United Yacht Sales, Yacht Buying Advice

Author: Francisco Segura

As yachting becomes more popular, increasing numbers of companies are supplying yacht insurance; whilst competition is good for the Yacht owners they need to know what they are looking for from the provider. Coverage is dependent on the policy of the insurance provider and they all differ in certain areas; finding the right policy can be a chore. Below are some points you should look for which may help you with your choice.

A strong financial record is a necessity if you want to be assured about your own position; providing a secure base for your own yacht insurance is the most important factor. Try searching for the top marine insurance companies on the internet; those with large customer bases are often rated highly by the industry watchdogs and probably the best to start with.

The true image of a company is shown when a claim is made; this is when it pays to have a good and efficient customer service department. To help ensure this is not the case, search for a marine insurer that has many outlets; some of the larger companies may have exclusive arrangements with service centers.

We all like to deal with firms that have a good reputation; this fact will give a potential customer an idea how well they will be covered should the need arise. Each person will have specific ideas about what they want covered with their policy; find an insurance provider that can provide a full range of services otherwise alternative and costly arrangements may need to be made elsewhere.

Look for the best yacht insurance policy at the most reasonable price; never use the low cost of a premium to influence your decision. Be aware that marine policies can be complex; regular policies are far easier to understand so be aware they may take a little longer to assess. If you keep these points in mind you should be able to find a suitable yacht insurance provider that will satisfy your needs.

Don’t weigh yourself down with the intricate details of every policy at this point; it is far easier to look at all the tiny details when you have made a short list for yourself. This guidance should help with your final choice of provider; hopefully bringing a peace of mind about the reliability of the marine insurance company chosen.

Author: Francisco Segura

With the increasing popularity of owning a Yacht, more providers are able to offer yacht insurance; obviously the customer benefits from this competition as long as they know what they are looking for. Because competition can be fierce, insurance providers like to include aspects other companies do not have; individual requirements means it takes longer to decide. Below are some points you should look for which may help you with your choice.

Ascertain how stable the company is financially and try to find their accounts submission for the previous tax year; this is necessary because if your yacht insurance provider is financially unstable, this could impact on your cover should need to claim. To start with, take a look on the internet for the top marine insurers; those with large customer bases are often rated highly by the industry watchdogs and probably the best to start with.

You may at some point need to contact the company regarding a claim; this is when it pays to have a good and efficient customer service department. The more claim centers a marine insurance company has, the better; customers are more likely to receive a good service especially when they have made special arrangements with local service and emergency firms.

Nothing beats a good reputation in business; this knowledge will create a feeling of confidence so look for companies that have pride in their reputation. There are usually a number of coverage options available with any type of policy; they should ideally meet your needs and not those of the insurance provider.

The balance that should be sought with a yacht insurance policy is between the cost and services it provides; those providers that promise a low premium but superior service should probably be avoided. All marine policies are by their very nature complicated; finding the right policy will not be as straightforward as regular home cover, for example. Yacht insurance is a complex subject so the advice here is not comprehensive, but does provide the basics to be considered.

The first thing to do is list the most important aspects of cover you require; it is far easier to look at all the tiny details when you have made a short list for yourself. Although it may seem complicated, it will save time and money in the long run; the last thing needed after signing the policy is too find there’s a problem with the marine insurance company.

Author: Paul Ashton

Excitement in the yachting world is mounting as the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race begins this fall in Spain, with participants voyaging throughout the world and testing their skill against the most challenging conditions in sailing.

Formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, the Ocean Race is now sponsored by Volvo, which has organized the event since they took over the 2001-2002 race. Upon Volvo’s involvement, three additional stopovers were added to the race in Sweden, France and Germany. Not surprisingly, these are Volvo’s three biggest markets for car purchases in Europe. Additional changes in the point system were made to ensure that the race maintained a level of competitiveness throughout all legs.

Traditionally the Volvo Ocean Race has departed from a location in Europe some time in September. This year, however, the planned departure date is October 11, 2008. The port of Alicante, Spain, begins the first offshore leg on that date.

That is one of two major changes that have occurred for the upcoming race. The yachts had always departed from somewhere in the United Kingdom up until the last race, which was the first to begin the race from elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, a new yacht design was introduced. The Volvo 70 is a lighter Yacht design with more sail area.

Until the 2008-2009 Volvo Ocean Race, the event had traditionally been scheduled every four years. This year’s race will begin after a break of only three years. The route has changed many times and in various ways since the beginning of the race over thirty years ago. Beginning in Spain, the customary path heads south through the Atlantic, down around the southern tip of Africa, around the Southern ocean and back to England. Brand new additions will be a stopover in India at the major port of Kochi, and, also for the first time in Asia, at a port in Singapore where the second in-port event will be held. The race route will include one stop in North America in Boston, Massachusetts. The race will finish off in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Despite the many changes, a central objective remains at the heart of this and other sailing competitions: a matchless adventure and an exercise in sailing skill against the odds of nature. Several sailing teams are presently enrolled and more are expected to sign up.

Ericsson Racing Team, which has two yachts enlisted as challengers in the Volvo Ocean Race, has transported their Yachts and sailing crew to the Canary Islands. The crew is training at the base of Puerto Calero, on the island of Lanzarote, wintering in the ideal sailing conditions offered by the port.

Northernmost of the seven main islands of the Canary’s archipelago, Lanzarote maintains relatively constant temperatures and sees low annual rainfall. Few days are lost to weather-related problems due to this environment, which offers the premium atmosphere for technical improvements and beneficial training. In addition to these benefits, the winds are good and steady in the Canary Islands due to the north-east trade winds, which also bring cooler air in the summers to Lanzarote, allowing year round tourism at the Lanzarote hotels.

Atmospheric benefits are not the only plusses of Puerto Calero for the sailing crews. Lanzarote’s marina boasts the provision of most needed accommodations for sailing and the crews within a five- minute walk.

Like Volvo’s addition of certain ports within their sales arena, Ericsson’s presence in the race is similar, to improve sales and reach customers around the world. Ericsson is a communications company based in Sweden, providing technology and support for a variety of telecommunication and data communication systems. New stops added along the route will allow these and all involved companies to expand their customer bases in the Middle East and Asia.