Online Booking Form
Please complete the form below FOR EACH PERSON and click Submit, or download a printable version of the form HERE.
Terms and Conditions
Payments – A deposit of £100 or an agreed fee is required before a booking can be confirmed. The outstanding course fee must be paid one month before the start date of the course. If the course is booked within one month of the start date, the full course fee is due at the time of booking. If the final payment is not received, the booking may be deemed cancelled and Shearwater Sailing School reserves the right to resell the booking. If the client wishes to change a booking within one month of the start date, Shearwater Sailing School will not be liable for the return of the deposit or any other payments.
Payments and deposits will only be refunded if the course place is resold, or if the cancellation request is received from the client two months prior to the course start date. In the event of any cancellation by the client, Shearwater Sailing School reserves the right to impose an administration charge of up to 5% of the course fee value.
Age Limits – Clients under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Clients aged 16 to 18 are required to have their booking form countersigned by a parent or guardian.
Insurance – Shearwater Sailing School's vessels, buildings, and equipment are insured. However, the insurance does not cover negligence, nor does it extend to clients’ personal belongings, motor vehicles, injuries, or disabilities, regardless of how they are caused.
Clients’ responsibilities – Clients bear the following responsibilities: to ensure that they do not engage in any actions that jeopardise the safety of fellow clients, skippers, or vessels; to comply with the rules of Customs and Excise, as well as any other authorities to which they may subject themselves; and to uphold standards of personal conduct that will not be deemed offensive by fellow crewmembers or neighbouring vessels. In the case of unacceptable behaviour, Shearwater Sailing School reserves the right to terminate the offending client’s course. Under such circumstances, fees will not be refunded.
RYA Certificates – Shearwater Sailing School maintains high standards of instruction and adheres to RYA guidelines regarding certificates. Certificates will not be issued if, in the instructor's opinion, the client has not achieved the necessary standard. In such cases, the instructor will collaborate with the client to develop an action plan aimed at helping them meet the required standard in the future.
Health – Sailing and powerboating are activity sports, and it is the responsibility of students to ensure they are healthy and fit to participate. Please consult your doctor if you have any doubts. If, for any reason, the skipper must put a student ashore or administer medical aid, Shearwater Sailing School, its skippers, or other employees accept no liability. If a health condition arises that prevents a client from taking part in a course, this shall be regarded as a cancellation by the client, and the cancellation procedure above will apply.
Cancellation - If a course or event is cancelled by some unforeseen circumstance at Shearwater Sailing School, an offer to reschedule at a later date will be provided. A full refund is also an option. Shearwater will not be liable for other costs, such as travel or flights, associated with the booked sailing course.
Late Arrivals – Shearwater Sailing School will make every effort to revise sailing timetables to accommodate late arrivals. However, if such delays affect other clients’ courses, the skipper may decide to sail without the delayed client. In such cases, no refund will be given.
Own Boat Instruction – In addition to the above conditions, owners will be required to: ensure that the vessel is equipped to minimum RYA standards and maintained in a proper and seamanlike condition for the intended sailing area; ensure that the vessel is fully insured for the duration of the instruction; provide all travelling and out-of-pocket expenses for the instructor from their home, whichever is the lesser; and retain responsibility for the safety of the vessel throughout. The instructor will not assume the skipper’s responsibilities; however, he will advise the owner on all safety matters. Shearwater Sailing School will make every effort to ensure that courses proceed as planned. However, if, in the instructor’s opinion, weather conditions, safety, or any other consideration renders it imprudent to continue, then the instructor’s decision at Shearwater Sailing School is final, and Shearwater Sailing School does not accept liability for the consequences of delay or cancellation in such situations.
Force Majeure – In the event of non-performance, partial performance, or delay by Shearwater Sailing School resulting wholly or partly from any force majeure, occurrence, or circumstances beyond its control—including (but not limited to) the acts or omissions of third parties, labour difficulties, weather conditions, technical breakdowns, accidents involving any vessel or any part of it, natural disasters, or the acts of any authority—Shearwater Sailing School shall make reasonable endeavours to continue fulfilling the booking. Otherwise, it shall have no liability to the client. The client shall be liable to pay for the portion of the price applicable to the booking that has been performed (if any), along with all related expenses, while any excess already paid by the client shall be refunded. Shearwater Sailing School's determination of the applicable portion of the price and the associated expenses shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
Mark Lewis
Principal Yachtmaster Instructor
Shearwater Sailing School
Additional Useful Information from the RYA