Hey guys, just a head's up, my personal valuables insurance company (HBF) has declined to pay for stuff stolen off the beach while kiteboarding back in November.
I probably will try to negotiate this, but they say if it's unattended, it's not covered.
I cant think when of when any theft (other than a mugging) would occur when stuff was "attended"!
The stuff was in clear view, I saw the thieves, but just couldnt catch them!

I am looking at other insurance options as we speak.

I work for Loss Assessors and I think you will find that with most of the big name insurance companies you can get seperate cover for specified and or unspecified items that leave the house. You will have to pay a seperate excess for these items and it is a higher premium too but well worth it. Allianz is a good one for this kind of cover.

NRMA and Allianz do something similar

Hey all, yep, have done the insurance trawl, but basically appears unless gear is locked in house or car, no insurance will cover it.
HBF still fully exclude cover for all kite gear, aami, cgu, gio (for travel), offer good cover tho you pay for it.

Moral- Dont ever leave anything on the beach, even if you think it's a safe and "attended" place.

I very much doubt any insurance would cover gear left unattended on the beach. The insurance company will say you did not take any reasonable steps to protect your gear and chances are they would be right.

I have nominated my kite gear as portable valuables so that if they get stolen from my car or a holiday house or whatever then they are covered.

BTW. Why do people take stuff down onto the beach and leave it there? Why not just lock everything in the car? Maybe leave the pump on the beach if you need to pump up on the beach.

Also, insurance companies will generally depreciate anything you try to claim so having your 3 year old kite stolen is not likely to get you a nice new one.