Terms & Conditions

TERMS & CONDITIONS (Children, Cadets and Adult Participants) – Cinque Ports Sailing 

These Terms and Conditions apply to all participants taking part in training, courses, or club sailing sessions organised by Cinque Ports Sailing.  Clauses relating specifically to children, parental consent, supervision, or safeguarding apply only to participants under the age of 18.  

1. Delivery of Training
Cinque Ports Sailing acts as the umbrella membership organisation for Cinque Ports Sailing, Dover, Martello Lakes Sailing (Hythe) and Conningbrook Lakes Sailing (Ashford).  Each of the three centres operates under a distinct RYA-recognised centre name, in accordance with RYA requirements.  

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for sailing and all Cinque Ports Sailing RYA  courses are delivered in line with the Association’s approved syllabus. 

Sailing training sessions are delivered by Cinque Ports Sailing or by an appointed RYA Recognised Training Centre, staffed by appropriately qualified and experienced RYA instructors. Non-RYA sessions (for example, sailing on club members’ boats or club boats) are also covered by these conditions.

2. Eligibility and Safety
Participants must be aged 8+ unless otherwise agreed in advance. Cadet or child participants must be aged 8-18 unless otherwise agreed in advance. 

All participants must wear a suitable buoyancy aid or lifejacket while on the water and must be confident in the water. Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn at all times.

3. Supervision, Arrival and Collection
All children must be accompanied at the start and end of each session.  Written permission is required for children aged 13–17 to leave sessions unaccompanied. Parents or guardians must remain contactable by mobile phone during sessions.  

Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (or an adult appointed by them) when sailing on a yacht.  

If booked on a SUP Taster session at Dover, children under the age of 18 must be booked on with a participating adult.  

Schools and group sessions require a minimum of 2 teachers or appropriate staff members to be present throughout the sessions.  

4. Parental Consent and Medical Information
A Parental Consent Form must be completed for each child. Parents/guardians must ensure information is accurate and up to date.   All participants must disclose any medical conditions or medication that could affect participation and highlight to the Instructor on the day before the safety briefing of the course/session.  

Cinque Ports Sailing reserves the right to refuse participation on medical or safety grounds.

5. Instructions and Behaviour
Participants must follow all reasonable instructions given by staff or instructors. Cinque Ports Sailing reserves the right to remove participants whose behaviour is unsafe or disruptive.

6. Equipment and Personal 

Participants must respect boats and equipment. Compensation may be sought for deliberate or reckless damage. Personal property is brought at the owner’s risk.  Cinque Ports Sailing cannot accept responsibility or liability for any loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings or valuables brought onto site. We therefore strongly recommend that you avoid bringing high-value items wherever possible and keep personal possessions to a minimum. 

7. Use of Safety Equipment
Borrowed buoyancy aids or lifejackets are provided in good faith and checked regularly. Nothing in these conditions limits Cinque Ports Sailing’s legal responsibilities.

8. Liability
Cinque Ports Sailing accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal property except where required by law.  Nothing limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.

9. Cancellations, Changes and Refunds
Cinque Ports Sailing may cancel or alter sessions due to weather, safety or operational reasons.   Where possible Cinque Ports Sailing will seek to reschedule the session if forced to cancel.  Refunds follow the Booking and Refund Policy, below.

10. Changes to Conditions
Participants, Parents and guardians must keep Cinque Ports Sailing informed of updates to these conditions.
 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO - CONDITIONS OF USE

In accordance with our safeguarding policy, Cinque Ports Sailing will not arrange for photographs, video, or other images of adult participants, children or young people to be taken or published without appropriate consent from parents/guardians and the children or adult participant involved.

Where consent is given in writing, we will observe the following conditions:

1. Participants/children  will normally be identified by first name only.
2. Full names  will not be used alongside images without good reason (for example, a club      newsletter announcing a trophy or award).
3. Personal contact details will never be published alongside images.
4. Group  photographs or video may be used with general descriptions (for example,      “Cadet Week”).
5. Images will  only be used where children are suitably dressed.
6. Images or video may be used for coaching or officiating purposes during training or competition.
7. Any  commercial sale of images will be limited to event organisers or official  photographers.

If you have concerns about the use of images, please contact the Cinque Ports Sailing Safeguarding Officer via email info@cinqueportssailing.co.uk

BOOKING AND REFUND POLICY 

· When making a booking, you agree to the Cinque Ports Sailing general terms and conditions. These will be highlighted to you during the booking process and can also be found here on our website www.cinqueportssailing.co.uk

· Individual cancellations: If no alternative date is available, cancellations made more than 14 days before the session start date are eligible for a refund of the course or session fee, less a 2% administration charge. 

· Individual cancellations within 14 days: Cancellations made within 14 days of the session start date are non-refundable. However, subject to availability, bookings may be transferred to an alternative date for an administration fee of £10.00. 

· Non-attendance: No refunds will be given for participants who fail to attend a session. 

· Cancellation by Cinque Ports Sailing: If Cinque Ports Sailing is required to cancel a session, participants will be offered an alternative date wherever possible. If an alternative date cannot be arranged, a full refund will be provided. 

· Schools and group bookings: Full payment is required no later than two months before the session date. Cancellations made within one month of the session date will incur a cancellation charge equal to 50% of the total booking value.    Cancellations made within 14 days of the session date will be charged at 100% of the booking value, as staffing, equipment, and venue arrangements will already have been committed.

· All courses and organised sailing activity at Cinque Ports Sailing Dover, Martello Lakes Hythe and Conningbrook Lakes, Ashford, is administered by Cinque Ports Sailing (the Sailing School).  In order to comply with insurance requirements all participants must be enrolled in Cinque Ports Sailing. The annual enrolment fee must be paid and is non-refundable (£25 per adults, £15 per child).