Key Points:

• Only Gone Sailing Global Club Members may participate in Gone Sailing Global Club’s Hands On Sailing Trips (HOSTs).
• You enter into an agreement with Gone Sailing Global Club when we receive your deposit payment. If you then cancel, there will be cancellation charges. Initially this may only be a deposit but can go up to 100%.
• You can make changes to your booking in certain circumstances. We may make a charge for this. We can change and cancel your booking.
• We are responsible to you for providing your Gone Sailing Global Club Course but there are legal limits.
• All prices quoted herein are in Australian dollars. $AUD.
• NB read the full terms below for more information and for other important rights and obligations.

1. Our details

Postal: PO Box 364, Hamilton Island. Q. 4803.
Ph: +61 407 901 721
Email: info@gonesailingglobal.com

2. Your holiday booking

A booking will exist as soon as we have received your deposit payment. This booking is made on the terms of these booking conditions. When you make a booking, you guarantee that you have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of your party the terms of these booking conditions.

3. Luggage and Clothing

It is advised to travel as lightly as possible so as not to restrict any cabin space. Soft bags are requested at all times, as opposed to hard suitcases. Sports or casual clothes are recommended. Plenty of swimwear is required and a pullover or cardigan is recommended for cool evenings. Comfortable walking shoes are suggested for when ashore. A beach towel is also recommended along with a hat, sunscreen and glasses.

4. Not included in the Tour Rates

Passport costs, immigration fees and immigration related costs, domestic and international airfare, excess baggage, forwarding of baggage and souvenirs, alcoholic beverages and all personal expenses are not included in the fees charged by Gone Sailing Global Club. Customary tips to the crew and guides, which are left to participants’ discretion, are also not included.

5. Travel Documents

Participants must be in possession of a valid passport (expiring no earlier than six months after completion of the trip) and should obtain visas and health certificates where and as required. All requirements should be confirmed with appropriate government consulate or information offices prior to departure. It is the passenger’s responsibility to obtain any visas, passports, health certificates or other travel documentation required.

Gone Sailing Global Club cannot provide assistance obtaining passports, visas, or other documents required to participate in the trip provided by Gone Sailing Global Club.

6. Health requirements

Due to safety reasons, it is requested that health restrictions of any kind are made known to Gone Sailing Global Club at the time of reservation. It is understood that passengers requiring special attention or treatment will be travelling with their escorts. Gone Sailing Global Club retains the right to refuse to embark any pregnant woman beyond the 4th month of pregnancy for safety reasons.

Any special needs/requirements must be disclosed so that suitable arrangements can be made. Gone Sailing Global Club shall not be held liable if a participant’s trip is impacted due to the participant’s failure to inform Gone Sailing Global Club of any special needs/requirements. If support or advice is required, please contact Gone Sailing Global Club prior to booking using the contact details available on our website.

In case of a medical condition, mobility problem or a disability, possibly affecting a participant’s trip, Gone Sailing Global Club may require a doctor’s certificate or other documentation relating to such condition, problem or disability. Please provide full details of any such condition, problem or disability in writing at the time of booking.

Our boats are not suitable for passengers with special needs or wheelchairs. There are no embarkation gang ways. Cabin bathrooms and staircases are unsuitable for disabled passengers and wheelchairs.

It is a prerequisite of booking that participants have reasonable swimming abilities, meaning they must be able to swim for at least 20 minutes in open water.

Sailing can be hard and requires a reasonable level of physical and mental strength. You will be expected to be able to participate in all aspects of sailing a yacht and should be physically and mentally able to do so.

You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition, disability or reduced mobility which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed.

Gone Sailing Global Club’s HOST trips may not be suitable for people with certain disabilities, medical conditions or significantly reduced mobility. Reduced mobility of course means different things to different individuals as we fully appreciate that individual capabilities, restrictions and requirements are likely to vary considerably. When we refer to reduced mobility, this means any material reduction in mobility whether this is permanent or temporary and whether caused by age or by physical or mental disability or impairment or other cause of disability.

7. Special Dietary Requirements

Every attempt to meet special dietary requirements will be made, provided that such a request is put to Gone Sailing Global Club in writing at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the booked trip.

8. Paying for your holiday

A minimum deposit of $AUD1,500 per person (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks before your departure date) is due in order to confirm your booking. The balance of the price of your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date. If the deposit and/or balance is not paid in time, we shall cancel your travel arrangements. If the balance is not paid in time, we shall retain your deposit.

