No one could have imagined the enormous change to our lives and the unprecedented struggles that so many people have suffered following the pandemic this year. Thankfully, all of our team here at Topsail have remained safe and well and we dearly hope that is true for you and your families too.
So, the Christmas season is almost upon us. Whilst this winter may be a little different than usual, given that there will likely be no Christmas parties or large gatherings, it is always fun to shop for others and look for the best gifts out there, either online or on the high street!
We all know that it is a privilege to be able to sail at leisure and take time to enjoy the beautiful environment, landscape and wildlife. However, that comes at a price – it is also our responsibility to care for the sea and ensure that future generations can also enjoy it in the same way.
The University of Plymouth has partnered with marine research and exploration charity ProMare and engineering company MSubs to create the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS).
Topsail Insurance are pleased to announce the appointment of Ric De Cristofano (left) and Nigel Hawkes (right) as Directors of Underwriting and Operations respectively.
The difficult situation we have all found ourselves in due to the pandemic has been a massive eye-opener for a lot of people and has promoted a sense of community spirit with people coming together to help and support each other through this difficult time.
More than ever we are becoming aware of the condition of the world and what humans have done to the environment. The upside of this is that we are constantly bringing in new ideas to help us become ‘greener’.
The Ocean Cleanup has just completed its first mission in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by returning the first batch of ocean plastic to shore. The non-profit organisation is part of a growing demand to develop technologies to rid the world’s ocean of plastic.
In part 1 we saw maintenance of the rig mostly involves checking for existing problems and preventing new ones. The options for maintenance aloft range from a basic inspection to removing each piece of rigging to check its condition and attachment point. If you feel the latter is necessary it’s probably better to pull the stick out and do a thorough check at ground level.
A strong, seaworthy rig is a vital part of any cruising boat. But care of the rig is often overlooked, either through ignorance or a conviction that rig maintenance is a mysterious art known only to a select few.
You might remember that back in July, the Jubilee Sailing Trust were working incredibly hard to reach an ambitious fundraising goal of £1,000,000, in order to save the Charity and enable them to continue the incredible work that they do.
World Sailing’s 2019 Annual Conference ran this year from 26th October to 3rd November and it is safe to say it was another very successful show, with visitors from 68 different nations around the world!
Where has the year gone? We can scarcely believe that the festive season is upon us again – it’s almost time to start planning the team Christmas party and pick names out of the hat for Secret Santa! Not to mention decorating the office…
Experiencing medical emergencies far from home can be extremely stressful and as many of our customers will agree, the importance of having access to professional help by satellite phone is vital.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust announced on Monday that they are likely to be forced to cease all activities from Friday 5th July, if they cannot raise £1,000,000.
Following public consultation, Defra has announced the designation of the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). All 41 new sites and the addition of new features to 12 existing MCZs proposed during last summer’s consultation are now designated.
This year's British Motor Yacht Show, that took place from 17 - 19 May in Swanwick Marina, has been named by Marine Industry News as the biggest Spring motorboat show in the UK.
Michael Gove is taking action on plastic pollution by confirming a ban on the supply of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds after a consultation revealed "overwhelming" public support.
The long running saga of the Greek Cruising Tax, known as the TEPAI, was due for implementation on 2 April 2019 following the first attempt to introduce it in 2014. On Thursday May 9th, the Greek Government finally put the Tax into operation.
New Caledonia is a tropical paradise located East of Australia and West of Vanuatu, whilst being a French Overseas Territory, has its own way of doing things when it comes to visa entry to visitors.
From the start of April 2019 at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is now a mandatory requirement on nearly all private and non-private boats for cruising certain waterways in the UK.
Following what was thought to be an April Fools joke earlier in the month, the Cruising Association has confirmed that the Greek government has issued a delay to the cruising tax.
The Greek Cruising Tax known as TEPAH will be implemented on Tuesday 2nd April 2019. After three years of changes and postponement TEPAH will apply to boat owners of all nationalities to make the first payment.
The Environment Agency’s new tidal flood defence barrier for Ipswich has been officially opened by Floods Minister, Dr Thérèse Coffey, ensuring more than 1,600 homes and 400 businesses are better protected from flooding and the impacts of climate change over the course of the next century.
