Clear information, comprehensive cover and an easy purchasing process.
Offshore Sailing Insurance
Sail confidently! Our offshore sailing insurance covers medical emergencies, equipment loss, trip interruptions, and more.
Customer reviews
Shared on Trustpilot
The insurance and payment process was smooth, straightforward and efficient.
The team quickly corrected my Antarctica cover and handled the replacement policy and refund.
I received all the information I needed to select the right policy, and the response was quick.
The team answered my questions and helped me make sure I had suitable cover for my trip.
Booking was simple, selecting the right package was easy, and everything felt efficient.
My questions were answered clearly and efficiently, and the purchase process was easy.
The high-altitude rescue cover was straightforward and included more protection than I expected.
Booking was simple, and the team quickly corrected my travel dates with clear communication.
When regional issues forced us to move our trip, the team changed our policy dates with plenty of support.
Clear terms, competitive pricing and suitable cover for a trekking trip in Nepal.
Finding suitable insurance for our high-altitude hikes in Peru was clear and easy.
Offshore sailing
Included with Adventure Plus
Helicopter
Approved evacuation
24/7
Emergency assistance
Is this cover right for your offshore sailing trip?
Yes, Rise & Shield can cover sailing and yachting outside coastal waters with Adventure Plus, provided you remain within 60 miles of a safe haven and meet the applicable sailing conditions.
You must sail on an offshore-rated vessel and lodge a formal offshore passage plan with a recognised maritime authority.
You must also either hold the appropriate certification or licence yourself or be with a professional, qualified and licensed operator.
Solo voyages, uncharted waters and unlicensed voyages are excluded.
Offshore sailing
Offshore yachting
Offshore passages
Coastal sailing
Coastal yachting
Dinghy sailing
This is not a complete list and these examples are not separate policy classifications. Sailing and yachting within inland or coastal waters, and dinghy sailing, are included at the standard activity level where the applicable conditions are met and must remain within 12 nautical miles of the coast. Sailing or yachting outside coastal waters requires Adventure Plus and must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven. Offshore sailing also requires appropriate safety gear, an offshore-rated vessel and a formal offshore passage plan lodged with a recognised maritime authority. You must either hold the appropriate certification or licence yourself or be with a professional, qualified and licensed operator. Solo, uncharted and unlicensed offshore voyages are excluded. Terms, limits, conditions, exclusions and excesses apply.
What can our offshore sailing insurance cover?
Depending on your chosen plan, Rise & Shield can provide cover for some of the most important risks surrounding sailing outside coastal waters.
Why choose Rise & Shield for offshore sailing insurance?
Offshore sailing can take you beyond the risks of an ordinary holiday, from changing weather and sea conditions to remote passages and emergency medical evacuation.
Rise & Shield specialises in insurance for adventurous travel, with 24/7 emergency assistance, trusted relationships across the adventure travel industry, and the reassurance of an FCA-regulated insurance provider whose programme is reinsured at Lloyd’s of London.
Rise & Shield is trusted by reputable tour operators and adventure companies
Is offshore sailing covered?
Yes. Eligible sailing or yachting outside coastal waters can be covered with Adventure Plus, subject to the applicable offshore sailing conditions.
Sailing or yachting within inland or coastal waters is included at the standard activity level where the relevant conditions are met and you remain within 12 nautical miles of the coast.
How far from a safe haven can I sail?
Covered offshore sailing must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven.
The policy defines a safe haven as a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas.
Do I need a professional skipper or sailing qualification?
You must either be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator, or hold the appropriate certification or licence to participate in the activity yourself.
In other words, the policy does not require every eligible offshore voyage to have a hired professional skipper if you meet the applicable qualification requirement yourself.
What vessel and passage-plan requirements apply?
The vessel must be rated for offshore sailing and appropriate safety gear must be used.
A formal offshore passage plan must also be lodged with a recognised maritime authority.
Are solo or uncharted offshore voyages covered?
No. The current offshore sailing entry specifically excludes solo voyages, uncharted waters and unlicensed voyages.
Your voyage must also remain within the applicable 60-mile safe-haven limit and satisfy the other offshore sailing conditions.
Is the yacht or its equipment automatically covered?
No. The Personal Luggage section specifically excludes boats and their ancillary equipment.
It also excludes breakage or damage to sports equipment while in use and items that are loaned, hired or entrusted to you. This is travel insurance for the traveller, not yacht or marine-hull insurance.
What if I need medical evacuation while sailing?
Eligible emergency medical treatment and evacuation may be covered following a sudden and unforeseen illness or injury, subject to your selected plan, policy terms and sailing conditions.
