TORBAY SEA SCHOOL – STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
The following conditions form part of every contract for training courses provided by TORBAY SEA SCHOOL (TSS).
1. Booking your course
1.1. To secure your booking, you should either book using our online service or complete and sign TSS’s booking form and send it to the address indicated thereon together with a 25% deposit or as otherwise advised by TSS. A separate booking form should be completed for each person or family group.
1.2. A Booking Confirmation will be issued following receipt of the booking form and the deposit. No contract will exist between you and the Company until a Booking Confirmation is issued.
1.3. If for any reason TSS does not accept your booking, any payment received will be returned.
2. Prices and payment terms
2.1. Prices for TSS courses, and the related payment schedules, are shown on the TSS website: www.torbayseaschool.co.uk and are available from the Company during normal office hours. These prices are subject to change at any time.
2.2. The price applicable to a booking is the price for the relevant course shown on the TSS website on the date on which the booking form is received in the Company’s office together with the deposit. In the event that the price quoted on your booking form is out of date, we will not issue you with a Booking Confirmation until you have specifically agreed the new price.
2.3. For all courses booked more than four weeks prior to the commencement of a course, a non-refundable registration fee is payable at the time of booking. The amount of the registration fee is 25% of the total and forms part of your deposit. In the event a course is booked within four weeks of the commencement of the said course, then the whole of the course fee is payable at the time of booking, of which a part, represents the non-refundable registration fee.
2.4. The balance (if any) of any course fees due (“the Final Payment”) is payable not later than four weeks prior to the commencement of the course. The date for payment of the balance due will be included on the Booking Confirmation. Joining Details will not be sent to you until the Final Payment has been received.
2.5. In the event that any fees due remain unpaid within 7 days of the date by which the Final Payment is due, TSS reserves the right to cancel your booking without any obligation to give you notice thereof. You will thereafter be liable for the appropriate cancellation charge in accordance with condition 4.3 below.
2.6. After a Booking Confirmation has been issued, unless you choose to pay in full at the time of booking, the price of your course remains subject to surcharge in certain limited circumstances, namely variations in the cost of fuel, increases in normal published airfares, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes at airports, the exchange rates applicable to the particular course, or if the UK or overseas government or other regulatory body introduce new, or increased, taxes. Even then, TSS will absorb an amount equal to 2% of the confirmed price of the course before passing on any surcharge to you. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged. Surcharges will be notified to you by a Revised Booking Confirmation prior to the date on which the Final Payment is due. If a surcharge would increase the total price shown on your original Booking Confirmation by more than 10%, you may cancel your booking within 14 days of the date of issue of the Revised Booking Confirmation and obtain a full refund of all payments made to TSS. For the purpose of this clause, the exchange rate relevant to your booking (if any) will be that which applies on the first day of the month of your booking. This rate will be stated on your original Booking Confirmation.
2.7. TSS will not reduce its prices in the event of favourable exchange rate changes.
2.8. United Kingdom Value Added Tax has been included in the prices quoted to comply with HM Customs and Excise regulations currently in force.
3. Insurance
3.1. The Company carries insurance of up to £5M to cover tuition, public liability and employer’s liability. A copy of the Company’s policy is available for inspection at the Company’s offices by any client. By accepting these Terms and Conditions, clients accept that the Company’s insurance cover is adequate and acceptable.
3.2. It is a recommendation of TSS that you maintain full insurance cover throughout the period of the course.
4. Amendment and cancellation by you
4.1. TSS will make every effort to assist you if you wish to alter any previously agreed arrangements. Requests must be made in writing and signed by the signatory of the booking form, or by email. In the event of an alteration, TSS reserves the right to make an administration charge of £50 per amendment, together with all communication charges or other expenses incurred by TSS. These charges will be payable whether or not TSS succeeds in confirming your requested amendment.
4.2. All cancellations must be advised in writing and signed by the signatory of the booking form, or by email. Written cancellation notices should be sent to TSS at Brixham Marina, Berry Head Road, Brixham, TQ5 9BW. Recorded delivery is strongly recommended. Cancellations are effective on the day they are received by TSS.
4.3. In the event of a cancellation being notified to TSS more than four weeks prior to the commencement of the course, all monies paid will be refunded with the exception of the non-refundable registration fee (clause 2.3). In the event that the cancellation is notified to TSS later than four weeks prior to the commencement of the course, the client remains liable for the full amount of the fees, and therefore no sums paid over will be refunded. However, TSS will endeavour to sell the place and, if successful, will refund the amount of the Client’s Final Payment (less an administration fee of £50 so long as this amount has been matched from the sale of the space to the replacement client.
