Hi all,

The AWA is taking another look at the insurance cover they offer and we need some feedback as to what members are prepared to pay for a more comprehensive policy.

As you will all be aware the insurance has been upgraded recently to cover organised events (and this has been a great thing for competitors and organisers as they were previously very exposed) but the compromise for an improved system for the comps has been the elimination of the 24/7 cover that was previously offered (albeit at a fairly limited cover).

Our insurance costs are incredibly low in comparison to most other sports but what we don't want to do is go ahead and source a higher level of cover at a higher cost and turn people away from becoming involved in the clubs.

A bit of feedback at this point will help to make the decision on whether a change is seen as beneficial by members or if they are happy the way things are so please make the effort to let us know-

1. If you want more comprehensive cover.
2. How much you would be willing to pay for such cover when incorporated into the club membership.
3. If you are happy with the way things are, i.e. comps and training events covered but no cover for general free sailing.

Regards,
Scot Farley (President Windsurfing Queensland)

Hey Scott,

I'd love to have 24/7 cover back on top of the event protection. I've felt a little exposed when free sailing this summer. It may also give people who are not members of a club now a reason to be members - those who aren't after comps etc.

I wouldn't blink @ $200 ex club fees given it's really about shielding my family from financial ruin.

Cheers,
H

Hey Scot, you've probably realised that people who don't get to sail in comps eg everyone north of say Hervey Bay currently have no reason at all to belong to any club. Even Bayside don't do anything outside Brissy now (assuming GI will continue as a social sail). Hence no point belonging.
I'd keep paying the fees that we're asked under the old 24/7 arrangement or abit higher if the coverage is better for freesailing.

Greetings Scott and apologies for encroaching into Qld territory but the right Insurance Cover is of critical need in our sport.

As the President of Inverloch Windsurfing Club with over 110 members that mainly free sail and travel from all over Victoria(even 1 member from Qld) to enjoy windsurfing on Anderson Inlet we have been reluctant to affliate with the AWA and WVic as the current insurance policy has no benefits for our general membership. A small number of our members are WV members in a sign of support for the state body.

We also believe that the current AWA insurance cover, whilst it does cover public liability insurance for "Events", it does not cover public liability on one windsurfer having an accident with another.

We are actively seeking 24/7 insurance for our club

Ideally a policy that gave event and 24/7 coverage would be brilliant.

I would be asking AWA who makes up their greater numbers. Free sailors or Racers? and providing what the membership wants.

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AUS691 said...

Hey Scott,

I'd love to have 24/7 cover back on top of the event protection. I've felt a little exposed when free sailing this summer. It may also give people who are not members of a club now a reason to be members - those who aren't after comps etc.

I wouldn't blink @ $200 ex club fees given it's really about shielding my family from financial ruin.

Cheers,
H

Yes, I totally agree!

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Old Salty said...

Greetings Scott and apologies for encroaching into Qld territory but the right Insurance Cover is of critical need in our sport.

As the President of Inverloch Windsurfing Club with over 110 members that mainly free sail and travel from all over Victoria(even 1 member from Qld) to enjoy windsurfing on Anderson Inlet we have been reluctant to affliate with the AWA and WVic as the current insurance policy has no benefits for our general membership. A small number of our members are WV members in a sign of support for the state body.

We also believe that the current AWA insurance cover, whilst it does cover public liability insurance for "Events", it does not cover public liability on one windsurfer having an accident with another.

We are actively seeking 24/7 insurance for our club

Ideally a policy that gave event and 24/7 coverage would be brilliant.

I would be asking AWA who makes up their greater numbers. Free sailors or Racers? and providing what the membership wants.

Great feedback Old Salty. The initial reason for this post was because the AWA is exploring options re a more comprehensive 24/7 type package and I just wanted to know what people would pay for the cover. As you know the old policy was a bit lacking in that it had a "no like sport” clause which meant if you ran into a surfer, windsurfer, jet skier etc you were not covered and it also left anyone in the third tier clubs exposed, organisers and participants.

The new policy has good cover for participants in events and their organisers but as you say misses the general sailor out for a free sail. Hopefully the investigations from the AWA and some I am doing myself give us some more options re the 24/7 cover. These will surely come at a cost which we need to quantify so we don't exclude sailors from a cost basis. Do you have any thoughts as to what your members would be willing to pay for the 24/7 cover?
Also I think the AWA is working on a document that clearly describes the cover of the new policy because a lot of people are not aware of what it covers but I am pretty sure it covers like sports and other competitors in a designated event run in accordance with the AWA requirements. The wording is at this link www.windsurfing.org/files/info/Insurance_PolicyWording.pdf

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Scotf said...


Great feedback Old Salty. The initial reason for this post was because the AWA is exploring options re a more comprehensive 24/7 type package and I just wanted to know what people would pay for the cover. As you know the old policy was a bit lacking in that it had a "no like sport” clause which meant if you ran into a surfer, windsurfer, jet skier etc you were not covered and it also left anyone in the third tier clubs exposed, organisers and participants.

The new policy has good cover for participants in events and their organisers but as you say misses the general sailor out for a free sail. Hopefully the investigations from the AWA and some I am doing myself give us some more options re the 24/7 cover. These will surely come at a cost which we need to quantify so we don't exclude sailors from a cost basis. Do you have any thoughts as to what your members would be willing to pay for the 24/7 cover?
Also I think the AWA is working on a document that clearly describes the cover of the new policy because a lot of people are not aware of what it covers but I am pretty sure it covers like sports and other competitors in a designated event run in accordance with the AWA requirements. The wording is at this link www.windsurfing.org/files/info/Insurance_PolicyWording.pdf

Scotty How much is the million dollar question.

I would suggest that the higher the cost of insurance would reduce the number of members interested.
I would say between $50 - 100 pa The club's aim would be to reduce that fee to members even further by fund raising and sporting grant applications

Music to my ears that AWA is working on a document on what the insurance covers. A lot of windsurfers we speak to in Victoria are not aware of what the insurance policy really covers

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sailpilot said...

Hey Scot, you've probably realised that people who don't get to sail in comps eg everyone north of say Hervey Bay currently have no reason at all to belong to any club. Even Bayside don't do anything outside Brissy now (assuming GI will continue as a social sail). Hence no point belonging.
I'd keep paying the fees that we're asked under the old 24/7 arrangement or abit higher if the coverage is better for freesailing.

Second what Phil has said.

Currently I am a member of WWA as I was down there for a couple of events but there is no point to being a member unless we are going to travel and enter an event. Unless there is 24/7 cover I will only join when I go to an event.