Medical evacuation and repatriation must be handled through the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre. Any helicopter evacuation must be medically necessary and pre-approved, and a separate helicopter-rescue excess applies.
How do I buy offshore sailing insurance online?
Getting covered with Rise & Shield is easy. Follow these simple steps to secure your trip:
01
Get a Quote: Start by entering your trip details to receive a personalised quote.
02
Customise Your Plan: Tailor the coverage options to meet your specific needs.
03
Receive Instant Confirmation: Purchase and instantly receive your policy details via email.
Offshore sailing insurance FAQs
What is offshore sailing travel insurance?
Offshore sailing travel insurance is travel insurance that specifically includes eligible sailing or yachting outside coastal waters, alongside benefits such as emergency medical expenses, medical evacuation and repatriation, cancellation, travel disruption and emergency assistance.
With Rise & Shield, eligible offshore sailing requires the Adventure Plus add-on and the applicable sailing conditions.
Does travel insurance cover offshore sailing?
It can. Rise & Shield specifically lists sailing and yachting outside coastal waters under Adventure Plus.
The voyage must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven, use an offshore-rated vessel, have a formal offshore passage plan lodged with a recognised maritime authority, and meet the applicable qualification, operator and safety requirements.
Do I need Adventure Plus for offshore sailing?
Yes. Sailing or yachting outside coastal waters is classified as an Adventure Plus activity under the current Rise & Shield policy wording.
Make sure Adventure Plus is included on your policy before starting the offshore part of your trip.
Is coastal sailing covered without Adventure Plus?
Eligible sailing or yachting within inland or coastal waters is included at the standard Adventure activity level.
You must remain inside 12 nautical miles of a coast and meet the applicable qualification or operator and safety conditions.
What is the difference between coastal and offshore sailing cover?
For Rise & Shield, sailing or yachting within inland or coastal waters can use the standard Adventure activity level and must remain inside 12 nautical miles of a coast.
Sailing or yachting outside coastal waters requires Adventure Plus and adds further conditions, including the 60-mile safe-haven limit, an offshore-rated vessel and a formal offshore passage plan.
How far offshore can I sail with Rise & Shield?
Covered offshore sailing must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven throughout the voyage.
This is different from the coastal-sailing rule, which requires you to remain inside 12 nautical miles of a coast.
Is the 60-mile offshore sailing limit measured from the coast?
No. The offshore limit is expressed as distance from a safe haven, not simply distance from the nearest coastline.
A safe haven is defined as a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas.
What does Rise & Shield mean by a safe haven?
The policy defines a safe haven as a protected body of water used by marine craft for refuge from storms or heavy seas.
Your offshore route must remain within 60 miles of a qualifying safe haven.
Is the offshore sailing limit 60 miles or 60 nautical miles?
The current Rise & Shield policy wording states 60 miles from a safe haven.
The separate coastal-sailing limit is expressed as 12 nautical miles from a coast, so do not treat the two units as interchangeable.
Can I sail more than 60 miles from a safe haven?
No. The current offshore sailing activity requires you to remain within 60 miles of a safe haven.
If any part of your planned passage exceeds that limit, you should arrange specialist cover designed for longer or more remote ocean passages.
Does Rise & Shield cover blue-water sailing?
Potentially, but only where the voyage still satisfies the offshore sailing conditions, including the 60-mile safe-haven limit.
Many routes described as blue-water sailing travel much farther from a safe haven, so the name of the voyage is not enough to determine whether it is covered. Check the complete route before relying on cover.
Can Rise & Shield cover a transatlantic or Atlantic crossing?
A transatlantic passage should not be assumed to be covered.
The policy requires every covered offshore sailing route to remain within 60 miles of a safe haven. If the planned crossing goes beyond that limit at any point, it falls outside the current offshore sailing conditions and you would need more specialist cover.
Can I use offshore sailing cover in the Mediterranean or Caribbean?
Potentially, yes. Cover depends on the exact itinerary rather than the sea or region alone.
Your destinations must be eligible under the policy, and the sailing route must satisfy the relevant coastal or offshore distance limits, vessel, passage-plan, qualification and safety conditions.
Does offshore sailing cover apply in international waters?
Potentially. The activity wording does not use territorial-water boundaries as the main test.
Instead, it distinguishes sailing within inland or coastal waters from sailing outside coastal waters and applies the 60-mile safe-haven limit and other Adventure Plus conditions to offshore sailing.
Do I need a professional skipper for offshore sailing?
Not necessarily. The offshore sailing entry allows you either to be with a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator, or to hold the appropriate certification or licence to participate in the activity yourself.
