.

Offers cover for legal costs in dealing with companies who have provided credit to a fraudulent third party in your name and are now seeking recovery from you.

Example:

Your identity is stolen and a credit card has been taken out in your name. The credit card is subsequently used up to the limit with no payments made and as a result your credit file is marked with a default. The Marine Legal policy will assist in providing cover for advisors fees to liaise with the credit card company and credit reference agencies to write off the defaulted balance and removing the entry from your credit file.

If the vessel is damaged whilst abroad, this section offers cover for expenses incurred by you to travel back to the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man and subsequently return to the vessel once repairs have been completed.

Example:

Your boat is damaged whilst in the Med, 2 months into a 6 month trip. The emergency expense will provide  for you to return to the UK, IOM or CI and subsequently return to the boat in the Med once it has been repaired.

If the vessel is damage through no fault of your own that results in you being unable to use the vessel for a planned trip, this section covers the cost to bareboat charter a comparable vessel to your own.

Example:

You have a 3 week sailing trip planned from the UK to France for your annual holiday. 1 week before the planned trip your boat is damaged in a storm owing to the fact that the mooring provided by the marina was unsuitable and as a result will require months of repairs meaning that you will be unable to go on your planned trip. The Marine Legal policy will provide for the hiring of a similar boat for the trip. There has to be identifiable negligence by a third party, in this case the marina, and you have to be able to provide proof that you had a trip planned.

Our ‘All Weather’ policy typically covers various risks associated with sailing your dinghy, including accidental damage to the boat, theft, vandalism, personal injury, and third-party liability. It even includes race coverage.

Our ‘Base Layer’ policy covers you in case you’re liable for damage to another person’s property or for injuries, protecting you against potential claims and financial losses. It may also be a requirement for sailing in some inland reservoirs or lakes, or when taking part in races.

For full details, please read our policy documents which can be found here

You can receive a quote and get insured in minutes. Our online quote system requires just 4 clicks, and once payment is made, your coverage can start immediately if you are keen to get sailing!

Yes, our ‘All Weather’ comprehensive insurance plan covers your dinghy for a variety of sailing activities, including competitive racing and leisure sailing, ensuring you’re protected no matter your passion.

Yes, our comprehensive plans include coverage for your dinghy, trailer and the dinghy equipment. Ensure you include these within the total market value of your dinghy.

Yes, our policies typically cover damage that occurs during transport within the stated cruising area and during storage, ensuring your dinghy is protected on and off the water. We exclude liability during road transit which should rest with your car insurance.

Yes, our policies will cover anyone who uses your dinghy, as long as they have your permission and are not paying for the privilege.

Sure – our dinghy policy covers UK waters plus 30 days in Europe as standard, subject to policy conditions. Give our award-winning customer services team a call to discuss extending your policy if needed.

You’ll need to provide some basic information about your dinghy and your sailing activities. No extensive paperwork required.

Contact our claims team immediately after an incident via phone or email and we’ll guide you through the steps to submit your claim. You can also download a claim form from our website.

Yes, you can cancel your policy if you sell your dinghy. We typically offer a pro-rata refund for the unused portion of your premium, subject to our policy terms and conditions.