Terms & Conditions
BVI Sailing Coach & Caribbean Sailing Coach
Last Updated: June 1, 2026
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern all bookings, courses, charters, and activities offered by BVI Sailing Coach and Caribbean Sailing Coach (“we,” “our,” or “us”). By booking a course or activity with us, you agree to these Terms, which incorporate our Booking & Payment Policy and Cancellation, Transfers & Rescheduling Policy.
1. Booking & Payment Milestones (Advance Bookings)
For all bookings made more than 90 days before the scheduled course start date, the following payment schedule is strictly enforced:
- Initial Deposit: A deposit of 30% of the total course fee is required at the time of booking to secure your dates and fleet allocation.
Of this deposit, 20% of the total course fee is immediately
non-refundable and is allocated as an administrative, reservation, and scheduling fee.
- The remaining 10% of the total course fee is refundable only if the booking is canceled in strict compliance with the timelines in Section 4.
- Progress Payment: 90 days prior to the course start date, an additional 45% of the total course fee is due, bringing the total amount paid to 75%.
Final Balance: 60 days prior to the course start date, the remaining 15% balance must be paid in full.
2. Late Booking Payment Terms
Bookings made 90 to 61 days before start: Require an immediate 75% payment at the time of booking. Of this total course fee, 50% is non-refundable upon payment.
Bookings made 60 days or less before start: Require immediate 100% full payment at the time of booking. The total course fee is 100% non-refundable upon payment.
3. non-refundable upon payment.
- Currency: All prices are listed and payable exclusively in United States Dollars (USD).
- Wire Verification Policy: For all payments made via bank wire transfer, the booking status remains “Pending” and is not legally confirmed until the funds have fully cleared into our bank account. It is the client’s sole responsibility to initiate wire transfers at least five (5) business days prior to any payment milestone deadline. If funds are not fully cleared in our account by the due date, the booking will be treated as an unpaid late booking or cancellation under Section 4.
- The “Sender Pays Fees” (OUR Instruction) Rule: All bank wire transfers must be sent using the “OUR” instruction style, meaning the sender explicitly elects to pay all wire, intermediary bank, and receiving bank fees. The exact total amount specified on the invoice must land in our account in full. Any shortfall due to bank deductions will be added to the client’s final balance and must be settled prior to boarding.
4. Cancellation by the Client & Refund Fees
If you cancel your booking, the following fees apply. These are calculated as a percentage of your total course fee, regardless of the underlying reason for your cancellation:
Cancellation Timeline
Non-Refunda ble Fee
Refund/Credit Terms
20% of total fee
Remaining balance paid (25%) is refunded.
Processing Deductions: All refunds are issued via bank wire transfer to the original source. Any merchant processing fees, bank wire fees ($50 USD flat outgoing fee), or currency conversion charges incurred during the transactions are strictly non-refundable and will be deducted from your final payout.
Dispute & Recall Waiver: By submitting payment, the client acknowledges that this cancellation fee structure constitutes liquidated damages to compensate the company for lost reservation slots and administrative overhead. The client irrevocably waives any right to initiate wire recall requests, bank reversals, or credit card chargebacks for any non-refundable fees properly assessed under these terms.
5. Date Transfers & Rescheduling (Case-by-Case)
We recognize that unexpected changes occur. Rather than enforcing a rigid cutoff, all requests to transfer dates or reschedule an active booking are reviewed on a case-by-case basis per individual situation.
- Operational & Administrative Costs: If a date transfer is approved, a minimum Date Transfer Fee equal to 10% of the total course fee per person will be applied to cover administrative restructuring. Depending on how close the request is made to the original start date, additional operational costs (such as pre-booked slip fees, specific instructor allocations, or unrecoverable charter commitments) may be invoiced to the client to facilitate the move.
- Time Limitation: The new rescheduled date must be confirmed immediately at the time of approval, must apply to the exact same course/boat/location type, and must commence within 12 months of the original scheduled start date.
- Rate Fluctuations: Any higher seasonal rates, fuel adjustments, or price increases active at the time of the newly chosen transfer dates must be paid immediately by the client. Original promotional discounts do not carry over to rescheduled bookings.
- Right of Refusal: If a date transfer cannot be accommodated due to zero fleet or instructor availability, or if the request causes irreversible financial loss to the company, the request will be handled strictly as a standard Client Cancellation under Section 4.
