I've been with N&G for 5 years and was just about to renew when I noticed a new endorsement:
Endorsement No 43
Supervision Required
The
Vessel must be in a secure Marina when unattended for any period in excess of 24 hours
This is a showstopper for me, and I guess for most cruising sailors who often like to leave their boat for a couple of days to go exploring. It doesn't work because:
- in Scandinavia, where I've been cruising for the last couple of years, there are few 'secure' marinas - most places are small harbours, with a harbourmaster who visits morning and evening mainly to collect fees. Same in northern Scotland and the east coast of Ireland.
there is no 'security' - most berths and box-mooring pontoons are open to the public, because there's virtually no crime
my home port is Holy Loch, where I have a professionally serviced mooring three hours from home in Edinburgh. I certainly can't visit the boat every day
N & G tell me that this is a normal endorsement which should have been on the policy for the last 5 years. Has anyone else seen it? They say they have spoken to underwriters and can't move at all.
It's a pity, because I've been happy with N&G. However, I'm now looking for an alternative. Topsail - who give 10% discount to Cruising Association members - seem to tick all the right boxes.