Changes to US Sailing’s commercial Insurance coverage

US Sailing wants to make all aware that as of January 1, 2022, Chubb Insurance Company has clarified some of the terms of coverage under US Sailing’s commercial insurance as it pertains to Certified Race Officials and Certified Instructors. This change has resulted in a change to secondary liability insurance coverage for Certified Race Officials and Certified Instructors under the US Sailing policy.

Starting this year, US Sailing’s commercial insurance will provide liability coverage for Certified Instructors and Certified Race Officials only when volunteering or working at US Sailing Championships, US Sailing Events and US Sailing Courses.

US Sailing’s insurance will apply to Certified Instructors when they are volunteers for US Sailing or are paid by US Sailing to coach, teach, or help run a US Sailing Championship, a US Sailing Event, or a US Sailing Course.

It will no longer apply to Certified Instructors employed by (or volunteering at) a sailing school or organization, community program, or sailing club, outside of a US Sailing US Sailing Championship, a US Sailing Event, or a US Sailing run Course.

Coverage under US Sailing’s commercial policy does not apply to Certified Instructors who are a sole proprietor or owner of a Corporation/LLC to teach sailing, coach sailing, coach a race team(s), or offers private lessons.

US Sailing’s insurance will apply to Certified Race Officials when they are volunteers for US Sailing or are paid by US Sailing for actions related to being a Certified Race Official at a US Sailing Championship, a US Sailing Event, or a US Sailing Course. It will no longer apply to Certified Race Officials employed by (or volunteering at) a sailing school or organization, community program, or sailing club, outside of a US Sailing US Sailing Championship, a US Sailing Event, or a US Sailing run Course.

Coverage under US Sailing’s commercial policy does not apply to Certified Race Officials who are the sole proprietor or owner of a Corporation/LLC for actions related to being a Certified Race Official, outside of a US Sailing US Sailing Championship, a US Sailing Event, or a US Sailing run Course.

As has always been the case, where Certified Instructors and/or Certified Race Officials are employed by or volunteer at a sailing school, club or organization, the sailing school, club, or organization should provide primary insurance. In cases where a Certified Instructor or Certified Race Official establishes their own coaching/sailing establishment, insurance should be purchased by the individual.

In light of this change, US Sailing wants to make sure that individuals and clubs/organizations are prepared and protected. They recommend that all review their own insurance policy and coverage ahead of the sailing season. People may wish to consult their own insurer or broker to ensure the coverage is in place, including liability cover for volunteers and staff, is adequate for all situations.

It is likely that volunteers and staff may seek clarification on the coverage that schools, clubs or organizations have in place, as US Sailing has recommended to those they have certified to do so and want everyone to be prepared for the inevitable questions.

This change was not initiated by US Sailing, but rather due to the underwriter’s desire to clarify the extent of liability coverage provided under the US Sailing commercial policy because of a recent, significant claim; the only claim that has been made under the secondary liability coverage. Additionally, this is a result of an increasingly challenging insurance environment.

Since US Sailing was informed of the change that the underwriter was making, they have been working to both obtain the necessary details to appropriately communicate the effects of the change as well as finding alternative solutions.

US Sailing has made progress in both of those areas and while the right solution has not yet been created, they are continuing to talk with a variety of insurers and others in the insurance market in that regard and have been able to obtain sufficient clarity in the necessary details so as to be able to effectively communicate now.

US Sailing will of course continue to work with the appropriate people in the insurance market to provide the best and most appropriate options for stakeholders and provide updates when those are available.

To answer any questions, US Sailing has compiled Frequently Asked Questions documents:
Instructor Insurance
Insurance for Race Officials

Any further questions, please email insurance@ussailing.org.

To see details of the coverage for Certified Instructors, read more here.

To see details of the coverage for Certified Race Officials, read more here.

Source: US Sailing