US SAILING extends its Commercial General Liability and Marine Liability insurance to protect Certified Instructors (CIs). The policy provides defense coverage (if the CI is named personally) in a lawsuit for bodily injury or property damage caused by instructional activities. The expanded coverage under provider Gowrie, Barden & Brett provides a $10,000,000 limit per occurrence if the CI is found legally liable for the damages.  The coverage is an umbrella policy covering US SAILING and extending to all US SAILING certified instructors. In some cases, the insurance is primary and in some cases it is excess, as seen in the following examples:

1.  The CI is gainfully employed by a sailing school or yacht club.  The primary liability coverage is provided by the employer.  The US SAILING coverage is excess over any other valid and collectible insurance coverage. 

2.  The CI volunteers or is paid to help run a US SAILING event.  US SAILING liability insurance is primary.

3.  The CI is a sole proprietor or establishes a corporation or LLC and begins his own sailing school.  US SAILING liability insurance does not apply.  The CI must purchase his own insurance for the sailing school. 

4.  The CI is not an employee but volunteers to help a community sailing center or yacht club run an instructional clinic.  The yacht club or sailing center provides the primary insurance coverage, and US SAILING insurance is excess.

The US SAILING policy, like all insurance, does have exclusions.  Automobile liability is not included.  Injuries to the CI are not included unless the CI is employed by US SAILING.  If the CI is an employee of a sailing school or yacht club, the worker's compensation coverage for the employer will respond to the CI injuries sustained on the job.

If the CI is employed by or volunteers for a yacht club or sailing school insured in THE BURGEE PROGRAM (endorsed by US SAILING and managed by Gowrie, Barden & Brett) chances are the insurance for the employer of the CI will adequately protect the CI.  If the CI is named personally in any lawsuit for bodily injury or property damage to a third party, please notify the Training Director at US SAILING immediately.

In order to take advantage of this coverage, instructors must:
have successfully completed their instructor course, be current adult or family US SAILING members (one instructor per family membership), and have current CPR and First Aid certifications as approved by the US Coast Guard.