1. Definitions

‘Association’, ‘G8SC’, ‘Organizer’, ‘We’, ‘Our’, ‘Us’: refers to The Grand 8 Sailors Circle, the sailing association operating under Swiss law.

‘Member’, ‘Participant’, ‘Crew’, ‘You’, ‘Your’: refers to any individual participating in a sailing passage organized by the Association.

‘Passage’, ‘Trip’, ‘Voyage’: refers to the sailing journey with accommodation aboard the Association’s vessel.

‘Vessel’, ‘Sailing Boat’, ‘Boat’: refers to the sailing vessel operated by the Association.

‘Skipper’, ‘Captain’: refers to the person in charge of navigation and safety aboard the vessel, acting as the legal representative of the Association.

‘Contract’, ‘Agreement’: refers to the binding arrangement between the Association and the member for participation in a passage.

2. Legal Framework and Application

2.1 General Provisions

The Enola Sailing Project passages are journeys on sailing yachts that, according to Article 3 of the statutes of The Grand 8 Sailors Circle, aim to promote sailing and the training and education of sailors.

All participants of a voyage are members of the G8SC.

By participating they form a simple contract under Swiss law with the purpose of conducting a specific voyage. The management is entrusted to the skipper.

The crew actively participate in the sailing passage.

The participants assure that they are healthy, can swim, and have informed themselves about the general risks of sailing. They confirm that they participate in the sailing voyage at their own risk.

2.2 Legal Foundations

These terms and conditions form the legal foundations of a contract between the G8SC and the Member under Swiss law. The Association operates as an organizer under Swiss Code of Obligations and has no right to act on behalf of or enter into agreements with third parties.

2.3 Non-Package Travel Clarification

Our sailing passages do not constitute package travel under Swiss Federal Law of 18 June 1993 on package travel (Federal Law Gazette 944.3), as they exclusively comprise:

• Accommodation aboard the vessel
• Participation in sailing and on board recreational activities
• Onboard meals as specified per itinerary
• All port fees and local taxes
• Fuel and water
• Use of provided life jackets, harnesses and other safety equipment

an explicitly exclude:

• Transportation and/or transfers to/from departure/arrival ports
• Land-based accommodation
• Ashore food and beverages
• Any other services not directly related to vessel operations
• Solo or guided activities with third-parties, such as scuba diving, trekking, kayaking, etc.

2.4 Agreement to Terms

By booking a passage, you acknowledge this is a specialized sailing participation agreement, and agree to these terms in their entirety.

3. Booking Process and Payment

3.1 Bookings

All bookings must be made using the dedicated booking form available on our website.

Bookings are secured only when confirmed in writing by the G8SC and after having received the required deposit on the Association’s bank account.

Group bookings are subject to the specific conditions outlined in Section 3.3 and 5.3 of this document.

3.2 Payment Schedule

A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total passage price is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance must be paid no later than 60 days before departure. For bookings made within 60 days of departure, full payment is required at the time of booking.

3.3 Group Bookings

For the purpose of this document, ‘group’ refers to a group of between two and eight participants, such as a couple, a family or a group of friends.

When a member first initiates a group booking, with all participants’ names included, we will reserve all necessary and available berths. All other participants of the group are then required to complete and submit their own personal booking form — with all participants’ names included too — within the same 36-hour time frame. For instance, if the first member of the group submits their form at 09:00 UTC on May 10, the final form to complete the group booking should be submitted no later than 21:00. UTC on May 11. After the 36-hour deadline, we will reallocate the berths that were put on hold for other incoming bookings.

3.4 Waiting List

In the event that a booking cannot be secured due to lack of available berth, you may request to be placed on the waiting list for that particular passage. A fee will be required to secure a spot on the waiting list. This fee will be discounted from the final booking price if a spot becomes available, or reimbursed if no spot opens up. In case you choose to withdraw, the applicable fee will be forfeited or you will be offered the possibility to use it for a future passage within the next 365 days. Waiting lists are organised in Priority levels, from 1 to 4 depending on your membership tier, 1 being the highest.

4. Price

4.1 Price Policy

Our pricing is carefully structured to reflect the full experience of offshore sailing we offer, and final prices are as advertised for each passage and as per Section 2.3 of the present document.

4.2 Price Stability

Prices are fixed upon full payment receipt, except for changes required by:

• New government taxes/levies
• Fuel cost fluctuations exceeding 15%
• Mandatory safety upgrades

5. Promotions, Discounts, Special Offers

5.1 Automatic discounts

Automatic discounts may only be granted in the following cases:

• Should a member book a second passage for themselves, and this passage commence within 365 days of the end of the previous one, a 15% discount will be applied to this second passage.
• Should a member book three or more passages for themselves, all of which must commence within 365 days of the end of the initial one, a 20% discount will be applied to all subsequent passages.
• A 35% discount is applied when booking the entire vessel, which is referred to as privatizing it. This discount is applied to the resulting amount equivalent to eight times the individual standard price.

Please note that these discounts do not apply to already discounted passage prices resulting from special or temporary promotions. They also cannot be accumulated.