9. Cancellation by you

You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Cancellation takes effect when written notification is received by us. Since we incur costs in cancelling your travel arrangements, you may have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exception below):

Period before departure in which you notify us	Cancellation charge
More than 70 days	Deposit only
57-70 days	30% of holiday cost (or loss of deposit if greater)
43-56 days	50% of holiday cost
29-42 days	70% of holiday cost
15-28 days	90% of holiday cost
0-14 days	100% of holiday cost

Note: If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

You can cancel your booking without paying cancellation charges if the performance of your package, or the carriage of passengers to your destination, is significantly affected by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances. In such circumstances, we will arrange for your booking to be terminated and for you to receive a full refund.

10. Alterations by you

Any request for changes to be made by you must be made in writing. You may be asked to pay an administration charge or for any further cost we incur in making this alteration. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made, and you should contact us as soon as possible.

Note: Certain arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

You may be able to transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the Gone Sailing Global Club conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing as soon as possible and no later than 7 days before departure. Both you and the new traveller are responsible for paying all costs we may incur in making the transfer.

11. Alterations to the price

Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked. However, there will be no change within 20 days of your departure.

We will absorb, and you will not be charged for, any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that. If this results in an increase equivalent to more than 8% of the price of your travel arrangements, you will have the option of accepting a change to another HOST if we are able to offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the cost changes mentioned above, then any refund due will be paid to you. We will deduct from this refund our administrative expenses incurred. Please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.

12. Alterations or cancellation by us

As you will appreciate, your holiday arrangements are made many months in advance and on rare occasions it may be necessary to make modifications to them. It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure you are notified about it.

We also reserve the right to cancel your holiday. Wherever possible, we will not cancel less than 10 weeks before your departure date, except for unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, or failure by you to pay the final balance. Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances means a situation beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures have been taken. If we are constrained by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the trip or we have to cancel your holiday you will have the rights set out below.

We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given your booking may be cancelled.

13. Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of any obligations under the agreement(s) with you is prevented or affected or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.

In these booking conditions, unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances means a situation which is beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

Such situations are likely to include (whether actual or threatened) war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural disaster, exceptional weather conditions, fire, flood, an outbreak of a serious illness at your holiday destination, closure, restriction or congestion of airports, other transport hubs or airspace, flight restrictions imposed by any regulatory authority or other third party and volcanic activity.

14. Our liability to you

You must inform us without undue delay of any failure to perform or improper performance of the HOST services included in this package. If any of the HOST services included are not performed in accordance with the agreement , or are improperly performed, by us or the HOST service suppliers, and this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements, you may be entitled to an appropriate price reduction or compensation or both. We will not be liable where any failure to perform or improper performance of the HOST services is due to: you or another member of your party; or a third party unconnected with the provision of the HOST services in the package and is unforeseeable or unavoidable; or unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which means a situation beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.

Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of three times the cost of your travel arrangements. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to

(a) The contractual terms of the companies that provide the HOST services that make up your package. These terms are incorporated into this booking; and

(b) Any relevant international convention, for example the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation, which limit the amount of and conditions under which compensation can be claimed for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of the extent of or the conditions under which compensation is to be paid under these or any conventions.

If it is impossible to ensure your return as scheduled due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, we will bear the cost of necessary accommodation, if possible of equivalent category, for a maximum of three nights. The limit does not apply to persons with reduced mobility and any person accompanying them, pregnant women and unaccompanied minors, or persons in need of specific medical assistance, provided that you notified us of these needs at least 48 hours before the start of your holiday.

15. Flotilla & Cruise Itineraries

After departure of flotillas or HOST cruises, on occasion and due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond our control such as exceptionally bad weather, navigational restrictions or other operational difficulty, in the interests of client safety or comfort, the skipper or captain may make required changes to the itinerary at his discretion. Cancelling a port or ports of call or making required changes in the itinerary does not entitle passengers to any claim against us, or to any refund. If necessary, an itinerary may be changed, or vessel substituted before or after commencement of the holiday or cruise. During the holiday, should the yacht or vessel sustain any breakdown in machinery or equipment disrupting the cruise itinerary for more than 24 hours, and if no alternative arrangement or substitute vessel is offered, then passengers may be entitled to a proportional refund for those cruise days not completed.

16. Covid-19: Limitation of liability

We acknowledge the ongoing COVID-19 global crisis and accept our obligations to comply with any official guidance from governments or local authorities at our HOST destination.

