Q: Who does this cover?

A: The Applicant (ABC Yacht Club), ABC YC Directors, Officers, Committee Members, Certified Judges, and YRA Representatives are protected persons only for their duties in those capacities.

Q: Should we use Waivers, Releases of Liability, Hold Harmless or Indemnifications forms for the competitors to sign?

A: There is NO requirement in Regatta Liability to do this.  You may find it much easier to save your race management's time and skill and save the competitors time by not involving yourselves with any legal contracts to sign at registration and rely on the Regatta Liability Insurance.

Q: What is the Policy Period?

A: The date the completed application and valid check are received at The David Agency will be your organizations effective date. The policy expires on December 31 at midnight each year, regardless of when your Organization elects to sign up. The premium is fixed.  There is no pro-ration or deducts for signing up late in the year.  Therefore, the policy period for your club, is the validation date through December 31 at midnight.  Application forms are mailed out to organizations each November, so sign up prior to December 31 for the upcoming year and enjoy the coverage for all 12 months.

Q: What is the processing time for this?

A: Assuming all paperwork is in order, 1-2 weeks is normal.  If you do not have the policy from us by then, call (630)592-5314 Central Time Zone, Monday through Friday, ask for Glenn McCarthy and inquire, he will give you the status of your application.  Delays at the insurance agency office are normally caused by missing information on the application, or the premium calculated (and paid) in the incorrect amount.

Q: Are there any known cases where the Organizations have been sued for accidents which occurred on the Race Course?

A: Yes. Thirty-nine cases have been identified where organizations were sued by participants in races alleging negligence.

Q: Does this insurance cover International Races?

A: If your race starts in the United States, its possessions or territories, it is covered under this program. 

Q: Does the Regatta Liability Policy cover local individual races?

A: The Regatta Liability Policy covers any sailboat race sponsored, in whole or in part, by a Named Insured.

Q: Does the Regatta Liability Policy cover Power Boat Races?

A: No.

Q: Does this insure the organization’s Sailing School or Instructional Seminars?

A: No. The instruction of students must be covered elsewhere.

Q: Does this cover the Organization’s owned Race Committee Boat or members' personal boats?

A: No.  It is expected that there is purchase of standard yacht policy(ies) for any boat owned, rented or leased by your organization or your organizations members. 

Q: Does this insure the organization’s Cruising Program?

A: No. There is a major difference: In racing, the competitors have agreed to sail under the condition of a binding contract. What is that contract? It is the Racing Rules of Sailing, the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions. We are defending based on this strong contractual arrangement. Organization Cruises have no such contract as members are not encumbered with the stringent requirements that Racing Rules of Sailing provide.

Q: Who is the Insurance Company that provides the Regatta Liability?

A: Travelers Insurance Company provides the primary policy of $1,000,000 Loss of Life and Bodily Injury including Legal Defense. ACE Insurance Company of North America provides $5,000,000 Loss of Life and Bodily Injury including Legal Defense as excess of the primary Travelers Policy. The Travelers returns with $5,000,000 Loss of Life and Bodily injury excluding Legal Defense excess of $6,000,000, which ends up being a total of $11,000,000 Liability cover.

Q: Do we need all three policies to obtain the insurance protection?

A: It depends on the needs of your organization.  You can buy just the primary layer ($1,000,000), or you can buy the primary layer and the first excess layer ($6,000,000 total), or you can buy all three layers ($11,000,000 total).

Q: How much does it cost?

A:

Q: Who is eligible to become an "Additional Insured" under our Organization’s policy, and what is the charge?

A: When your Organization is requested by an outside party to become an "Additional Insured" on your Organization’s insurance, this is limited to Governmental Entities. There is a $50 charge per "Additional Insured".  How do others get access to Regatta Liability insurance?  They sign up just as you have. If the party is requesting a simple Certificate of Insurance and not requesting to be an additional insured, this simple "Certificate of Insurance" is free.  We need the "Name" of the additional insured or certificate holder, their "address", the "attention to," their "insuring clause" and if expedited service required, their "fax number."  Make the check payable to The David Agency, 385 North York Road, Elmhurst, IL 60126.

Q: Does our yacht club's current General Liability policy cover Sailboat Racing?

A: A declaration must be made on the declaration page identifying waterborne sports activities conducted away from the insured's premises with a special flat premium charge opposite it in the premium column along with an endorsement deleting the watercraft exclusion.  The Regatta Liability premium charge is a group purchase premium charge and has proved to be very competitive with the normal charge for the coverage under a General Liability Policy.

Q: What is the most difficult problem you deal with?

A: Legibility of the applications.  Sometimes we need to call you back with clarification questions to help you out.  When applying, please write clearly and complete all answers.

Q: Do the Racing Sailboats have to be members of our organization in order to be covered?

A: No.  We protect your organization regardless who you invite to your race course, members of your organization or not.

Q: Does my organization share the liability limit with all other organizations?

A: No. There is no Aggregate Limit. The limit is per occurrence, so rest assured that there are adequate funds to protect your organization, up to the limit you select.

Q: If our Regional Sailing Association (RSA) purchases insurance protection, are all Yacht Club's who are members of the RSA covered?

A: The yacht clubs are not covered unless each of them has individually applied for Regatta Liability Insurance.