After a very closed call speedsurfing in Budgewoi I realized how important it is to be insured. I would hate to smash against the son of a barrister . Also I think it is a matter of respect towards our fellow windsurfers and an obligation towards our families that depend on us. $50 will cover you 24x7 against injury or property damage to others ! it is crazy not to get that coverage. I think we should strongly encourage anyone that speedsurfs to get that minimum.
I paste below the info I got from James:
The insurance that you get from joining a club like Marmong covers you if you hurt *someone else* or damage *their* gear. Depending on who is at fault, this covers the other person. Fault is determined based on sailing rules (eg port/starboard or upwind/downwind). It would also be used if you crashed into a swimmer at kyeemagh and hurt them or accidentally rammed a JetSki :)
The club insurance covers you 24x7
The other kind of insurance you might already have is temporary or permanent disability. This sometimes comes through superannuation or is bought with Life insurance. So if *you* get injured and can't work they will cover your lost income.
Some types of home insurance cover damage to *your* gear. But need to read the fine print as they sometimes exclude damage while using it. Eg they cover damage on shore but not on the water.
Thanks James !
An important topic. 
It would be very useful to see listed here a summery of what the various state windsurfing organisations offer their membership and that offered by clubs as well, if it differs.
www.windsurfingwa.org.au/public/pages/insurance
A very important part of your WWA membership is the Public Liability Insurance that it provides. Here are the details on the policy held by AWA (Australian Windsurfing Association) covering all members of state windsurfing associations such as WWA. For full policy details head to the AWA Insurance page.Period of CoverThe policy is renewed each year to cover the period from 1 July to 30 June.Limit of IndemnityThe policy is for Public Liability and covers up to $20,000,000 for any single occurrence. In addition to regular windsurfing activities, the policy also has the same limit of indemnity for events organised by WWA.DeductibleThere is a $1,500 excess or deductible for each and every claim.Territorial LimitsThe policy covers members whilst windsurfing overseas (excluding USA & Canada) when windsurfing. As is normal for these policies, Australian Jurisdiction applies meaning that should an incident occur and someone wants to take action against a member of AWA, the case would be heard by an Australian court.
www.windsurfing.org/insurance.htm
2016/17
- Bayside Sailboard Club Inc (Qld)
- Brisbane Windsurfing Club Inc (Qld)
- Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club Inc (Qld)
- Queensland Freewave Association Inc (Qld)
- Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Ltd (Qld)
- Windwanderers Inc (Qld)
- Dobroyd Aquatic Club Inc (NSW)
- The Windsurfing Division of the IYC Sailing Sub Club of Oak Flats
Bowling and Recreation Club Ltd (NSW)
- Marmong Point Sailing Club Inc (NSW)
- Merimbula Sailboard Club (NSW)
- NSW Wavesailing Association Inc (NSW)
- St George Sailing Club Ltd (NSW)
- Stormriders Windsurfing Club Inc (NSW)
- Windsurfer Class Assoc. of Australia (NSW)
- Woollahra Sailing Club Ltd (NSW)
- Geraldton Windsurfing Club Inc (WA)
- Safety Bay Windsurfing Club Inc (WA)
- Safety Bay Yacht Club Inc (WA)
Not just while competing as far as I know
Thanks Lao Shi.
The important point to clarify and confirm is that the AWA covers members while windsurfing at all times.
There was a time, not so long ago, when this was not the case. The Liability cover was only during organised AWA sanctioned events. I too am fairly sure that has now changed, as you say, but I would like it clarified and definitively confirmed that AWA liability insurance now covers members during all windsurfing activities at all times.
If confirmed, that fact alone makes it a no brainer to Join your state association or affiliated clubs, even if you have not the slightest intention of entering competitions.
From memory i think it covers you overseas as well but only certain countries.
I may also be wrong
As suggested if we are covered sailing outside official events membership would be very attractive. I would be in again. Sorry to repeat the question but does cove extend to windsurfing outside of away organised events?
My household insurance with APIA covers me for $20 million public liability. I called them to ensure that my incompetence and resulting windsurfing liability to others would be included in this cover and the answer was " Yes, it specifies that sailboards are covered under the public liability section".
APIA don't know the risk they are underwriting......
I have sickness and accident which covers me personally regardless and I also have Public liability for my business which I'm sure covers me for recreational activities for damgage to others. ill find out and let you know
Well from experience, I'm a financial member of Marmong and last year caused an accident while racing. I crashed whilst racing to the finish line during slalom and was collected by somebody chasing me in. It caused multiple breakages and ripped sails. I submitted a claim so that the third party could be compensated for the repair costs. AWA found that the sailor didn't give me racing room in accordance with International racing rules (bull****) its a joke. In other words they went out of their way to find a reason not to pay out, I won't be paying again.
Select to expand quoteWazzaYotty said..
My household insurance with APIA covers me for $20 million public liability. I called them to ensure that my incompetence and resulting windsurfing liability to others would be included in this cover and the answer was " Yes, it specifies that sailboards are covered under the public liability section".
APIA don't know the risk they are underwriting......
Suppose they figure most pensioners wouldn't windsurf..
Select to expand quoteTinlyds said..
