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NOTE: Program fees, descriptions and policies are subject to change at any time without notice.
A 50% deposit is required to confirm the reservation. The entire fee is due by the Balance Due Date, which is 30 days prior to the beginning date of the program. Failure to pay the full fee by the Balance Due Date constitutes automatic cancellation of the program by the participant.
Cash, cashier's checks and personal checks are accepted up to the Balance Due Date. After the Balance Due Date only cash or cashier's checks will be accepted. Sorry, but no credit cards are accepted at this time.
All checks must be payable to "Edmund M. Downing".
Sailing School Discount: If the participant is a member of an an organization accredited as a sailing school by US SAILING, a 10% discount is applied to the program fee for that participant.
Full Payment Discount: If payment is made in full at the time of booking and booking is prior to the Balance Due Date, a 5% discount is applied to the program fee.
Prerequesite Credit: Participants in prerequesites receive a 10% credit of the prerequesite program that can only be applied to the primary program.
Repeat Program Credit: Participants repeating any program receive a credit of 10% of the fee paid for the previous participation in that program.
Repeat Customer Discount: Participants repeating any program receive a 5% discount on any new program.
Club Member Discount: If the participant does NOT qualify for the Sailing School Discount, but IS a member of US SAILING, a recognized sailing club, yacht club, auto club, service club such as Rotary or Elks, or other similar organization, a 5% discount is applied to the program fee for that participant.
Some organizations, such as Windworks Sailing Center, have negotiated special rates and programs for their clientele. To qualify for the special negotiated rate, the program must be booked and paid through the specific organization. When used, this discount supplants all other discounts, and the negotiated fee policies, (Payment Due Schedule, Cancellations, Late Reservations, and Refunds) take precedence over those specified here.
Reservations made after the Balance Due Date must be accompanied with the full fee in cash or cashier's check made payable to "Edmund M. Downing". There are no discounts for late reservations.
No program will be canceled due to weather. Rather, the program will be adjusted to accommodate the current weather conditions.
If a participant cancels prior to the Balance Due Date a full refund, less a cancellation fee of 10% of the program fee (or $100, whichever is greater) is granted.
If a participant cancels on the Balance Due Date or within 15 days following the Balance Due Date a full refund, less a cancellation fee of 50% of the program fee is granted.
If a participant cancels within 15 days of the start of the program there is no refund.
Any refunds for program cancellations will be paid by check and mailed within 15 days of the notice of cancellation.
Any gratuities are at the sole discretion of the program participants. The suggested guideline is 10-15% of the program fee, keeping in mind that the vessel's captain and crew are working very closely with the participants and are available to them, 24 hours a day, from the moment they first arrive at the dock until they pick up their belongings and depart.
All program participants are required to agree to a waiver of liability. The waver states that sailing as a sport has some inherent dangers. Accordingly the participant accepts full responsibility for his/her own health, welfare and actions while participating in any way in any of these programs, absolving Volant, Volant Sailing Adventures, and the Captain and crew from any and all liability.
Unless explicitely included in the program fee, ALL costs for ALL land-based activities, such as meals ashore, transfers to and from the boat, museums, taxis and busses, are the sole responsibility of the participant even when such activities are required as part of the program.
Weather , mechanical, political and other unforseen problems can and do occur. While it is unlikely that the program will terminate somewhere else, it cannot be guaranteed that the program will end at the scheduled destination. If, for any reason whatsoever, the program is unable to complete at the scheduled destination, it is the sole responsibility of the participant to arrange for suitable transportation from the actual destination terminal at the end of the program.
For programs where any destination is in a country different from the program's point of departure, each program participant is required to have a valid passport and sufficient cash to purchase a ticket to return to the program termination point. The passport and cash will be held by the Captain until the end of the program.
For programs where the scheduled final destination is in a country other than the point of departure, each program participant is required to have a valid ticket from the program destination back to the program departure point or back to the participant's country of legal residence. Sufficient cash to purchase an appropriate ticket may be accepted in lieu of a ticket. The ticket (or cash in lieu) will be held by the Captain until the end of the program.
There is no smoking anywhere aboard the vessel at any time.
On-board living is in tight quarters, and actions ashore by any one participant reflect on all. Thus it is incumbent on each to be especially courteous to all others, whether aboard or ashore.
If any participant, in the sole opinion of the Captain, is deemed to be engaging in inappropriate behavior, a single warning will be issued. If, after the warning, the Captain deems that the individual is continuing in his/her inappropriate behavior, then that individual will be immediately placed ashore with his/her belongings at the first possible safe opportunity and immediately discharged from the program. If such occurs, there are no refunds and no appeal.
If any program participant is even suspected by the Captain of being in possession of or using any illegal substance, whether aboard or ashore, that participant may be immediately placed ashore with his/her belongings at the first possible safe opportunity and immediately discharged from the program. If this occurs on a Captained Charter then the vessel will immediately return to the dock and ALL program participants will be discharged. There are no refunds and no appeal.
Light consumption of alcohol is permitted only with the consent of the Captain. This consent will only be given during times when the Captain deems that the safety of the vessel and/or participants will not be potentially at risk. This period typically occurs while at anchor or at the dock during the evening meal and Sunset Ceremonies.
If any program participant is even suspected by the Captain of abusing alcohol, that person may be immediately placed ashore with his/her belongings at the first possible safe opportunity and immediately discharged from the program. If this occurs on a Captained Charter then the boat will immediately return to the dock and ALL program participants will be discharged. If any such incident occurs, there are no refunds and no appeal.