Azores and insurance

[Hobiehobie]

Hello forum. I am setting off on solo sail from New York to Azores and then on to UK in May. I have read in a number of sources that marinas in the Azores require proof of insurance. While I generally do have full insurance, I will NOT for this transatlantic trip until I get to the UK as there are few insurance policies that will cover single-handed sailing

Does anyone have recent experience in Azores marinas actually asking to see proof of insurance??

[boatman61]

Every time...
Best bet is to get a liability policy that covers you inside 400nm or even 200nm off shore for the USA-EUROPE-UK, that way you will have the required coverage.
That's what I used to get from Pantaenius UK while I still had a UK address to use.

[Matt Johnson]

Yup. They required proof each time we were checking into the Schengen territory. Each port that we visited after was different in their requests, but I think they would have been diligent had we been checking into the territory there too.

[Eagle ITA]

In the EU/Schengen zone you can't book any berth in a marina without a proof of insurance.
And that's not all, in some coutries (like Greece, but maybe others) you must have clearly write on your insurance papers that your insurance covers ecological risks (such as fuel or oil spill, or hull recovery in case of shipwreck, etc)

[Montanan]

Liability insurance, never leave or enter port without it.

It basically becomes a license to own, operate and store a vessel as it affords proper protection to others.

Now the question is how many millions of coverage is required and of course the devil is in the details as to the scope of coverage and endorsements.

Recommend $2+ million minimum.