The Jester Challenge – A Note for Insurers

Why the Jester Challenge is a low-risk event for third-party insurers

Since 2006 there have been 13 Jester Challenge events, starting from Plymouth and sailing either to Newport Rhode Island, the Azores, or Baltimore southern Ireland.
There has been an average of about 22 starters per event – 263 starters in total (quite a few skippers have started in more than one event).
Jester Challengers have covered in excess of 500,000 sea miles sailing in those events and returning to the UK.
As far as we are aware, and following a comprehensive survey of Jester Challengers, not one single third-party claim has ever been made against a Jester Challenger.

The Jester Challenge is not an ocean race. There are no winners and no prizes.
Jester Challenge boats are unsponsored, so skippers are not under any commercial pressure to ‘perform’, or to push themselves or their boats beyond what is safe and reasonable.
The Jester Challenge is primarily an exercise in seamanship and self-reliance.
The aim is not to arrive first, but to arrive safely, wherever appropriate, and in good order.
Jester Challenge boats are mainly solid and proven cruising boats, not lightweight racers, and not particularly fast craft.
Jester Challenge skippers are mainly middle-aged or older, therefore experienced and sensible.
There is no stigma attached to retiring from an event, for any reason whatsoever.
Skippers are allowed to take breaks or stopovers, if they need or desire them.
The Jester Challenge encourages a supportive, rather than a competitive environment.
The Jester Challenge ethos is one of self-help and self-rescue, should things go wrong. There have been many significant examples of this over the years.
In general, Jester Challengers are not sailing near shipping lanes or in congested waters.

A pdf copy of this page is available here.