Are Your Clients Ready for Spring Regattas? Yacht Club Insurance Considerations

For many yacht clubs, spring regattas mark the official start of the active boating season. Increased participation, visiting vessels, and full event calendars bring energy back to the waterfront. They also create risk. For insurance agents, the spring regatta season makes yacht club insurance a timely and important discussion point as racing schedules take shape.

Regattas are predictable events, but often what goes wrong isn’t as predictable. But that’s why reviewing coverage early is so important. It can help prevent gaps in coverage from surfacing later.

Why Spring Regattas Change the Risk Profile for Yacht Clubs

Spring regattas bring a surge in activity that extends beyond normal marina operations. A regatta can be fraught with risk, more than one might think. Clubs often host visiting boats, guest sailors, race officials, volunteers, and spectators, all of whom increase foot traffic and on-water congestion.

Racing itself introduces risks different from those in recreational boating. Competitive conditions can increase the likelihood of collisions, groundings, or injuries. Temporary docks, race marks, tents, and event infrastructure can also create premises and property exposures that don’t exist during routine operations.

Volunteer involvement is another key factor to consider. Race committees, safety boats, and shore crews often rely on unpaid volunteers whose roles may fall outside standard assumptions about staffing and supervision.

Coverage Areas Agents Should Review Before the First Starting Gun

Several coverage areas deserve close review before regatta season begins. Pay special attention to:

• General liability limits and terms. Evaluate these in light of increased attendance and event activity. Racing events can increase bodily injury and property damage exposure, particularly when multiple vessels operate in close quarters.
• Participant and guest exposure. Visiting sailors and non-members may not be treated the same as members under certain policies. Volunteer involvement also requires attention, especially if exclusions apply to non-employees.
• Liquor liability. Post-race gatherings, awards ceremonies, and social events may involve alcohol service, increasing exposure. In fact, if your visitors are drinking, the odds of something going wrong are even higher. Alcohol is a leading factor in boating accidents.

Specialized yacht club insurance programs are designed to address these gaps.

Common Questions About Yacht Club Insurance

Agents are often asked whether standard yacht club insurance automatically covers competitive racing. Not necessarily. The answer depends on how the program is structured and whether racing activities are contemplated in the policy.

Another frequent question involves visiting boats and non-members. Coverage terms may differ for guest participants, making it important to confirm how liability applies during events.

Volunteer and spectator injuries also raise questions, particularly when individuals are not formal employees. In some cases, endorsements or event-specific coverage may be required to address increased exposure during regattas.

Prepare Yacht Clubs Before the Season Starts

Spring regattas are a fun and exciting highlight of the boating calendar, but they also represent a concentrated period of elevated risk. Nobody wants to be a downer. But having frank conversations with your yacht club clients about their insurance needs could be crucial if an incident occurs and they realize that, thanks to you, they’re fully covered.

Just as timing and resources matter in a boat race, so do your own timing and resources. Working with a marine-focused specialist such as Merrimac Marine Insurance sooner rather than later can give you and your clients access to yacht club insurance programs designed with racing, volunteers, and seasonal events in mind.

About Merrimac Marine Insurance

At Merrimac Marine, we are dedicated to providing insurance for the marine industry to protect your clients’ business and assets. For more information about our products and programs, contact our specialists today at (800) 681-1998.