Combining practical yachting insight with Tide’s mission to simplify and modernise yacht insurance.

Tide Insurance is delighted to welcome Captain James Puckle to the team as Superyacht Technical Advisor. With more than 30 years at sea, James brings a wealth of firsthand experience from life onboard some of the world’s most prestigious yachts, now channelled into shaping smarter, simpler insurance solutions for captains, owners and managers.

A Passion for the Sea

For Captain James, life at sea was a calling from his childhood, from weekends spent sailing on the UK’s Solent with family, to captaining an impressive portfolio of sailing superyachts. His career has spanned three decades, countless ocean miles and a wealth of lessons learnt.

“I grew up boat-mad,” recalls James. “My father was the same, so all our holidays were on the water, crossing water before GPS was even a thing.”

That passion led him to his first yacht job in the mid-90s, after boldly flying out to Palma to persuade a Captain for a trial. Within a week, James got his first role on Beaugeste. 

From there, he quickly climbed the ranks, working on classics like Kentra. He then helmed Swan performance cruises, such as Defiance, which led him to larger yachts like Ngoni and Mikado, with long stints with owners across the Mediterranean, USA, and Caribbean.

Joining Tide Insurance

Today, he brings this depth of experience to our team at Tide Insurance, stepping into his role that bridges his unique background in superyachts and affinity for the world of insurance.

“As a Captain, your job is to protect the owner from themselves sometimes; you have to be the person who says this is safe, it will last and it’s worth it,” he adds.

It’s this pragmatic, clear-sighted approach that brings James to the Tide team. His tie to insurance runs deeper than dealing with policies and claims as a Captain.

“My father was an insurance broker, so insurance has always been in the background for me,” he adds.

James believes that keeping it simple and transparent is how yacht insurance should be.

“Most captains don’t have the time for small print; they need to know the essentials and to have it explained, clearly, in a way that makes sense, making everyone’s lives easier.” 

This belief in transparency aligns perfectly with Tide’s mission.

As James notes: “That’s what excites me about Tide: they are bringing a fresh approach that feels mutually beneficial.”

James also sees opportunities to modernise how insurance supports operations at sea, from safety concerns around lithium batteries to the complexities of crew rest hours. He knows the industry’s pressure points firsthand, noting that fewer shortcuts, better planning, and smarter tools are key.

Looking Ahead: Innovation and Risk Management

James is particularly interested in how technology can streamline risk management, another element that drew him to Tide. He will be working on developing effective, easily implementable risk management solutions alongside our team to transform the yacht insurance industry.

Joining Tide is about him bringing a captain’s practical mindset into the insurance world.

“It’s refreshing to be on the other side of the fence,” he reflects. “I like that Tide is emerging, innovative and open to new ideas.” 

“James brings firsthand yachting experience plus a deep understanding of the realities captains face every day. His insight enables us to develop practical solutions, and we are excited to have him as we continue to grow Tide with a focus on innovation, clarity, and effective risk management” explains Ian Hoy, Founder and Managing Director

Keep an eye out for future articles from James about specific issues and challenges facing the superyacht insurance world.

Welcome to the team, Captain James!