Planning for a Storm. A webinar and Q&A with RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Colin Stracey & HK-J

Storms and boating don’t make the best combination. If a storm is forecast, it's time to get to work! But, what should you be doing?

During this one hour long webinar, Colin Stracey, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and Principle of Premier Sailing, discusses best practice and top tips for:
1) Keeping your boat safe during a storm on her permanent mooring or when stored ashore on the hard
2) Temporally mooring in a safe haven when bad weather is forecast and you are away from your home port
3) Riding out a storm or bad weather at sea

Unfortunately life doesn't always go to plan and sometimes you're caught out. Whether you're out at sea, too far away from land to make a safe haven, or perhaps moored somewhere unfamiliar, or even just in your boats' home berth. Having a good idea of what to do in the event of a storm is something that every sailor should know, and more importantly, have planned for. Sadly, sometimes even with the best preparation, the unexpected happens and you find yourself having to make a claim.

In this webinar, our expert panel made up of Colin Stracey and Karl Davis (HK-J Claims Manager), will be discussing how to plan for the worst, the best steps to take to minimise risks and what to do if you find things have gone awry, alongside the most common types of claims made following storms.

After a series of presentations, the webinar was opened up to the audience who asked questions such as:
1) What are the benefits to heaving to rather than deploying a sea anchor or drogue?
2) What is the difference between a sea anchor and drogue?
3) Where should you take your snubber back to? Where should you tie off your snubber? The benefits of cleats versus winches to take a heavy load.
4) If you have two anchors out in strong winds - will the tide change or wind shift cause a problem such as crossing chains?
5) How should you bind a line or rope to stop chaffe?
6) How do you use a pipe to protect against chaffe on mooring lines?
7) When should you use storm sails?
8) Which member of your crew should you put on the helm in bad weather?
9) If you leave port with bad weather forecast, are you still insured?
10) How do you choose where to anchor when “running for cover”?
11) Who chooses the boats’ cradle when stored ashore?
12) How do you antifoul under the blocks?
13) Where can we learn more about rough weather sailing?
The recording of this webinar will be useful to anyone who sets foot on a boat. Freak weather is becoming more and more common and what to do if you get caught out, even if you’re only a mile from your home port and a committed fair weather sailor, is something that we should have a plan for.
This webinar was brought to you by Haven Knox-Johnston Boat Insurance, Euromarine Boat Insurance and Premier Sailing, sailing school.

About Haven Knox-Johnston
Haven was formed as a boat insurance provider in 1986 and merged with Knox-Johnston Insurance Brokers in 1992 to become Haven Knox-Johnston, part of the Amlin Group. A further merger in 2016 saw the business renamed MS Amlin.
MS Amlin Boat Insurance grew to become one of the UK's leading boat insurance providers, covering the full spectrum of marine craft from a much-loved family dinghy or dayboat, racing yacht, RIB, as well as all types of cruising and motor boats to brand new £multi-million superyachts in the UK, Mediterranean and further afield.
Following the sale of the boat insurance business to Aston Lark, MS Amlin Boat Insurance has been re-branded Haven Knox-Johnston, keeping the existing team and providing the same high-quality service.
Welcome to the future. “Boat insurance, ship-shaped around you”.

About Euromarine
Euromarine Insurance Services is a customer-centric business based in Broadstairs, Kent. We are one of the UK’s leading boat insurance providers, with over 25 years’ experience. As a specialist insurance broker, we are able to provide boat insurance for a wide range of vessels and other marine craft. Our boat insurance policies have been underwritten by a leading Lloyd’s insurer to ensure we offer our customers competitive premiums. We are proud to be part of the Aston Lark group.
About Premier Sailing - A centre of excellence for Yacht Sailing and Powerboat Training
Premier Sailing offers a range of bespoke sailing experiences, from family holidays to mile-building trips; from day sails on one of our well-appointed sailing yachts, to a summer cruise to the Baltic. Whether you are an accomplished sailor or first-time novice, our experienced, professional skippers will ensure that you have the opportunities and support you would like to make your trip, or RYA course, an enjoyable and successful one. With an opportunity to choose your departure port and voyage destination, and a choice of single-occupancy cabin if required, Premier Sailing offers the very best in sailing adventure. With high quality, home-cooked meals on board you are sure to be well fed throughout.