OK I have just had my annual travel insurance renewal in from Direct Line and it was £147. This is for 2 adults and 2 children and included yachting cover (up to 12 miles offshore). Without the yachting cover it was £104

I did a bit of shopping around and other companies are quoting a lot less. The first company I phoned to check and they include yachting cover. Bear in mind I am only taliking about going on a once a year 2 week flotilla holiday and I am not insuring the yacht itself.

The overall quote came in at a lot less.

So just wondered what companies you use and how much you pay? 

I use click4quote.com

They do a policy for yachties, are about £150 for a family, worldwide.

Yachting cover on most policies have some nasty cluases, but this policy is designed for yachtsmen, so there are no restrictions on distance offshore etc.

It can also cover you for dinghy open meetings (so will give you medical insurance if yu travel to an event). This covers worldwide events too, so if you do European or World Champs, you'll be covered.

Oh yes, and it also covers you for skiing and most other stuff (like horse riding).

Ahem, sorry... "Contender443" and "competitive" seen together made me giggle, that's all

I use snowcard http://www.snowcard.co.uk/pages/index.asp - http://www.snowcard.co.uk/pages/index.asp

they allow you to set up your cover to the limits you want; including offshore racing and skiing op with and without a guide.

Do you really need any?

I insure no risk that I can't reasonably cover myself out of savings or where funds might be inaccessible (e.g. hospitalisation when ill and overseas, so medical insurance, yes).

Why pay for the irresponsible, the fraudsters and for insurance companies admin and profits?

Work out how often you claim, and how much you pay over the years and unless you're naturally feckless or just habitually very unlucky, insurance leaves you out of profit.

Wiping out a horde of Saturday shoppers when a wheel comes off my road trailer (please no!) I can't cover, so third party on the car absolutely!

You going to cover the mega costs of Medi-vac?  Ski choppers are 100 quid a minute min 20 mins evac to base station; evac to hospital via private ambulance; Special flight home?  Good way to kill savings!

Try re-reading the clause in brackets at the end of my second paragraph that you quoted.

I did; Check any medical you take out; most WILL NOT cover evac from point of sports accident or special plane home as a result of sports accident.

I have heard horror stories of badly hurt skiers dragging them selves back on-piste or getting help and doing damage as a result.

Exactly. That would be a "risk that I can't reasonably cover myself ".

But it shows that whatever insurance you take out, you need to be very sure it will cover your particular situation. So often people claim only to find the insurance company wriggles out of it.

My favourite story was a colleague who was very insurance-minded. He wanted house insurance; the agent offered him three policies; much to the agent's surprise and delight he took all three. A year later he damaged the sink during a bit of DIY; much frustrating hassle later, no payout from any of the policies... At least if you "insure yourself" you avoid the hassle of claiming and all that entails.

Just to balance the picture, I made a claim on my boat policy with Noble last year and it was all settled without any hassle whatsoever.

They do a policy for yachties, are about £150 for a family, worldwide.

Yachting cover on most policies have some nasty cluases, but this policy is designed for yachtsmen, so there are no restrictions on distance offshore etc.