Well from experience, I'm a financial member of Marmong and last year caused an accident while racing. I crashed whilst racing to the finish line during slalom and was collected by somebody chasing me in. It caused multiple breakages and ripped sails. I submitted a claim so that the third party could be compensated for the repair costs. AWA found that the sailor didn't give me racing room in accordance with International racing rules (bull****) its a joke. In other words they went out of their way to find a reason not to pay out, I won't be paying again.
My understanding is that other members (AWA) are not covered if you hit them, so whilst racing there is no cover.
Basically it only covers non insured people, general public etc.
I may be wrong
I was the lucky guy that crashed into Steve. The issue was that I didn't "keep clear" 3 board lengths (we were slalom racing!) so he wasn't found liable. Plus there's an excess of $1500 which was more than the cost of the initial paid repair (which failed but Steve subsequently fixed for me for free anyway). I was found to be at fault for not giving him space.
If I had been further away I would (probably) have been covered. But I probably wouldn't have crashed either. So the AWA insurance (should) cover any "innocent" third party, including other racers.
Good topic, thanks for raising it George. We like to disregard insurance as being a waste of time, but if you caused an accident and the other sailor was injured and had large medical bills/lost income due to not being able to work, they would probably be looking to recover some of those costs via the legal system. AWA Insurance would (I've been told) pay this for you if you were found to be be at fault.
Just a final note, I am just an ordinary member of an AWA-affiliated club, and am not authorised to say what the insurance does or doesn't cover. Just sharing the information I was given at the time of my accident 12 months ago 
Hope it helps. I'd advise anyone interested in more details to contact their state AWA rep.
windsurfing.org/contacts.htm
The insurance is quite good now considering how cheap it is and it does cover you for recreational and competitive sailing 24/7. It is important to remember that it is only 3rd party though so you need to take out some sort of personal cover for your own protection, especially in single sailor accidents.
The AWA has proposed more thorough insurance including first party cover but the backlash on the increased fees has always been too high.
We have asked the insurer to come up with a summary of the cover so you all have a clearer idea about what it does and doesn't cover but here is the link to the AWA's Insurance section http://www.windsurfing.org/insurance.htm. The summary hasn't been released yet but when it does I'll share it here but what you should remember is that it is cover for serious incidents that could leave you or your family in a bad way physically or financially and not for petty claims on kit, which will only serve to drive the premiums up (hence the excess of $1,500.00 (in fact I thought that was supposed to be $5,000.00, which I will check on and report back on.
Select to expand quotesboardcrazy said..WazzaYotty said..
My household insurance with APIA covers me for $20 million public liability. I called them to ensure that my incompetence and resulting windsurfing liability to others would be included in this cover and the answer was " Yes, it specifies that sailboards are covered under the public liability section".
APIA don't know the risk they are underwriting......
Suppose they figure most pensioners wouldn't windsurf..
Fair point. Harsh but fair !
So I had a longer look at the policy, what with all that the spare time I have , and found that there were all sorts of goodies I would be covered for playing with so.......I've dusted off the old radio controlled yacht that has been dormant for a while and I'll give it a whirl.....one more hazard for the lads to avoid on the speed run at The Train!
For the record, APIA's public liability section :
Exclusions : Watercraft using or owning any watercraft unless it is a sailboard, surfboard, wave board, canoe, kayak, non-motorised surf ski or remote controlled model watercraft.
I'll have a nap now.
Ok so a few things have come back, one is that the excess for kit is actually $5,000.00 and this as I stated before is because the insurance is primarily meant to cover third parties in serious incidents that may affect their ability to provide an income for themselves and their families.
Another thing that I have been made aware of is that although the cover is 24/7 it does NOT cover you if you are competing in an event that is NOT sanctioned by the AWA, your state body or a registered and affiliated club.
And thirdly the summary of the policy is being sought from the insurer by the AWA and we are still waiting on this. I will let you know as soon as it is released and I'm sure the AWA will post it on their website also. This should succinctly outline what the policy is about and what you are and are not covered for.
Just remember that the insurance is like your CTP insurance on your car, it is to cover you if you hurt a third party and these costs can be very high so you don't want to be paying for them yourselves. The insurance is VERY CHEAP to keep club memberships low so if you want to protect YOURSELF AND YOUR KIT then get that insurance separately. The other thing to remember is that to hold an event of any kind you need to have insurance for your members so that the council will give you the permits, no insurance - no clubs - no events.
So do your sport a favour and get behind your clubs and become members.
There is also apparently personal cover for members of any Sailing Australia affiliated club.
So as well as joining your Local AWA club, it might be a good idea to join your local Sailing Australia affiliated club as I know many windsurfers do.
www.networksteadfast.com.au/industries-and-associations/sailing/personal-injury-australian-sailing-members-insurance/
Is competing in the GPSTC considered to be competing in an "Event"? Is the GPSTC a sanctioned event by AWA?
Is there a chance that in the event of a claim the insurance company is going to say that you where competing in an unsanctioned event (GPSTC) and therefore not covered.
I would like to see a statement from the insurance company stating that we are covered whilst sailing and logging data for the GPSTC.
