Terms and Conditions
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The SailCoach Foundation, NGO Registration No. VO/1868, whose registered office is Royal Malta Yacht Club, Waterfront Office, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1028, Malta
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SailCoach Europe Ltd, company number C 59359, whose registered office is Royal Malta Yacht Club, Waterfront Office, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1028, Malta
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SailCoach Spain S.R., company number B72759913, whose registered office is Club Nàutico, Camino Canal 91, 46024 València, Spain
All three organisations hereafter are referred to as SailCoach.
At SailCoach, we’ve built our reputation over 30 years by looking after our clients and giving real value for money. We want you to enjoy your time with us, learn as much as you can, and feel confident coming back again in the future.
Our Terms and Conditions are written in clear, straightforward English, with no hidden extras. They explain what you can expect from us throughout your training package, from the moment you book until you head home. They also set out what we ask from you when you decide to join one of our programmes.
Your Booking
Once you’ve paid your deposit (€250 per person for any clinic, €500 per person for a Coaching Tour, €500 for an ILCA or RIB charter, or for TY Basecamp), our head office will email you a receipt. This confirms your booking and means you’ve read and accepted these Terms and Conditions for yourself and for anyone else included in your booking.
Our Price Policy
The prices we quote in emails or on our website are correct at the time we publish them. If our suppliers increase their costs, we may need to add a small surcharge to reflect those changes, and we’ll always do this in a fair and reasonable way.
These may be due to
- Currency fluctuations
- Increase in taxes or levies
- Change in the level of accommodation
Terms of Business
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- Once your booking is confirmed, we take a deposit per client to secure your place. The remaining balance is due two
months before the start of your training or regatta. We’ll send you an invoice before the final payment is due so you have all the details you need in good time.
Health and Safety
Your safety is extremely important to us. Watersports do involve some natural risks, and clients and their parents or guardians should be aware that occasional knocks or minor injuries can happen as part of being active on the water. We ask all clients to follow the safety instructions given by our SailCoach staff at all times.
Before any activity begins at our SailBases, a full risk assessment is carried out. All SailCoach coaches hold a valid First Aid certificate issued by an accredited organisation.
For safety reasons, wearing a flotation device is compulsory on all training packages. SailCoach reserves the right to prevent anyone from taking part if they are not wearing the required safety equipment.
Clients, parents, and guardians are responsible for ensuring that appropriate clothing is worn or available for both sailing and gym activities, whatever the weather conditions.
Medical Information
Clients taking part in our training packages should be prepared for adventurous and physically demanding activity. You should be in generally good health and confident that the programme is suitable for your level of fitness.
When booking, clients must give an honest and accurate declaration of their health and inform SailCoach of any medical conditions. SailCoach may refuse a booking if we feel a medical condition could affect a client’s safety or well-being.
All medical conditions must be fully disclosed:
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At the time of booking, and
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Directly to the coach or venue manager before any activity begins.
By joining our programmes, clients consent to basic First Aid being given by a suitably qualified member of staff if required. Clients also authorise a qualified medical practitioner to provide emergency treatment, medication, or hospitalisation if necessary. Parents or guardians must provide this consent on behalf of participants under 18.
Weather Constraints
Sailing is naturally affected by the weather, and conditions can vary from day to day. SailCoach will always do our best to get out on the water in a wide range of conditions, but for safety reasons there are times when sailing is not possible due to high winds or unsafe conditions.
We cannot take responsibility for the weather and are unable to offer refunds for sailing time lost as a result. However, whenever possible, we will do our best to arrange an appropriate catch-up session.
Personal Property
SailCoach cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage to personal belongings during your training. We recommend keeping valuables in a safe place and avoiding leaving them in changing rooms or the boat park.
Unruly Behaviour
All clients are expected to follow the SailCoach Code of Conduct and to show consideration for others during our training programmes. If, in SailCoach’s reasonable opinion, a client or any member of their group behaves in a way that could cause danger, upset, or distress to others, or damage to property, SailCoach reserves the right to remove that client from the programme immediately and without prior notice. No refunds will be given, and the client will be responsible for any damage caused.
Data Protection
When you book with SailCoach, we collect some personal information. This may be kept in its original form and on our computer systems. SailCoach is the data controller and will handle your information in line with applicable data protection laws. We do not pass your details on to third parties for marketing purposes.
By giving us your information to process a booking, you agree that your personal data may be:
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Held and accessed by authorised SailCoach staff for administration and safety purposes.
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Used to contact you in the future by email or post with newsletters and general information about our services.
You can opt out of e-newsletters at any time by sending an email with the subject “UNSUBSCRIBE” to [email protected].
Liability
Your safety is a priority for SailCoach, and we take all reasonable steps to provide a safe training environment. SailCoach accepts liability for personal injury or death only when it has been directly caused by our negligence or the negligence of our staff.
