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Robert Holbrook, Managing Director of Admiral Yacht Insurance, is well placed to consider not only his own lessons from crossing the Pacific but also those accumulated by Admiral’s policyholders during their own adventures across the globe. Many of the lessons learnt are as relevant in the Solent as on the approach to Brittany or the Marquesas.
As an aid to your safety, our Claims Manager Bob Samuels has drawn on Robert’s experience to produce a series of tips on sailing safe.
Tip #2: Look Up & Down
Surprisingly masts and rigs collapse without warning and this can happen in the finest weather. So look out and look up, and when the time comes to relax in the cockpit make a habit of examining your rig, and attend to anything unusual.
Look down as well. If by chance there is a split pin or clevis pin in the scuppers, start to wonder and check where it might have come down from.
Don’t wait for your insurer to insist on a rig inspection on renewal, it may not be soon enough to catch that broken strand waiting to cause disaster when you least expect it far from home.
Sail and rig replacement is very expensive and most incidents are not bad weather related and could be prevented.
