1. Legal Foundation

These terms and conditions form the legal foundation of a contract between The Grand 8 Sailors Circle (hereinafter ‘G8SC’) and the Member under Swiss law. The G8SC operates as an organiser under Swiss Code of Obligations and has no right to act on behalf of or enter into agreements with third parties.

2. Membership

2.1 Eligibility

The G8SC membership is open to individuals aged 18 or older who are committed to the association’s objectives of promoting sailing, upholding good sailing practices, fostering camaraderie, and protecting marine environments. Applicants must agree to abide by the G8SC Statutes, these Terms & Conditions, and all operational rules.

2.2 Application Process

Prospective members are required to submit a completed online application form, provide valid identification, and pay the applicable membership fee. The G8SC executive committee retains sole discretion over membership approval. Applications may be rejected without explanation.

2.3 Membership Nature

Approved members are passive members, per Art. 5.2 of the G8SC statutes.

2.4 Validity

Memberships are valid for a period of one year and are initially extended to the end of the same month in the following year. For instance, if an individual joins on 12 September 2024, their membership will remain valid until 30 September 2025, at which point it will be automatically renewed on an annual basis every 1st of October.

2.5 Non-transferability

Membership is personal and non-transferable. Members are prohibited from assigning, selling or delegating membership privileges to third parties.

3. Membership Fees And Financial Obligations

3.1 Annual Fees

The G8SC executive committee sets membership fees on 1st August each year. For details of the fees, please refer to the dedicated memberships page.

3.2 Payment Deadlines

New memberships are due for payment in full upon application.

Subsequent annual fees are due in full by the end of the following month of each member’s annual membership period. For example, if a membership ends on the 31st of October, the renewal payment is due by the 30th of November.

In the event that full payment is not received within 30 days, a late payment penalty fee of 100€ shall be applied. Should payment not be received within 60 days, membership will be suspended.

3.3 Invoices

All membership fees are invoiced to the members.

3.4 Non-Refundability

All membership fees and added financial patrons support are non-refundable, either in full or in part.

4. Membership Rights and Benefits

4.1 Access To The G8SC Services And Activities

Members have priority and/or exclusive access to services and activities offered by the association. Some services and activities may not be included in the annual membership fee and will require additional payment, for example offshore passages. Specific terms of usage or terms and conditions may apply to services and activities, as with this website or offshore passages.

4.2 Voting Rights

Passive members are not entitled to vote, as outlined in Article 5.2 of the G8SC Statutes.

4.3 Benefits

Membership is offered in a range of tiers or levels. Each tier has its own benefits, as advertised on the dedicated memberships page.

4.4 Tiers’ Specific Conditions

‘Cadet Membership’: this membership is reserved to individuals aged between 18 and 25 at the time of membership application or renewal.

‘Double-Handed Membership’: this membership is reserved to two individuals sharing the same household and address at the time of membership application or renewal.

4.5 Patrons’ Membership

Patrons’ Membership tiers are calculated based on the core membership (‘Watch Leader’ tier) plus an added voluntary donation made by the member. The core membership amount is invoiced, while the remaining donation is receipted separately.

4.6 Referrals

Upon confirmation of membership, each member receives a personal ‘Introduce a Fellow Sailor’ referral code. This code is to be shared with any prospective member, and can be shared multiple times during the member’s active membership. The new applicant, also known as the referred, will be eligible for the referral discount on their first-year membership fee. The referrer will be entitled to the same one-time (non cumulative) discount on their following annual fee. Should a referrer bring 10 or more referred during a single membership year, their discount percentage will be doubled, for instance from 10% to 20%.

5. Member Responsibilities

5.1 Compliance

All members must adhere to:

• The G8SC statutes
• All rules, policies, terms of usage and/or terms and conditions published by the G8SC.

5.2 Conduct

Members consent to the following:

• Treat fellow members, crew and staff with respect and kindness.
• Avoid any actions which could put at risk other members or the G8SC personnel.
• Avoid any actions which could harm the reputation of the association, staff or other members.
• Report security, safety or environmental concerns promptly.

6. Termination and Suspension

6.1 Voluntary Termination

Members wishing to resign must submit written notice to the G8SC executive committee at least 30 days before the end of their membership yearly period. Should the resignation be submitted less than 30 days before the end of a membership year, the following membership year fee is due in full.

All outstanding fees must be settled before termination.

Resigning members forfeit all benefits and fees, and must return any membership materials.

6.2 Involuntary Termination

The G8SC may terminate membership in the following circumstances:

• Breaches of statutory regulations, rules, contractual terms or safety guidelines.
• Non-payment of fees for a period exceeding 90 days.
• Conduct deemed harmful to the association.

Terminated members forfeit all benefits and fees, and must return any membership materials.

6.3 Suspension

Members may be suspended pending investigation of misconduct or payment disputes. Suspended members lose access to all privileges until reinstatement.

7. Liability and Risk Acknowledgement

7.1 Assumption of Risk

Members acknowledge that sailing activities involve inherent risks, including injury, death or property damage. The G8SC disclaims liability, as outlined in the Passages Terms and Conditions.

7.2 Insurance Disclaimer

The G8SC does not provide insurance for members’ personal property. It is the responsibility of members to ensure that valuables are adequately insured during passages or G8SC events.

8. Data Protection

8.1 Data Collection and Use

The G8SC collects and processes personal data in accordance with Swiss data protection legislation and as outlined in the Privacy Statement. Personal data may be used for managing the contractual relationship, communicating with members, and complying with legal obligations.

8.2 Data Sharing

The G8SC may need to share certain personal data with third parties, including but not limited to port authorities, customs administrations, medical personnel, as part of contract execution and to comply with legal obligations.

9. Image Rights

Members are aware and agree that photos, videos, passages reports and similar written records may be created by other members and/or the G8SC. These images and records may be published under any form (for example social media platform, blog, vlog, book, documentary, etc.), at any time and with no limits in time.

If a member does not agree with the publication of images in which they are recognizable or records in which they are mentioned by name, they must expressly object in writing.

In the event of violations of personality rights and the right to one’s own image according to Swiss legal provisions that are not attributable to the G8SC, the association cannot be held liable.

10. Amendments

The G8SC reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions, should the necessity arise. Members will receive 30 days’ written notice of any changes. Continued membership constitutes acceptance of revised terms.

11. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

11.1 Governing Law

The membership contract between the G8SC and the member is governed by Swiss law.

These terms and conditions are in accordance with the applicable Swiss legislation, including the Swiss Code of Obligations.

11.2 Jurisdiction

Should any dispute arise in relation to the interpretation or execution of this contract, the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at the association’s registered office in Switzerland shall be applicable.

12. Final Provisions

12.1 Severability

In the event that any provision of these terms and conditions is declared null or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall retain full force and effect.

12.2 Effective Date

These terms and conditions were last updated on 17 June 2025 and apply to all contracts performed on and after this date.