5. Amendment and cancellation by TSS
5.1. TSS makes every effort to operate its courses as advertised but it may very occasionally be necessary to modify a course before its commencement. If the modification is significant in that it substantially undermines the course for which you have contracted, TSS will notify you as soon as practicable and offer you three choices. You may (1) accept the modification, (2) change your booking to another available course or (3) cancel and receive a full refund. If you choose another available course which is more expensive, you must pay the difference, but, if it is cheaper, TSS will make the appropriate refund. If there is a minor modification before you depart (that is a change not included in the definition of a significant modification set out above), TSS will try to notify you, although it is not obliged to do so nor is it obliged to pay any compensation.
5.2. If TSS becomes unable to provide a significant element of your course after it has commenced, suitable alternative arrangements will be made for you at no extra charge to you or, alternatively, you will be returned to your point of departure and given a refund which TSS in its sole discretion considers appropriate to the circumstances.
5.3. In the event that the vessel on which the course booked was due to be conducted is not available, TSS reserves the right to conduct the course on another vessel. In the unlikely event that a suitable vessel is not available for the course, TSS will advise you immediately and the provisions of clause 5.1 will apply.
5.4. TSS reserves the right to cancel your course. However, it guarantees that it will not do so for any reason other than force majeure after the date on which the final payment is due. “Force majeure” refers to serious unavoidable circumstances outside of TSS’s control which are unforeseen and disruptive to TSS’ ability to carry out services. This includes but is not limited to; war, civil unrest, labour stoppages, natural disaster or adverse weather conditions. In the event of a cancellation due to force majeure, TSS will use reasonable endeavours to arrange an alternative course of a comparable standard. In the event that this does not prove possible or practicable, the Company undertakes to give an appropriate refund having regard to the circumstances.
6. Responsibilities of TSS
6.1. Whilst TSS takes all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents or injury, you acknowledge and agree that some of the activities you participate in on the course carry a risk of accident and injury. You undertake not to take any unreasonable risks, and you accept that if you do, then you are responsible for the consequences of your own actions.
6.2. TSS will make all reasonable checks to ensure that those involved in the preparation and provision of its courses have the appropriate qualifications.
6.3 Descriptions, information and opinions given in the Company’s brochure and on its website in respect of the yachts, accommodation and other suppliers whose services are used are given in good faith, based on the latest information available at the time.
6.4. TSS will be under no liability whatsoever if you suffer loss, death or personal injury where there has been no fault on the part of TSS or its employees, skippers, agents or suppliers. TSS will also be under no liability if the loss, death or personal injury is attributed to your acts or omissions, those of a third party, or unusual unforeseen circumstances and events which could not be avoided by TSS even with the exercise of due care. TSS’s liability to compensate you and the amount of such compensation is subject to the following limitations:
6.4.1. In the case of damage other than death, illness or personal injury, compensation is restricted to a reasonable amount having regard to such factors as, inter alia, the course cost and the extent to which the enjoyment of your course can be said to have been affected.
6.4.2. In all cases, liability and compensation are limited in accordance with the provisions of all international conventions which concern transportation and accommodation.
6.5. TSS undertakes to pay all running expenses of the course including scheduled harbour and port dues, pilotage fees, fuel and gas. TSS also undertakes to use reasonable endeavours to fulfil the course within the planned time period and to return the vessel to the homeport on the date and by the time specified on the Booking Confirmation. However, TSS is not liable for any loss incurred in the event that conditions beyond its control make these aims impossible to achieve.
6.6. Every attempt will be made to give clients maximum sea time. However, if in the opinion of the instructor, weather conditions, safety or any other consideration renders it imprudent, the instructor’s decision is final.
7. Your responsibilities
7.1. You are responsible for advising TSS of details of any medical condition or allergies that you have suffered prior to the commencement of the course and of any medication that you are on that may adversely impact you while on the course. In the event that TSS in its sole discretion considers that these conditions are likely to create an unreasonable burden on the efficient conduct of the course, TSS has an absolute right to cancel your booking, in which event the cancellation provisions of clause 4.3 above will apply.