The other offshore sailing conditions still apply in either case.
Can I skipper the yacht myself?
Potentially, yes. You may skipper an eligible offshore voyage yourself if you hold the appropriate certification or licence required by the policy and the voyage meets all other offshore sailing conditions.
Solo voyages are excluded, so self-skippering does not mean sailing alone.
What sailing qualification do I need for offshore sailing insurance?
The current policy requires the appropriate certification or licence to participate in the activity at home but does not name one universal sailing qualification.
Because licensing and certification can vary by sailor, vessel and jurisdiction, check your specific qualification with Rise & Shield if there is any doubt before relying on cover.
Can inexperienced crew be covered on an offshore sailing trip?
Potentially, yes, where the insured traveller is with a professional, qualified and licensed guide, instructor or operator and the voyage meets the other policy conditions.
The policy does not require every traveller on an eligible voyage to hold their own sailing qualification if the professional-operator condition is satisfied.
Is solo offshore sailing covered?
No. Solo offshore voyages are specifically excluded from the current sailing and yachting activity entry.
Having the appropriate sailing qualification does not override the solo-voyage exclusion.
Are uncharted-water sailing voyages covered?
No. Sailing or yachting outside coastal waters specifically excludes voyages in uncharted waters.
Your route must also meet the safe-haven, vessel, passage-plan, qualification and safety requirements.
Are unlicensed offshore voyages covered?
No. Unlicensed voyages are specifically excluded.
You must either meet the appropriate certification or licence condition yourself or sail with the required professional, qualified and licensed operator, as applicable.
Do I need an offshore passage plan for travel insurance?
Yes. For covered sailing or yachting outside coastal waters, the vessel must have a formal offshore passage plan lodged with a recognised maritime authority.
This is a specific condition of the offshore sailing activity, not merely a recommended planning step.
What counts as a recognised maritime authority for the passage plan?
The current policy wording requires the formal offshore passage plan to be lodged with a recognised maritime authority but does not provide a list or detailed definition of which authorities qualify.
If you are unsure whether the authority used for your voyage meets the requirement, confirm it with Rise & Shield before departure.
Does the yacht need to be rated for offshore sailing?
Yes. The current offshore sailing conditions require the vessel to be rated for offshore sailing.
The policy wording does not set out a single vessel-rating or coding standard, so check the specific yacht with Rise & Shield if its offshore status is unclear.
What does an offshore-rated vessel mean for insurance purposes?
The policy states that the vessel must be rated for offshore sailing but does not further define the exact construction, certification or coding standard required.
Because vessel standards vary between jurisdictions and types of yacht, confirm any borderline or unusual vessel before relying on cover.
Can I get travel insurance for a charter yacht holiday?
Potentially, yes. A sailing holiday on a chartered yacht may be eligible where the sailing activity and complete itinerary meet the policy conditions.
However, Rise & Shield is travel insurance for the traveller. It does not insure the charter yacht itself, its hull, a security deposit or general damage to the vessel.
Can I get travel insurance for a bareboat charter?
Potentially. On a bareboat charter there may be no professional skipper, so the relevant insured sailor would need to satisfy the appropriate certification or licence requirement.
For offshore sailing, the yacht must also be offshore-rated, the passage plan requirement must be met, the route must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven, and solo voyages remain excluded.
Does offshore sailing insurance cover yacht racing or regattas?
No. Activities under the policy are covered on an amateur, non-competitive basis unless a specific activity entry states otherwise.
The sailing and yachting entries do not remove the competition exclusion, so yacht races, regattas and other competitions should not be assumed to be covered.
Can professional or paid yacht crew use this offshore sailing cover?
Not for professional or semi-professional participation.
The Activities section excludes participation on a professional or semi-professional basis, so paid or professional yacht crewing requires specialist cover rather than ordinary Rise & Shield offshore sailing cover.
Is a yacht delivery covered?
A professional or paid yacht delivery is outside the policy's amateur-only activity cover.
A non-professional delivery is not separately classified in the activity table, so do not assume it is covered simply because it involves sailing. Check the exact arrangement, route and crew status with Rise & Shield before relying on cover.
Is dinghy sailing covered?
Yes. Eligible dinghy sailing within inland or coastal waters is listed at the standard Adventure activity level.
Appropriate safety gear must be used and the activity must remain inside 12 nautical miles of a coast.
Are sailing and yachting treated differently?
No separate cover level is listed for the two terms. The activity table groups sailing / yachting together.
Both use the standard Adventure level within inland or coastal waters and Adventure Plus outside coastal waters, subject to the relevant conditions.