Please note that we will have no liability for any refunds, compensation, costs, expenses or other losses of any kind incurred by you (including, where applicable, the cost of medical treatment), in the following circumstances:

1. If you, or anyone in your booking party, test positive for Covid-19 and have to quarantine for a period of time, or are notified or otherwise become aware that you have, or suspect you may have, come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 (or where they otherwise suspect they may have Covid-19) and have to self-isolate for a period of time.
2. If this happens within 14 days of your departure date, you must contact us as you may no longer be able to travel. We will offer you the following options where possible and subject to availability:
3. Postponing your holiday to a later date. We will notify you of any impact on the price the postponement may have;
4. If not everyone on the booking is affected, you will have the right to transfer your place on the holiday to another person nominated by you, subject always to the Gone Sailing Global Club requirements;

• Cancelling your holiday, in which case we will impose our standard cancellation charges as at the date of cancellation by you. You may be able to claim these costs back from your travel insurance.

If this happens whilst you are on your holiday, please notify us without delay and we will provide such reasonable assistance as we can in the circumstances. However, we will not be responsible for covering the cost of any curtailment of your holiday, missed transport arrangements, additional accommodation required, or other associated costs incurred by you. You must ensure you have travel insurance which covers these costs for you.

17. Security Deposits, Smoking, Alcohol, Behaviour and damage

Gone Sailing Global Club is required to submit a security deposit with the charter company supplying our vessel/s. In the event a Gone Sailing Global Club Member causes specific damage to our vessel, resulting in charges being imposed by the yacht charter company to undertake repairs or covering damages, such costs and charges will be borne by the Gone Sailing Global Club Member responsible for causing such damage.

When you book with or through us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be made as soon as possible. We reserve the right to deduct any sum(s) owing in whole or in part from your security deposit, where applicable. If the actual cost of the loss or damage exceeds the amount paid where estimated, you must pay the difference once known. If the actual cost is less than the amount paid, the difference will be refunded. You will also be responsible for meeting any claims subsequently made against the principal or us and all costs incurred by the principal or us (including full legal costs for all parties) as a result of your actions. You should ensure you have appropriate travel insurance to protect you if this situation arises.

We expect all clients to have consideration for other people, themselves and any property including the yachts. You are not permitted to smoke below decks on any of the yachts and only in the designated location on the yacht, as directed by the skipper.

If in the reasonable opinion of the skipper or in the reasonable opinion of any other person in authority, you behave in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause danger, upset or distress to any third party or damage to property, including as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, the skipper or person in authority is entitled, without prior notice, to terminate the holiday of the person(s) concerned. In this situation, the person(s) concerned will be required to leave the yacht or other service. The skipper will have the same entitlements as any person in authority. In all cases the skipper and any suppliers concerned will have no further responsibility toward such person(s) including any return travel arrangements. No refunds will be made and we and the skipper will not pay any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the termination.

18. Complaints

If you have a complaint about any of the services included in your HOST, you must inform a senior representative of Gone Sailing Global Club without undue delay who will endeavour to put things right. If it is not resolved locally, please follow this up as soon as possible after your return home, ideally within 28 days by writing to our office: Gone Sailing Global, PO Box 364, Hamilton Island. Queensland. Australia, 4803, giving all relevant information. If you fail to follow the requirement to report your complaint we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify it and this may affect your rights under this booking.

19. Additional assistance

If you’re in difficulty whilst on your HOST and ask us to help we will provide appropriate assistance, in particular by providing information on health services, local authorities and consular assistance; and helping you to find alternative arrangements and any necessary phone calls/emails. You must pay any costs we incur, if the difficulty is your fault.

20. Insurance

You must have travel insurance which provides cover that is suitable and adequate for your specific requirements. Please note that most travel insurance policies do not cover activities which the insurers consider to be hazardous. We do not check insurance policies. Travel Insurance is highly recommended and the responsibility of all participating Gone Sailing Global Club Members booking a HOST.

14. Passport, visa and immigration requirements

Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility, and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements.

15. Law and jurisdiction

This booking is governed by Australian Law, and the jurisdiction of the Australian Courts.

16. Data protection and photography

It is possible that while you are on your HOST, photographs or video may be taken for inclusion in our teaching program, on our website or for other promotional purposes. Where it is practical to do so, we will seek the consent of any Gone Sailing Global Club Members who are prominently included in any shots. Consent will not generally be sought from clients who only appear in the background. No clients will be identified by name, unless expressly authorised to do so. You are taken to have agreed to your image being included in any videography or photography.