Towergate Insurance covers customers in Diamond Jubilee event

by Francesca Breeze 20 Apr 2012 17:38 BST 3 June 2012

Boat insurance provider, Towergate Insurance, has announced it will automatically cover policyholders sailing down the Thames on the 3 June Diamond Jubilee event.

The Queen and her family on the Royal Barge ‘Spirit of Chartwell’ will head a 1000-strong flotilla representing the UK, the Commonwealth and countries from around the world.

It is anticipated the flotilla will stretch for seven and a half miles and feature private and commercially-owned modern and historic boats.

Nigel Mills, Managing Director, Towergate Insurance (marine), comments: “We’ve been contacted by a number of customers questioning whether their insurance is valid for this event and we’re delighted to confirm it is. This is a momentous occasion and we’re keen to support our customers for this ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.”

One such customer is Chris French from luxury passenger boat operator, French Brothers. He and his brother Geoffrey are using their two 100 year-old steam boats, Nuneham and Streatley, to escort the royal party at the head of the flotilla.

Chris explains: “It’s an honour to be asked to escort the royal party and we’re thrilled to be involved. Our boats are the largest of the river steam boats and have been lovingly restored. There’s a great royal heritage and association with the river and the event is going to be amazing – huge and colourful and eclipsing everything else for years to come.”

The French brothers are no strangers to royalty – they hosted a private party on one of their craft for the Queen and Prince Phillip in 2001 – and carried Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, on a separate event.

Nigel concludes: “This will be the biggest flotilla of craft, representing numerous countries, eras and pastimes, ever assembled in one place, and we’re very proud to be looking after the insurance needs of so many participants.”

For insurance information visit www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/boat or call 0800 515629 or 01743 284664.

Groups present in the event are; The Royal Party (the Royal Barge, escort boats, boats representing the Realm and Port of London, Trinity 500s, naval and guest vessels), The Avenue of Sail (tall ships and square riggers, fishing and cargo boats, sailing barges, yachts, tugs and working boats), Manpowered (the newly-commissioned Royal row-barge, shallops, cutters, gigs, skiffs, rowing boats, longboats, a whale boat, dragon boats, gondolas, kayaks and a Viking longship), Historic Vessels (Dunkirk little ships, Forces vessels, lifeboats, launches and cruisers, modern boats, police river boats, speedboats, steamers, tugs and working/other boats) and The Leisure Section (craft used to cruise inland, in tidal and coastal waters in the UK and to Europe, narrowboats and Dutch barges).