Does Rise & Shield cover offshore speed boating?
No offshore speed-boating activity is listed in the current policy table.
Speed boating is listed only for passengers within inland or coastal waters, while Rise & Shield's current activity guidance also excludes speed boating outside coastal waters.
Does offshore sailing insurance cover emergency medical treatment?
Eligible medical expenses following a sudden and unforeseen illness or injury abroad may be covered, subject to your selected plan, policy terms, exclusions and excesses.
Your sailing activity must also satisfy the applicable Adventure or Adventure Plus conditions.
What happens if I am injured or become ill while sailing offshore?
Seek appropriate emergency help and contact the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre as soon as possible for a serious medical emergency.
The assistance service must be contacted for inpatient treatment, MRI or CT scans, medical evacuation or repatriation, subject to the timing requirements in the policy.
Is medical evacuation and repatriation covered while offshore sailing?
Eligible medical evacuation and repatriation may be covered when a sudden and unforeseen illness or injury makes it medically necessary.
The 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre must be involved, and the medical assistance team decides whether evacuation or repatriation is necessary and the appropriate method.
Is helicopter evacuation covered from an offshore sailing trip?
An eligible helicopter evacuation may be covered when it is medically necessary and pre-approved by the 24/7 Emergency Assistance Centre.
The assistance team decides the evacuation method and provider. A helicopter is therefore not automatically dispatched simply because an incident happens offshore.
Does offshore sailing insurance cover Coastguard or search-and-rescue call-outs?
Do not assume that it does. The policy provides for eligible medical evacuation and repatriation, including medically necessary pre-approved helicopter evacuation, but it does not state a general benefit for every Coastguard or maritime search-and-rescue call-out.
It is also not marine hull, towing or salvage insurance for the yacht.
Is there an excess for medical helicopter rescue?
Yes. The current policy applies a separate helicopter-rescue excess of £1,000 / $1,250 / €1,200 when a helicopter is required for medical reasons.
Will Rise & Shield pay a hospital directly after a sailing accident?
In most cases involving hospitalisation, direct payments can be made locally.
Minor illnesses or accidents may need to be paid by you first and reclaimed afterwards, subject to the policy terms and claims procedure.
Is the yacht itself covered by offshore sailing travel insurance?
No. The Personal Luggage section specifically excludes boats and their ancillary equipment.
Rise & Shield's offshore sailing cover protects the insured traveller for eligible travel-insurance risks; it is not yacht hull, machinery, towing, salvage or charter-deposit insurance.
Are sails, charts, navigation equipment or other yacht gear covered?
Do not assume so. Boats and their ancillary equipment are excluded from the Personal Luggage section, and damage to sports equipment while it is being used is also excluded.
Equipment that belongs to or forms part of the yacht should therefore be protected through appropriate marine or charter insurance rather than relying on the travel policy.
Are my phone, camera or personal electronics covered while sailing?
Personal electronics are not automatically covered under the standard Personal Luggage section.
Rise & Shield offers an optional High-Value Items add-on for specified eligible items such as cameras, laptops and mobile phones, subject to its item limits, age, security, evidence and other conditions. Yacht or boat equipment remains separately excluded.
Is hired or rented sailing equipment covered?
Do not rely on the Personal Luggage section for it. Items that are loaned, hired or entrusted to you are excluded.
The sailing activity itself may still be eligible, but that does not mean rented equipment or the charter yacht is insured against loss or damage.
Is sailing equipment covered if I damage it while using it?
No general sports-equipment protection applies while the equipment is in use.
The Personal Luggage wording excludes breakage of or damage to sports equipment while in use, and boats and their ancillary equipment are separately excluded.
Does offshore sailing insurance include cancellation and curtailment cover?
Eligible unrecoverable travel and accommodation costs may be covered when an insured event makes cancellation or curtailment necessary and unavoidable, subject to your selected plan and the policy terms.
The reason for cancelling matters: offshore sailing being included as an activity does not make every cancelled voyage an insured cancellation claim.
Can I cancel my sailing trip because of bad weather or unsafe sea conditions?
Not simply because the weather or sea conditions are poor.
The Cancellation and Curtailment section excludes loss arising directly or indirectly from adverse weather conditions, so a poor weather window or unsuitable sailing conditions should not be treated as an automatic cancellation benefit.
What if the sailing operator or charter company cancels the trip?
There is no general cancellation benefit simply because a provider fails to supply part of the booked trip.
The Cancellation section excludes failure by a provider to supply the service and costs recoverable from another source, so you should first pursue any refund or remedy available from the operator, charter company or other provider.