7.2. In the event that you have a criminal record or have pending any criminal charges against you, you are responsible for advising TSS of this fact. Should either of these circumstances apply, TSS has an absolute right to cancel your booking, in which event the cancellation provisions of clause 4.3 above will apply.
7.3. General information concerning passport, visa and health requirements applicable to your course will be sought from you following receipt of your booking form. It is your responsibility to obtain all documents required for your course, to ensure that these are in proper order and to take them with you. TSS will not be liable if you fail to do so and you will be responsible for meeting any additional costs incurred by reason of such failure.
7.4. When applicable, you are responsible for checking-in for flights at the correct time and for presenting yourself to take up all pre-booked components of your course. TSS cannot accept responsibility for missed flights as a result of late check-ins and no credit or refund will be given if you fail to take up any component of your course. No credit or refund will be given for lost, mislaid or destroyed travel documents.
7.5. You will be expected to behave appropriately and with due respect to the rights, dignity and worth of all school staff and other TSS customers. Refusal to behave with such considerations can result in you being required to leave the course. In this event, you accept that you will not be entitled to any refund in respect of the cost of the course.
7.6. In the event that your standard of sailing skills proves to be substantially different to that indicated by you on your booking form, and it proves impractical to include you in the course on which you have booked, the Company undertakes to discuss the situation with you but reserves the right to exclude you forthwith from the course.
7.7. You are responsible for taking appropriate care of the yacht on which your course is conducted. In the event of damage being inflicted on the yacht, then you and the other course participants will be required to pay pro rata for the damage sustained.
7.8. Clients accept that they undertake the course at their own risk. TSS is not responsible for any injury or damage that is caused to a client while on the Company’s premises, on pontoons, ladders or vessels. All clients participate in courses at their own risk.
7.9. All clients accept that as an accredited RYA Recognised Training Centre, certificates will only be issued at the end of a course if, in the opinion of the TSS’s instructors and principal, the client has reached the required standard. The TSS’s decision shall be final and accepted by the client.
7.10. All clients accept that a part of the course requires them to undertake cooking, cleaning and routine maintenance as required by the instructor. At the end of the course all students will be expected to assist in the cleaning of the vessel returning it in the same state of cleanliness as it was at the start of the course.
7.11. TSS operates a strict policy of no smoking or use of illegal substances (“drugs”) on all of its vessels. Clients agree to adhere to this policy.
7.12. The Railway and Safety Act 2003 makes it an offence for any professional staff on duty to be incapable of carrying out their duties if impaired because of drink or drugs. This includes being in charge of a vessel at anchor or in port. TSS requires that all staff and clients adhere to this policy.
7.13. All clients must be able to swim unaided for at least 100 meters.
7.14. Clients accept that all personal effects and property brought on board a vessel of the Company is done so at their own risk. The Company does not accept any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage incurred while attending the course.
8. Excursions
During the period of your course with TSS, you may book an excursion or undertake an activity other than one arranged by TSS. In such an event, your contract for such excursion or activity is with the local company providing that excursion or activity and not with TSS. TSS has no legal liability for anything that goes wrong on such an excursion or activity and any claim which you might have arising out of the same will be against the local supplier and be subject to its terms and conditions.
9. If you have a problem
9.1. If you are unhappy with any aspect of TSS’s arrangements while on your course, in the first instance this should be addressed to the course instructor. If this is not acceptable or convenient please address your complaint to the school Principal at the following: Duncan Bridgnell, Torbay Sea School, Brixham Marina, Berry Head Road, Brixham, TQ5 9BW, United Kingdom.
Tel. 01803 665556 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you are undertaking an RYA course and do not receive a satisfactory reply, please list all details including course type and date, include your full name and address and as much information as possible and write to: Mr Richard Falk, RYA Training Manager, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Southampton, SO31 4YA
10. Description of services
10.1. TSS maintains its latest and most detailed information relating to its services and courses on its website: www.torbayseaschool.co.uk. In the event of a client being provided with information which is in conflict with that stated on the Company’s website, it is the website information that should be regarded as being correct, unless the contrary information is specifically confirmed to the client in writing.
11. General
11.1. The contract to which these conditions apply and any matter arising from it are governed exclusively by the laws of England and Wales.
11.2. Unless expressly provided otherwise, no person who is not a party to a contract to which these conditions apply shall acquire any rights thereunder by virtue of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
TORBAY SEA SCHOOL
Brixham Marina, Berry Head Road, Brixham, Devon TQ5 9BW, United Kingdom
Tel. 01803 665556