WOULD YOU BE COVERED?

A spokesperson for Navigators & General insurance said: ‘It’s clear Mr Peddar found himself in a tricky situation which could have turned out differently were he not an experienced sailor. When considering a claim, insurers take dozens of different factors into account, which makes its hard to draw any definitive conclusions here.

‘However, very broadly, anyone assuming command would be justified from an insurance perspective if the vessel and their crew were in immediate danger.

‘In Mr Peddar’s case, although some insurers could have sought to hold him liable had he damaged the boat, we think it would be harsh in these particular circumstances. We’d recommend anyone in a similar situation initially radio the base, coastguard or nearby vessels for assistance.’