Is the cost of a cancelled one-day sailing excursion covered?
The Cancellation and Curtailment wording excludes the costs of one-day tours, excursions, rental vehicles or activities booked separately from the main trip arrangements.
A separately booked day sail should therefore not be assumed to be protected by the cancellation benefit.
Can a multi-day sailing holiday qualify for cancellation cover?
Potentially. The one-day activity exclusion does not apply in the same way to qualifying multi-day tours or activities that form a material part of the trip and were booked before departure.
A claim would still need to result from an insured cancellation or curtailment event and meet all other policy conditions.
Does offshore sailing insurance cover travel delay or missed departure?
Depending on your selected plan and the circumstances, benefits may apply for qualifying outward delay, missed departure or missed connection.
These benefits have specific triggers, waiting periods, evidence requirements and limits, and they do not cover every delay affecting a sailing itinerary.
Does Personal Accident or Public Liability cover apply while I am offshore sailing?
No. The policy states that Personal Accident and Public Liability cover do not apply while participating in activities covered under Adventure, Adventure Plus or Adventure Extreme.
Other eligible sections, such as emergency medical expenses and medical evacuation, may still apply subject to their terms.
Does offshore sailing travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Claims arising from conditions that meet the policy definition of a pre-existing medical condition are excluded.
Being fit or qualified to sail does not override the policy's medical exclusions.
Can I buy offshore sailing insurance after my trip has already started?
Potentially, yes. Eligible travellers who have already left home may be able to add the optional Already Departed cover, provided nothing happened before purchase that could lead to a claim.
An additional premium and a 48-hour waiting period apply, and Already Departed cover is not available with Annual Multi-Trip policies.
Can I buy Annual Multi-Trip insurance for several sailing holidays?
Yes, provided each trip and each sailing activity meets the applicable policy conditions and Adventure Plus is included where offshore sailing is planned.
Under the current wording, each Annual Multi-Trip journey can last up to 30 days with Travel Essentials and up to 45 days with Travel Classic or Travel Elite.
Can a Single Trip policy cover a multi-day offshore sailing holiday?
Potentially, yes, provided the voyage satisfies the offshore sailing conditions and remains within the policy duration.
Under the current wording, a Single Trip cannot exceed 30 days.
Can one policy cover sailing and other adventure activities on the same holiday?
Potentially, yes. A policy can include different eligible activities during the same trip.
Check every planned activity separately because sailing, dinghy sailing, speed boating, scuba diving, kayaking and other watersports can have different cover levels, limits and special conditions.
Is Rise & Shield suitable for a round-the-world sailing trip or long-term liveaboard voyage?
Usually not for a typical long-distance voyage. The offshore sailing activity must remain within 60 miles of a safe haven, and the policy also has maximum trip-duration limits.
A long-term liveaboard, ocean-crossing or round-the-world itinerary is therefore likely to require specialist marine or long-duration travel insurance unless the complete trip clearly fits all Rise & Shield limits.
What should I look for in the best offshore sailing travel insurance?
Look beyond a policy simply saying that “sailing” is covered. Check the offshore distance limit, safe-haven definition, skipper or qualification requirements, vessel requirements, passage-plan conditions, solo and racing exclusions, emergency medical and evacuation cover, equipment exclusions and maximum trip duration.
Those details determine whether the policy actually fits your passage rather than merely covering casual coastal sailing.
When should I buy offshore sailing travel insurance?
It is generally sensible to arrange your policy once the trip is booked so that any eligible pre-departure cancellation protection can begin.
Before purchase, check the complete route, distance from safe havens, vessel, crew or skipper arrangements and required activity add-on rather than waiting until the day you sail.
How do I check whether my exact offshore sailing itinerary is covered?
Check the complete voyage against the current policy wording and Activity Checker, including whether any leg leaves coastal waters, the maximum distance from a safe haven, the vessel's offshore status, the formal passage plan, your qualification or professional-operator arrangement, and any other planned activities.
If any of those points is uncertain, confirm the itinerary with Rise & Shield before relying on cover.
Other useful resources about offshore sailing
MCA MGN 615: Non-coastal safety guidelines
You might also need this travel insurance
Popular activities
Popular destinations
©2026 Rise & Shield. All rights reserved.
Rise and Shield is a trading style of Optimum Global Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Optimum Global Limited’s Firm Reference Number is 453654, you can check these details at https://register.fca.org.uk or by calling the Financial Conduct Authority on 0800 111 6768. . Registered address: Optimum Global Limited, 4th Floor, 21 Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3TP, UK. Optimum Global Limited is registered in England and Wales. Company Registration number 05347793.