6. No-Shows & Late Arrivals
- Failure to arrive on your scheduled start date/time is classified as a cancellation, resulting in total forfeiture of all funds with no option for refund, credit, or rescheduling.
- Late arrival does not entitle the participant to a refund, credit, makeup time, or rescheduling.
7. Cancellation by the Company & Force Majeure
We reserve the right to cancel or postpone a course due to unsafe weather conditions, natural disasters, environmental hazards, acts of God, government restrictions, border closures, port authorities’ mandates, mechanical breakdown, sudden vessel damage, or operational issues beyond our control.
- Before Commencement: If we cancel before your course starts, you may choose to either reschedule within 12 months at no additional operational cost, or receive a full refund of all amounts paid to us. We are not liable for secondary costs like flights, external hotels, or lost vacation time.
- The “Own Boat” Tuition Exception: If you provide your own vessel for tuition, you bear sole responsibility for its mechanical integrity and seaworthiness. Any delay or cancellation caused by mechanical breakdown or equipment failure on a client-owned vessel is treated strictly as a Client Cancellation (Section 4). No refunds or free rescheduling windows apply.
- Force Majeure Rules: If an act of God or storm occurs before the start date, clients may reschedule within 12 months. No cash refunds are provided; 100% of funds will be credited to future dates. If it occurs after the trip begins, no refunds apply for completed portions; uncompleted portions can be rescheduled at our lowest operational cost price, subject to fleet/instructor availability.
- Insurance Payouts: If you receive an insurance payout for a trip interruption, we reserve the right to invoice you for direct operational costs associated with your rescheduling (such as yacht repositioning or additional instructor block-out time).
- Final Authority: Maritime safety and route decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Captain and are final. The Captain’s authority is absolute under British Virgin Islands law.
8. Participant Responsibilities
- Fitness Requirements: You must be in good physical condition and capable of participating safely under active sailing and open-water conditions.
- Command Structure: You must strictly follow all instructor and captain directions at all times for the safety of the vessel and crew.
- Medical Disclosure: You must explicitly inform us of any medical conditions, severe allergies, dietary restrictions, or physical limitations via our health questionnaire before the course begins.
9. Physical Ability & Safety Requirements
- Capability Baseline: For critical safety reasons, all participants must be physically able to safely board, disembark, and move around the vessel dynamically without external assistance. This includes the ability to maintain balance on a heavily moving yacht, navigate steep companionway steps or ladders, enter and exit the water via a swim ladder, and actively participate in sailing or powerboating activities as required by the itinerary.
- Suitability Assessment: By booking a trip or course, the client confirms that they and all registered party members fully meet these physical capability requirements. It is the client’s sole responsibility to accurately assess their party’s physical suitability for the planned maritime activities.
- Non-Participation: If a client is unable to participate due to underlying physical limitations, acute medical conditions, or mobility-related restrictions, no refund, credit, or financial compensation will be provided.
- Boarding Restrictions: Failure to disclose medical or physical limitations at the time of booking may result in denied boarding or immediate termination of participation without a refund or credit. The captain/instructor retains absolute safety authority to restrict participation at any point; these safety decisions are final and completely non-refundable.
10. Liability & Assumption of Risk
Sailing and boating involve inherent risks, including vessel movement, exposure to elements, and deep-water activities. By booking, you acknowledge and willingly accept these risks.
- We are not liable for personal injury, illness, loss, damage, or theft of personal property.
- You agree and covenant to sign our standard Liability Waiver & Release Form before boarding the vessel. Failure to sign this waiver will result in denied boarding without a refund.
11. Certification & Course Requirements
- Certification is not guaranteed by attendance alone; it is awarded only upon meeting all practical skill and theoretical knowledge standards defined by the certifying body.
- Basic Keelboat 101 (or documented equivalent experience) is required before enrolling in a Advanced/Bareboat Cruising course unless you successfully book and pass an official “test out” evaluation with our instructors prior to your main dates.
12. Photo & Media Release
By participating, you consent to us using captured photographs and video footage of your course for promotional, marketing, and social media purposes, unless you opt out explicitly in writing to info@bvisailingcoach.com prior to your course start date.
13. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed exclusively by the laws of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Any legal disputes, claims, or proceedings arising out of these terms must be filed and resolved exclusively within the courts of the British Virgin Islands.
14. Contact Information
Email: info@bvisailingcoach.com