Clients understand that sailing and associated activities carry inherent risks. Except where SailCoach is negligent, clients take part in activities at their own risk and are responsible for acting with due care for their own safety.
By taking part in our programmes, clients agree that SailCoach, along with its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and sponsors, is not responsible for any loss, damage, or injury that is not caused by SailCoach’s negligence or a failure to meet our legal duties.
Circumstances Beyond Our Control
There may be rare situations where SailCoach cannot deliver part of a programme due to events outside our reasonable control. These may include, but are not limited to, severe weather, natural events, strikes, government restrictions, public health incidents, or the failure of suppliers or subcontractors.
If such an event occurs, SailCoach will take reasonable steps to minimise disruption and keep clients informed. However, SailCoach is not liable for any delay or failure to perform our obligations caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, provided we have taken reasonable measures to manage the situation.
Equipment
SailCoach will provide sailing dinghies that are appropriate for the type of training package booked. Masts are included in our charter packages; however, it can be difficult to maintain them in top racing condition at all times. If clients have particular preferences or require a mast in perfect racing order, we recommend bringing your own.
From time to time, clients may ask us to transport their equipment to another location. If SailCoach agrees to do this, it is on the understanding that we will take reasonable care of the equipment, but we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage unless it results from SailCoach’s negligence. Clients remain responsible for ensuring their equipment is suitably protected or insured during transport.
Cancellation by SailCoach
SailCoach may occasionally need to cancel a training package. This may happen if the number of clients booked does not reach the minimum required to run the programme economically. Our minimum number is four clients, as shown on our website. If we do need to cancel, we will offer you an alternative training package or provide a full refund of all payments you have made.
We will always aim to inform you of any cancellation at least 30 calendar days before the start date, or earlier whenever possible. If we cancel your training package for any reason within our control, SailCoach will refund all monies paid for the training, including the cost of any unused air tickets that cannot be refunded or changed.
If the cancellation is due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, for example severe weather, industrial action, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or transport breakdowns, we will still refund all training fees paid, but we cannot accept responsibility for additional costs outside the training package.
We make every effort to avoid cancellations, and it is rare for a programme to be cancelled once a booking has been confirmed.
Client Cancellation Policy
If a client needs to cancel their booking before the start of a Coaching Tour or Clinic, a cancellation fee may apply unless the cancellation is due to death or hospitalisation of the participant or an immediate family member. In such exceptional cases, SailCoach will consider refunds on compassionate grounds.
The cancellation fee depends on how much notice is given, the nature of the booking, and the likelihood of SailCoach being able to fill the place with another client.
The following charges apply based on the number of days between the date we receive your written cancellation and the start date of the service:
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60 days or more: No fee applies
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59 – 40 days: Deposit is forfeited
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39 – 30 days: 50 per cent of the booking price is forfeited
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29 – 15 days: 75 per cent of the booking price is forfeited
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14 days or fewer: 100 per cent of the booking price is forfeited
Once training has started, SailCoach has no obligation to provide a refund unless there are exceptional circumstances. Any such decision is at the discretion of SailCoach management.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing and will be confirmed by SailCoach via email.
By paying any invoice, clients confirm their acceptance of SailCoach’s Terms and Conditions, which are available on our website.
We strongly recommend that clients take out comprehensive travel insurance to protect against any losses should they be unable to travel for any reason.
Photography and Video Images
SailCoach may take photographs or video recordings during training activities. These may be used for training purposes or to promote and publicise SailCoach programmes through our website, social media, printed materials, press, or broadcast media.
If a client, parent, or guardian does not wish to be included in any photographs or video, they must inform SailCoach at the time of booking or provide written notice before the training activity begins. We will always respect this request.
Any images that identify clients will be handled as personal data and processed in line with GDPR requirements and SailCoach’s Privacy Policy. Images will not be shared with third parties for unrelated or commercial purposes without explicit permission.
Special Requests
If you have any special requests, such as room sharing, a sea or lake view (supplements may apply), specific meals, or other preferences, please let us know when you make your booking. We will do our best to pass these requests on to the relevant service providers and support them where possible.
Please note that special requests cannot be guaranteed, and confirmation is often only possible on arrival, depending on availability and the policies of the accommodation or service provider.
Complaints
We aim to provide a high standard of service, but if you are unhappy with any aspect of your training package, please speak to one of our senior staff at the venue as soon as possible. They will do their best to resolve the issue in line with our policies and procedures.
If the matter is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may submit a formal complaint by emailing our customer services team at [email protected] within 7 days of completing your training package.
We take all feedback and complaints seriously and will work to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. Refunds will only be issued where SailCoach is found to be in breach of these Terms and Conditions.
