Theory 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 course start date. 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 considered 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 course 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 a cancellation request is received from the client at least two months before 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 value.
Age Limits – A parent or guardian must accompany clients who are under 16 years of age. Clients aged between 16 and 18 must 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 cover clients’ personal belongings, motor vehicles, injury, or disablement, regardless of the cause.
Clients’ responsibilities – Clients have the following responsibilities: to ensure that they do not take any action that jeopardises the safety of fellow clients, skippers, or vessels; to observe the rules of Customs and Excise and any other authorities to which they may be subject; and to maintain standards of personal conduct that will not be considered offensive by fellow crew members or neighbouring vessels. In the event 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 upholds 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 attained the necessary standard. In such cases, the instructor will collaborate with the client to develop an action plan designed to help the client achieve the required standard in the future.
Health – Sailing and powerboating are activity sports, and it is the responsibility of students to ensure that they are healthy and fit to participate. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns. If, for whatever reason, the skipper has to put a student ashore or administer medical aid, Shearwater Sailing School, along with its skippers and other employees, accepts no liability. If a health condition arises that prevents a client from participating in a course, this shall be regarded as a cancellation by the client, and the cancellation procedure mentioned above will apply.
Cancellation - If a course or event were cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances by Shearwater Sailing School, an offer to reschedule for a later date would be provided. A full refund is also an option. Shearwater would bear no liability for other costs, such as travel or flights, associated with the booked sailing course.
Late Arrivals – Shearwater Sailing School shall endeavour to revise sailing timetables to accommodate late arrivals. However, if such delays impact other clients’ courses, the skipper may choose to sail without the delayed client. In these instances, no refund will be provided.
Own Boat Instruction – In addition to the above conditions, owners will be required to ensure that the vessel is equipped to a minimum RYA standard and is maintained in a proper and seamanlike condition for the intended sailing area. They must also ensure that the vessel is fully insured for the duration of the instruction and provide all travelling and out-of-pocket expenses for the instructor from their home, whichever is less. Owners will retain responsibility for the safety of the vessel at all times. The instructor will not assume the skipper’s responsibilities but will advise the owner on all safety matters. Shearwater Sailing School will make every effort to ensure that courses proceed as planned. However, should the instructor determine that weather conditions, safety, or any other considerations make it imprudent to continue, the instructor’s decision on behalf of Shearwater Sailing School will be final, and the school does not accept liability for any consequences resulting from delays or cancellations in such circumstances.
Force Majeure – In the event of non-performance, partial performance or Shearwater Sailing School delay resulting wholly or partly from any force majeure or occurrence or any circumstances whatever beyond the control of including (without limitation) the acts or omissions of third parties, labour difficulties, weather conditions, technical breakdown or accident to any vessel or any part of it, natural disaster or the act of any authority, then Shearwater Sailing School shall use reasonable endeavours to continue to perform the booking but otherwise shall have no liability to the client. The client shall be liable to pay such part of the price as applicable to that part of the booking which has been performed (if any), and all expenses connected with it, and anything in excess already paid by the client shall be refunded. Shearwater Sailing School's determination of the applicable part of the price and the connected expenses shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
Mark Lewis
Principal Yachtmaster Instructor
Shearwater Sailing School
Additional Useful Information from the RYA