Kia Ora--Tahiti Insurance Rejection Dilemma

[Olson Kia Ora]

Greetings Fellow Sailors!

We have made an offer on a Catamaran currently located in Tahiti and have been rejected by every Marine Insurance company because it's currently the start of Cyclone season. If we found this vessel in April insurance coverage would not be an issue and find we are in need of this communities help to meet this challenge. We have the option to place the vessel in a marina or sail it to a cyclone-safe location, but of course we are unable to even purchase the boat without the required insurance coverage.

We have spent an extraordinary amount of time looking for a vessel in Tahiti and
are heartsick over the prospect of losing it as it's the first Catamaran that fits our budget and live aboard needs.

Any advice is so appreciated!

Olson Kia Ora
Sheri and Gary

[ItDepends]

If you are borrowing money to buy the boat, then you might not be able to fix this, but if you are a cash buyer it can depend on your risk tolerance.

Our policy does exclude “named storm” risks while we are in a hurricane zone, but still covers all other risks. If you can accept the risk of storm damage yourself, this type of arrangement might be an option. Other policies are basically completely void in a storm zone. It’s worth a careful read.

[JPA Cate]

Buy your insurance in Papeete. Term that will cover you while you are taking the boat to Zealand or Australia. Otherwise, let this particular boat go, and wait till you can arrange insurance with the company of your choice. From memory, there aren't many "hurricane holes" in FP. Furthermore, the southern hemisphere cyclone season, is really from about the middle of October (had to seek a marina in New Caledonia at that time for cyclone protection when we had guests); and as late as the middle of May (one crossed over us at Raoul Island between NZ and Tonga an earlier year). So don't make the assumption that it will be a clear run to NZ. Usually they reach NZ as subtropical storms, still tricky sailing, and risky. You'll have to pay a LOT and might need specialist insurance for such a trip. The weather gods don't seem to care about human aspirations at all. If you are particularly seasoned sailors, it could be doable and an adventure; at worst, it would be life threatening. If a cyclone goes over you directly, you will experience a 180 deg. wind shift, and it really stirs up the seas something fierce.

Ann

[Saippuakupla]

You might be able to get a local insurance:
https://voiliers.asso.pf/assurer-son-bateau/

There are no "cyclone-safe locations" but there are several places that people call "hurricane holes". It's most likely going to be a la Nina season also, so cyclones are even less likely than normal.

Best of luck. We bought our boat from French Polynesia 2020.

[double u]

https://www.preuss-yachtversicherungen.de/homepage.htm