Turning the tide.

The yacht and pleasure boat sector has been experiencing a lull, with rates at their lowest ebb for a long time. But they are starting to climb again and insurers are beginning to jostle for position, says David Fanning.

The yacht and small boat market appears to have bottomed out, say
brokers and underwriters, although the sector remains highly
competitive.


There have been some increases in rates recently, but there is still a
fair way to go before prices return to a profitable level.


"We need a few brave insurers that are prepared to put prices up a bit so
that we can all start making some money," says Neil Hunt, yacht
underwriter at Groupama. "For the moment things are just ticking over, but
people are looking at