Note: This forum is not affiliated with World Sailing and comments on this forum do not represent an official interpretation of the rules, definitions, cases or regulations. The only official interpretations are those of World Sailing.
Changes to US Sailing Insurance for Race Officals
Craig Priniski
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
0
For the US crowd only, I just got an email announcing CHUBB Dropped the secondary coverage for RO liability. US Sailing never provided primary liability insurance, unless you worked their events, but they had a "back up" secondary coverage if the damages exceeded the host's insurance. This is apparently no longer the case so double check you are a covered party at any event you cover. Such is the changing landscape of liability... https://mailchi.mp/7deb03fd237d/new-changes-announced-to-us-sailings-commercial-insurance-coverage?e=34913fc22b
Created: 22-Feb-15 21:34
Comments
Clark Chapin
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
National Judge
Club Race Officer
1
I was shocked for several reasons:
The liability coverage from US Sailing has always been a great selling point for convincing people that they should become Certified Race Officers, Judges, Umpires, or other officials;
I hate to see this being done without a more-or-less seamless transition to some other method to provide (at minimal or no cost) equivalent or substantially equivalent protection;
Why didn’t the Race Administration Committee inform us about this impending change; and
If this was effective on 1-Jan, why are we only hearing about this six weeks later?
It could well be that CHUBB/Gowrie only informed US Sailing of this retroactive change within the last day or so. The email is at least a “due diligence” move by the Office to inform the Certified Race Officials and Certified Instructors of this lightning bolt.
US Sailing has had a long run with CHUBB/Gowrie (and with good reason), but perhaps the Board needs to search out alternatives…and quickly.
As I always tell people, “This is no time to panic! There will be plenty of time to panic later!”
Created: 22-Feb-15 23:00
John Christman
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
National Judge
National Umpire
3
I don't know all the details but apparently this is a response to a very large payout that recently happened. I suspect that the delay was US Sailing trying understand what actually was happening before letting us know so that they could actually tell us the facts and not rumors or gossip. This will have an effect on getting judges to hear rule 69 cases as one of the points to having certified judges was the liability insurance coverage.
Created: 22-Feb-15 23:18
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
Judge In Training
0
This is tragic for those volunteers who have signed indemnity / hold harmless agreements with their community sailing programs, while relying on the secondary insurance to cover that liability to the program.
Created: 22-Feb-16 00:11
Clark Chapin
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
National Judge
Club Race Officer
5
NO! NEVER, EVER sign an indemnify/hold harmless agreement!
Created: 22-Feb-16 00:26
Craig Priniski
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
1
Yeah I read that about the big settlement, there was a $1 million cap on the policy, but I guess that limit is only as good as the lawyers arguing. My thought is yeah it effects folks on the lower end events more, technically if you didn't have primary coverage you didn't have US Sailing coverage so if you indemnified the organization you were working for, you might not have been covered anyway... but volunteers may not have great coverage depending on the policy.
Created: 22-Feb-16 00:34
Charley Rathkopf
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
National Race Officer
0
Do you have a link to info about the "big settlement"? I'd be curious to read about it.
Created: 22-Feb-16 00:46
Mike Dawson
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
National Judge
0
To reach the cap or above would require a death I would think. Just thinking out loud. I have already reached out to venues I'm judging at this summer if the judges would be covered under their liability insurance. Clark was right, this protection was always a positive selling point to get new people into the game.
Created: 22-Feb-16 02:40
John Christman
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
National Judge
National Umpire
0
Rumor has it that it involved the death of a child and the award was nearly $20M.
Created: 22-Feb-16 02:47
Mike Dawson
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
National Judge
0
Sarasota?
Created: 22-Feb-16 12:35
Craig Priniski
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
0
As a coach and RO this hits me double, I've never inquired about my own policy as a part timer it never seemed worth it since I am always working for another organization, but maybe I should see...
Created: 22-Feb-16 12:44
Philip Hubbell
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
Judge In Training
0
This further cements what I regard as US Sailing's age discrimination: dissuading mature, experienced sailors from educational roles. Hire/engage only young folks with no extended experience (other than dinghy racing) and eschew elders who have much to offer, but with nest eggs to protect.
Created: 22-Feb-16 23:56
Craig Priniski
Nationality: United States
Certifications:
Club Race Officer
0
I’m not going to lay this on US Sailing as long as they look for a solution. They got caught in a tough spot.
Created: 22-Feb-17 00:01
[You must be signed in to add a comment]
Last Updated
Rules
Racing Rules of Sailing for 2013-2016; Version 6
December 2015
Racing Rules of Sailing for 2017-2020
August 2017
Racing Rules of Sailing for 2021-2024
December 2020
Prescriptions
Australia
July 2017
Canada
November 2019
Great Britain - RYA has declined to grant a license for prescriptions and cases.
November 2019
New Zealand
July 2017
United States
February 2017
Cases
World Sailing Cases
February 2022
World Sailing Q&As
March 2022
Match Race Calls
January 2020
Match Race Rapid Response Calls
October 2018
Team Race Calls
December 2018
Team Race Rapid Response Calls
February 2016
CAN Cases
October 2017
RYA Cases
November 2019
US Appeals
November 2019
Manuals
World Sailing Judges Manual
December 2019
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more
I have already reached out to venues I'm judging at this summer if the judges would be covered under their liability insurance.
Clark was right, this protection was always a positive selling point to get new people into the game.
Hire/engage only young folks with no extended experience (other than dinghy racing) and eschew elders who have much to offer, but with nest eggs to protect.