Travel Insurance for Sailing Trips
Protect your sailing trip with coverage for Americans, including medical emergencies, trip cancellations and lost bags.
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As featured in:
For information relating to policies purchased prior to October 23 2024, please check the Policy Wording provided with your purchase. You can contact us if you need this sent to you again. For plans purchased after October 23 2024, please see below.
Whether you're planning to sail the crystal waters of the Galapagos Islands or keep pace with bottlenose dolphins along the Fumba Peninsula in Zanzibar, you're guaranteed an ocean adventure. But whenever you're surrounded by water, you should be prepared for the unexpected.
Along with your boat shoes, boating license, and guide to nautical terminology, it's worth considering bringing travel insurance* along. Having it in your (waterproof) pocket could help if you were to fracture your finger hoisting a sail or lose your wallet to the churning white caps in a squall.
From pre-trip medical support and car rental protection to cancel for any reason coverage, and even pet kenneling benefits if your return trip is delayed, we’ve got your back. Our plans cover inclement weather under certain circumstances (say, a snowstorm cancels your flight or a hurricane wipes out your hotel), including trip cancellation, trip interruption, and trip delay coverage due to a variety of reasons, including natural disasters.
Here’s what you need to know about travel insurance for sailing.
What's covered for sailing?
When you're sailing, you can navigate the storied inlets of the French Riviera or British Virgin Islands, using the wind as your guide. But even as a seasoned sailor, you don't want to be caught up the creek without a paddle (or, in this case, a mast and jib). Here are a few benefits covered in World Nomads plans for inland sailing and coastal waters, from Trinidad and Tobago to coastal Maine:
- Baggage protection: Maybe your backpack slipped off the sopping wet stern, or your windbreaker got stolen right off the port. Our gear coverage can help replace your stuff, up to its actual cash value at the time of the loss.
- Baggage delays: You may be covered for baggage delays of at least 12 hours en route to your destination.
- Emergency medical expenses: Even without wet decks and choppy seas, you could find yourself with a medical emergency, be it an ankle sprain or a collarbone fracture. Our emergency medical expense coverage may help cover everything from the services of a physician to ambulance services and x-rays in the case of an accident or injury at sea or on shore. World Nomads plan holders also have access to the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team... a wonderful thing if you need to translate your medical needs to your non-English-speaking doctor.
- Medical Evacuation: Most of the Earth is covered in water... which means you have plenty of places to sail, but then could easily hit a snag in a far-flung destination. With emergency medical evacuation, you can be transported by air ambulance to get treatment at an appropriate medical facility if medically necessary… big sigh of relief! An emergency evacuation must be ordered by a physician who certifies that the severity of your accidental injury or sickness warrants your emergency evacuation.
- Trip cancellation: Say your health takes a turn for the worse and a physician advises you not to travel, or a hurricane at your destination renders your chartered course and your pre-sail accommodation totally unusable. Trip cancellation may help with the recovery of missed, prepaid, non-refundable trip costs when you cancel for a covered reason.... handy when you're ready to re-book the adventure, be it a sail through the Greek isles or New Zealand's subtropical Bay of Islands where gold sand beaches, marlin fishing and turquoise water awaits.
- Trip interruption: Did an emergency cut your trip short? Trip interruption may cover you.
World Nomads water sports coverage
Besides sailing, World Nomads covers over 250 other sports, activities and experiences, including on island and coastal waters, such as: parasailing, hydro foiling, water skiing, kiteboarding, scuba diving, jet skiing and more.
The coverage and the maximum benefit limits of your specific activity depends on which plan you buy. The list of covered sports and activities should help you decide on whether to buy a Standard, Explorer, Epic or Annual plan, as they have different levels of coverage. You can't upgrade your coverage after you purchase a plan, so it's important to get this right on the first go.
Are you traveling long-term? Setting sail repeatedly throughout the year? You can buy always more travel insurance when abroad (waiting periods may apply) even if you don't have a return ticket. World Nomads plans offer coverage for up to 180 days at a time with the Standard, Explorer, and Epic plans. And if you plan to take numerous trips during the year, then the Annual Multi-Trip plan could be best for you, with a maximum trip length of 45 days.
