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About Us

TOPSAIL INSURANCE WAS LAUNCHED IN 1996 AND SINCE THEN HAS PROVIDED SPECIALIST MARINE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TO THE SAILING COMMUNITY.

Topsail provide cover to vessels cruising in UK and European Waters, as well providing cover for long distance passages and blue water cruising.

We are recommended by the Ocean Cruising Club, offering members discount, and also run a price match scheme for members of the Cruising Association (available with certain insurers). We also offer our specialist Yachtsman’s Travel Insurance products to the World Cruising Club rally participants.

The company is operated by a team of dedicated staff who are highly knowledgeable in the field of boat insurance and travel insurance, with over 100 years of combined experience. We understand the needs of sailors and the importance of flexible products, so we have created boat insurance and travel insurance products designed to meet the requirements of the boating community.

Our online quote and buy facility can cater for yachts, motorboats, inland craft, narrowboats, small sailing or motor craft and sailing dinghies cruising within the UK and Europe. Click here to get a quote.

Our Yachtsman’s and Tall Ships Travel Insurance products are quick and easy to access online and are backed by Lloyd’s of London underwriters.

Chris McGowan
Chris McGowan
Managing Director
About Me

Chris joined the company back in 2005, working as an Account Executive for both general insurance and marine insurance. Having worked his way up through the company, he was appointed a Director and is a shareholder in the company.

He was appointed Managing Director back in 2018. In his spare time, Chris loves attending live sport having previously been a season ticketholder up at Harlequins Rugby and most recently a season ticket holder up at Surrey Cricket Club at the Oval. He is an active gym member and regularly plays squash.

A keen foody, he is passionate about all things travel and loves trying out the local cuisines. When the opportunity arises, he loves to get out on the water and plans to obtain some sailing qualifications in the future.

Robert Stevens
Robert Stevens
Director – Topsail Insurance, CEO - Topsail Australia
About Me

A lifetime career in marine insurance, initially underwriting for various Lloyd’s syndicates then London Lloyd’s brokers and transitioned to the predecessor of Topsail in 2000 where he was MD. Topsail established their Australian company in 2014 and he emigrated to Sydney to run Topsail Australia.  Apart from enjoying sailing and travelling, Rob also treads the boards in theatre productions.

Ric De Cristofano
Ric De Cristofano
Director of Underwriting
About Me

I’ve been in the yacht insurance industry for over 30 years. My experience includes being a Senior Yacht Underwriter for a Lloyd’s syndicate and also managing a UK yacht specialist business which employed over 35 staff. I joined Topsail as a Director and Shareholder in 2020 as I wanted to help to grow a business that I already knew well.

I’m passionate about customer service and believe as a business this should be at the forefront of everything we do.   I like to get on the water at least a couple of times a year and may well look to get on board with one of the Youth Trusts that we insure this year.Outside of work I’m a family orientated person and in my spare time I’ve been taking some FA courses and helping kids progress at grassroots level.

Please feel free to contact me about any of your insurance requirements to see if we can help.

Nigel Hawkes
Nigel Hawkes
Director of Operations
About Me

My headmaster was a great drinking buddy of the then MD of a specialist Yacht insurance broker based in South London by the name of St Margaret’s Insurances. Almost 40 years on and I am still in the same industry! I guess it’s the diversity of speaking to a Narrowboat owner one day and a Bluewater cruising couple the next that has kept me hooked! Added to that the fact that boat owners are genuinely the nicest people to talk to.

With two stints at St Margaret’s, a few years in the city with another Yacht insurance broker and many years as a Senior Underwriter and Operations Manager at a large corporate yacht insurer, I find myself back in the broking world with Topsail insurance. It’s been some 4 years since I joined as a Director and love the fact that unlike the corporate environment, it’s great to be back in the heart of the business talking directly with clients and providing that personal service that I am so passionate about.  Don’t get me started on how much I hate the press one, press two consumer world that we live in where a company will do anything to avoid their clients being able to speak to a human!!  We will never allow that at Topsail – just read our Google Reviews!

Away from the office, I love to sail if anyone will have me as crew!  If not on the water, I love to travel with my wife of 30 years and hike or cycle in the great outdoors whenever I can. If not supping a pint of Real ale you are quite likely to catch me up a mountain somewhere!

Karen Barmby
Karen Barmby
Accounts Manager
About Me

Karen originally joined as a part time bookkeeper in 2001 back when the company was known as GH Insurance - there was only 4 staff in total! After having her second child, Karen returned to the company a few years later and has remained and watched as the company has evolved and grown during the last 20 years.

When not working, Karen loves to exercise, get outside and be close to nature, so walking her dogs and gardening are her top priority as well as weekly swimming and exercise classes.

Always the party girl and young at heart, Karen also has a busy social life and enjoys a good ol’ knees up with friends at local live music venues!

Mollie Magrath
Mollie Magrath
Boat & Travel Account Manager
About Me

Mollie has been working at Topsail since 2014, initially starting out as an apprentice and now having progressed to her current management role. Mollie enjoys reading, cooking (and mainly eating!) new foods, listening to music, or catching up on her favourite TV show.

Jake Brown
Jake Brown
Account Executive
About Me

Jake joined the company in May 2022 as an account executive, working within our boat insurance team. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, and catching up with friends and family. His hobbies include golf, cars and exercise at the gym.

Meaghan Farr
Meaghan Farr
Senior Account Executive
About Me

Meaghan enjoys travelling and has previously taken a trip to Cambodia, as well as a few trips learning to ski in the Alps. Meaghan also is working on renovating her home (with ‘help’ from her dog Fred), and is learning to play squash.

Lewis Parker
Lewis Parker
Boat Team Leader
About Me

Lewis joined the company back in 2018 as an apprentice and has worked his way up in the last 5 years to be Boat Team Leader today, as well as continuing his journey to be CII qualified at the same time. In his spare time, Lewis loves to travel the world and has visited various locations such as Malaysia and Hong Kong. He also enjoys spending time with his family, friends and two dogs!

Antonio Sorrenti
Antonio Sorrenti
Account Executive
About Me

Some of Antonio’s favourite hobbies include travelling, exercise, exploring new foods and enjoying movies and music. He also enjoys spending time with friends at social events & parties, is currently learning Japanese, and also in the summer months enjoys paddleboarding!

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Samantha Fenn
Samantha Fenn
Account Executive
About Me

Sam joined Topsail as an account executive in November 2019, working on our Travel Team. In her spare time Sam enjoys walking her two family dogs Max and Buddy, and generally enjoying the countryside. Sam is a keen baker and loves baking cakes for family and friends.

Sam also enjoys travelling – she was lucky enough this year to visit America to see the colours of New England during fall, and Australia to visit her daughter Charlotte.

All of Sam’s family love to get out on the water and both her children have been Sailing and Windsurfing instructors in the past.

Paula Mcguinness
Paula Mcguinness
Account Executive
About Me

Paula has worked for Topsail since 2021. She previously worked in the travel and insurance industries for 18 years. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her family on the Norfolk broads, and enjoys cycling.

Rachel Marsello
Rachel Marsello
Account Executive
About Me

Rachel joined Topsail in 2023 to work in the Travel Insurance team. Rachel previously worked in Yacht Insurance for 10 years, and enjoyed sailing before taking a break to raise her family. Her ambitions are to continue her studies to become CII Diploma level qualified and, if time permits, she would like to start sailing again! Rachel spends her spare time with her children and her 2 dogs, and enjoys reading, catching up with friends and going to the gym.

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