Starting a new year is a good time for reflection and the perfect opportunity for the Topsail team to look back on all that had been raised for Company charity, Sail 4 Cancer.
The London On-Water Boat Show has been renamed, rebranded and relaunched as London Yacht Show, and will take place at St Katharine Docks this May 8-12 2019.
The Canal & River Trust is carrying out more than £157,000 worth of vital maintenance and repair work to the Caldon Canal in Staffordshire this winter.
Earlier this year the coastguard rescue teams from Stornoway, South Lochs, Bragar, Tarbert and Scalpay along with an HM Coastguard helicopter were all dispatched to a dangerous cliff face on St Kilda in Scotland.
Dozens of charities across the UK will benefit from new equipment to help volunteer search teams save lives more quickly and easily thanks to £1 million of government funding.
It was a unanimous vote when we all came together to decide our Company charity for 2018 and it has been a great year being able to fundraise and promote Sail4Cancer.
As the sailing season comes to an end for some it becomes time for recognition. One particular award that recognises high-performing individuals who deliver sail training to young people at sea, has been awarded to an Ocean Youth Trust South Skipper.
The British Yachting Awards that were presented last night (Tuesday 11 December 2018) were a first for the year as Sailing Today and sister magazine Yachts and Yachting joined forces with presenting partner MUSTO to announce winners from every aspect of the sailing world.
Topsail Insurance customer and Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) member Steve Brown has channelled his passion for the seas into organising an effort to help sailors collect, recycle and report plastics removed from oceans and coasts where they cruise.
The River Canal Rescue is calling for boat owners to prepare for winter as Meteorologists are warning that December may bring in some severe weather with an ‘El Nino’ event that may result in widespread snow events and ice storms.
It has been a busy start as MD of Topsail Insurance for Chris McGowan, Insurance Business UK recently found out more about the man steering the company through some tough times for the market.
This weekend the Topsail Team was out and about visiting the Jubilee Sailing Trust and Nimbus Owners Club joining them to celebrate in their milestone anniversaries.
During TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show British Marine paid tribute to its membership at the fifth edition of its British Marine Awards, hosted at a gala dinner sponsored by Dominion Domains.
The second book in the Tales of Three Ships series is finished! Author, Fiona Jones and illustrator, Hannah Edge will be at the boat show on our stand with both books doing signings.
Topsail Insurance is pleased to announce that with effect from 1st September 2018 Rob Stevens will be stepping down as the UK Managing Director to head up the Topsail Australia, Sydney office. Current Director, Chris McGowan will be taking over the role of Managing Director of Topsail in the UK.
Dozens of young people who have faced tough personal challenges will get the chance to experience the thrill of sailing this September thanks to TheYachtMarket.com.
Intrepid adventurer and multi-award winning disabled sailor, Natasha Lambert BEM is taking on another sailing challenge. This time Natasha and Miss Isle Too are taking on a transatlantic crossing, which would make her the first person to undertake crossing the Atlantic Ocean by breath control.
In 2017 adventurer, campaigner and speaker Dhruv Boruah cycled 'ON' the mighty river Thames, unsupported on his handmade Bamboo Bike collecting plastic litter to raise awareness about plastic pollution.
This September we are exhibiting at TheYachtmarket.com Southapmton Boat Show and we have a special ticket offer for you to come along for a great day out.
Avid sailor and Topsail Insurance Account Executive, Charlotte spent the day with MS Amlin at this year's Round the Island yacht race. In her latest blog Charlotte tells us how the race went.
This Father's Day the Topsail team spent the day together, on the water, tackling some new sailing skills onboard the stunning Ocean Youth Trust's (OYT) BM ketch.
This year marks the 50th birthday of TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show’s and is set to be the biggest celebration of all things marine. The Show will celebrate the lifestyle, fun and excitement that being on the water has to offer.
The four home nations – Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland – have joined forces to take injured rugby players aboard the tall ship STS Lord Nelson, to participate in an extraordinary sailing experience with the Jubilee Sailing Trust.
During April, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) ran a special event to test the use of drones in a variety of real- life search and rescue scenarios.
Announced at World Sailing's 2017 Annual Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico the very first World Sailing Offshore World Championship will be held in 2019 and aims to be a powerful platform to accelerate the interest and growth of offshore one-design sailing amongst the sailing community.