What's not covered for sailing?
Not every day is smooth sailing, but if you check the weather forecast, you can avoid some choppy waters. The same is true for travel insurance: if you know what's excluded beforehand, you'll be better equipped to navigate any unexpected losses. And sorry, we may not be able to cover you for:
- Negligent behavior (i.e., under the influence of drugs or alcohol, even Caribbean sunset cocktails).
- Racing and/or professional sailing.
- Boat rental damage or loss.
- Search-and-rescue missions.
- Any losses related to non-compliance with a license, contract or permit.
- Losses that come from knowingly exposing yourself to needless risk.
- Fraudulent and criminal acts.
- Sports equipment such as scuba or snorkel gear if it’s damaged while in-use.
- Expenses that can be recovered from another source, such as your carrier or primary health insurer.
- If you travel against medical advice.
- Any pre-existing medical condition, unless you purchased your plan within the time-sensitive period and have a waiver.
- Unattended baggage, sporting equipment or personal items.
Get a quote 24/7
With World Nomads, you can buy travel insurance before you go or when you're already traveling, anytime, anywhere, 24-hours a day. Fill out a quick form and get an instant quote.
*All information we provided here is a brief summary. It does not include all terms, conditions, limitations, exclusions, and termination provisions of the plans described. Please carefully read your state specific plan documents for a full description of coverage. Travel insurance is included as part of your travel protection plan which contains both insurance benefits and non-insurance assistance services. Material included on this page does not represent, nor is it specific to, United States Fire Insurance Company or travel insurance benefits provided on United States Fire Insurance Company's travel protection plans.
24/7 emergency assistance
Whether you need medical or dental assistance or advice, emergency evacuation or travel assistance, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.
Wherever you are, we’re here 24/7 to help you in any emergency.
Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?
Contact Generali Global Assistance:
Telephone:
+1 954-334-8143 (Collect outside the US)
+1 877-289-0968 (Toll-free in the US and Canada
Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you
Trip Protection
Protect your hard earned vacation from unexpected cancellation.
- Standard Plan: $2,500
- Explorer Plan: $10,000
- Epic Plan: $15,000
- Annual Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
- Unexpectedly hospitalized?
- Travel buddy unfit to travel?
- Work emergency?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Medical Insurance
Take the pain out of medical or dental costs.
- Standard Plan: $125,500
- Explorer Plan: $150,000
- Epic Plan: $250,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
- Need meds quick?
- Accidentally injured?
- Suddenly sick?
We’ve got your back.
Emergency Evacuation
We'll provide assistance to get you to the hospital or home quickly.
- Standard Plan: $400,000
- Explorer Plan: $500,000
- Epic Plan: $700,000
- Annual Plan: $100,000
Emergency Evacuation
- Banged up abroad?
- Need a hospital urgently?
- Medevac home?
Help starts here.
Protect your gear
Covers the loss, theft or damage of your bags, tech and gear.
- Standard Plan: $1,000
- Explorer Plan: $2,000
- Epic Plan: $3,000
- Annual Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
- Luggage lost?
- Airline lost your gear?
- Tech trashed?
Help starts here.
The amounts listed represent the maximum benefit amount.
Protect your health
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance Help Line
- Emergency Medical & Dental Expenses
- Emergency Evacuations
- Bedside Companion Travel
- Emergency Medications
Protect Your Trip
- Trip Cancellation
- Optional Cancel for Any Reason (Explorer or Epic)
- Trip Delay & Trip Interruption
- Missed Connection (Explorer or Epic)
- Rental Car Damage (Explorer, Epic or Annual)
Protect Your Stuff
- Baggage Delay
- Passport and Visa Loss
- Lost or Stolen Bags
- Personal Tech, Equipment & Gear
- Baggage Return After Evacuation
Non-Insurance Services
- Medical & Non-Medical 24/7 Emergency Assistance Line
- Translators Available
- Runway Health
- FootprintID
- Blue Ribbon Bags
Before your trip, check the latest government advice for any travel alerts for your destination.