As of the end of March, Yachting Monthly covered the announcement that Entrepreneur Richard Hadida had bought Oyster Yachts and all of its subsidiaries.
Topsail Insurance is really pleased to announce that their chosen company charity for 2018 is to be the specialist respite provider, Sail 4 Cancer, who fund day trips and short breaks for British families affected by cancer.
A cold Tuesday evening in March saw Topsail Insurance MD, Robert Stevens and Operations Manager Laura Clothier attend their first Little Ship Club members club night, albeit as guest speakers.
Fantastic news for the Cruising Association (CA) who have reached the first target of gaining 10,000 signatures for their lobster pot petition to Government.
Over 7 millions tonnes of litter enter our oceans each year. The global movement, 4Ocean is on a mission to stop it and are dedicated to making our seas and coastlines trash free.
We Do Mean To Go To Sea is an exciting new format for a sailing event. The conference takes place over a day and during the day, there will be a series of inspiring keynote lectures and various workshops.
Southampton-based boatbuilders, Oyster Yachts has announced this week that it has failed to secure financial support and are unable to continue to trade at this time.
After thousands of votes cast by readers of the Yachts & Yachting magazine, the 2018 Yachts & Yachting Awards were presented during the London Boat Show.
Topsail sponsored Hellingly RFC are having a great season so far and along with the Club’s success they are experiencing increased player and participation numbers.
We’re excited to have partnered with yacht management and charter company, diYachting to offer you all an great new competition to win £50 worth of travel insurance for your next sailing holiday.
The Topsail Insurance UK team are making a trip to Germany after Christmas as they will be exhibiting at the Boot Dusseldorf Boat Show from 20 – 28 January 2018.
The Trustees of Sail Aid UK, the organisation that is uniting the UK sailing community in a long-term fundraising drive to help the victims of the Caribbean Islands most severely impacted by the September hurricanes, are overjoyed with the results of their first big fundraising event.
One of our Partners and this year’s Topsail company charity, Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) is delighted to invite you to join their Chairman and CEO for a private viewing of Gladwell & Patterson's Winter Collection.
One of four new downloadable eBooks, 20 things to consider when choosing a marina was created by Darren Vaux, Director of Empire Marina who has a wealth of marine industry experience and knowledge as Chairman of the Maritime Advisory Council in New South Wales, Director of the Boating Industry Association, founding Chairman of the Boating Industries Alliance Australia and Vice Chair of the Marina Industries Association.
Last month (September) the third annual Topsail Charity Golf Day was held at one of the best all year-round playing experiences in Sussex, the East Brighton Golf Course.
During theyachtmarket.com Southampton Boat Show up to 50 keen sailors, blue water cruisers and enthusiasts gathered at the 14th Century Dancing Man Brewery for this year’s annual Topsail Seminar.
Topsail Insurance, the established Brighton-based marine insurance company, is pleased to announce that from October 2017 a brand-new insurance policy will be added to their broad offering to UK and European boat owners.
It is getting to be a nicely busy office in Brighton Marina with another new addition to the UK team. Charlotte Fenn, Account Executive from Brighton has swopped teaching outdoors to join Topsail.
On Sunday 17th September 2017, Operations Manager Laura and Account Executive Charlotte were invited on board the Ocean Youth Trust’s “Prolific”. Both team members had a fantastic day, which Charlotte has provided an account of below.
The Sail Aid UK (SAUK) Hurricane Irma Relief Fundraising Dinner will take place on the evening of Saturday 11th November on the 'Flight Deck' at Land Rover BAR, the home of the British America's Cup Team, in Old Portsmouth, Hampshire.
One of our upcoming Seminar speakers, accomplished yachtsman and successful bestselling author Jimmy Cornell is about to launch his most recent book; 200,000 Miles: A Life of Adventure.
Topsail Insurance, now in its 26th year, is expanding both globally and in the UK. The newest team member to join the Brighton Marina office team is Reina Hawkes from Portslade.
We pride ourselves on the fact that the majority of our new clients come through existing client referral, a great indicator that people are happy with the premiums, policies and service we provide at Topsail Insurance and want to let their family, friends and fellow cruisers know.
This September, during the YachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, we will be hosting a special seminar. Join us for a day of sailing through the ages and exploring the very best routes across the oceans.