5.2 Occasional and Temporary Promotions

We may occasionally offer and advertise promotions such as, and not limited to, early bird discounts, last-minute deals, shoulder season discounts, 2-for-1 offers, referrals, or competitions.
It should be noted that these types of promotion are always temporary and limited in terms of both specified time frame and berth quantity.

When a time frame is advertised on our website or in any of our communication channels (e.g. newsletters, mailing campaigns, social media), the starting and ending dates are based on the GMT time zone and UTC time standard, i.e. a promotion valid from 1 to 15 January will start at 00:00 UTC on the 1st and end at 24:00 UTC on the 15th.

5.3 Group Booking Promotions

As with other promotions, we may occasionally offer temporary group discounts.

In addition to the conditions outlined in Section 3.3 of this document, please note that any participant who submits their booking form outside of the designated 36-hour time frame will not be included in the group booking. Instead, their booking will be considered as an individual booking. Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in the forfeiture of the applicable group promotion, both for the individual and for the entire group.

5.4 Promotion Final Note

Promotions, discounts and/or offers of any kind, automatic or occasional and temporary, cannot be accumulated. That is to say, an applicable discount cannot be used in addition to another existing one. However, in the event of two or more applicable promotions, we will always apply the most beneficial promotion to the member.

If you submit a booking form during a promotional period for the chosen passage but you’re placed on the waiting list due to lack of available berth, you won’t be able to enjoy the current promotion or any other applicable promotion at the time of booking confirmation.

6. Cancellations and Modifications

6.1 Cancellation by Member

You understand the importance of trip cancellation insurance, which is your own responsibility to obtain.

Cancellations must be submitted in writing to the G8SC. The following cancellation fees apply:

• More than 90 days before departure: Forfeiture of deposit
• 89-60 days before departure: 50% of total passage price
• 59-30 days before departure: 75% of total passage price
• Less than 30 days before departure: 100% of total passage price

If after a cancellation the Association is able to reassign the booked berth, we offer our members the possibility to use their deposit for a future passage within the next 365 days, minus an administration fee.

6.2 Cancellation by Association

If the Association cancels the passage before departure for operational reasons, members will receive a full refund of payments made. This excludes cancellations due to:

• Force majeure, such as and not limited to: natural disasters, human disasters, sanitary reasons, social or political instability, administrative or judicial decisions.
• Member-triggered safety concerns
• Technical issues rendering the vessel unseaworthy

6.3 Passage Modifications

Members understand a sailing trip is inherently subject to the hazards. Adjustments to the voyage planning due to unforeseeable reasons, prevailing wind, sea and weather conditions, as well as the condition of the vessel and crew, are always reserved. The safety of the crew and vessel has the highest priority.

The goal of each voyage is to reach the planned destination safely and on time and to hand over a functional, clean, and well-maintained vessel to the next crew.

Achieving this goal and the safety of the crew and vessel may require changes in the voyage planning (e.g. shortenings, additional stages, calling at certain ports, etc.) or other appropriate measures, which the crew must accept. The Association can’t be liable for any of these changes.

7. Responsibilities and Obligations

7.1 Association’s Obligations

The G8SC commits to:

• Maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition
• Ensure the vessel is properly equipped with safety equipment
• Provide a qualified and experienced skipper
• Deliver the passage as described in the booking confirmation, subject to necessary modifications due to weather or safety concerns

7.2 Member’s Obligations

Members commit to:

• Have their membership annual fee up to date with payment
• Provide accurate personal information during booking
• Possess valid travel documents (passport, visa, etc.)
• Obtain appropriate personal insurance coverage
• Follow the skipper’s instructions regarding safety and vessel operation
• Report security, safety or environmental concerns promptly.
• Contribute to all onboard duties as reasonably requested by the skipper
• Report any deficiencies in contract execution as soon as possible
• Respect local laws, regulations, and customs of visited locations
• Maintain appropriate behavior that does not endanger the vessel or other participants

Members are solely responsible for:

• Arriving at the departure port ready to embark
• Organizing return travel from arrival port
• Covering all costs of early disembarkation as per Section 9.4

8. Liability and Insurance

8.1 Limitation of Liability

The Association’s liability is limited in accordance with Swiss federal law and the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims of 1976 (LLMC), which Switzerland has ratified.

8.2 Liability Exclusions

The Association is not liable for damages resulting from:

• Acts or omissions of the Member
• Unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of third parties
• Force majeure events
• Circumstances that could not be foreseen or avoided despite due diligence

8.3 Insurance Requirements

The Association maintains insurance as required by law, namely liability insurance for third-party damages, total loss, fire and collision damages, as well as legal protection and passenger accident insurance.

Members must obtain their own travel, medical, and cancellation insurance. In case of a medical problem arising during the voyage, either onboard or ashore, which results in medical expense including but not limited to costs for evacuation with use of aircraft and repatriation, the financial responsibility for payment of all costs belongs solely to the member.

Proof of personal medical insurance is requested prior to departure.

8.4 Service Scope Limitation

Our liability extends only to services explicitly described in the booking confirmation. We assume no responsibility for travel arrangements to/from departure/arrival points or land-based activities.

9. Onboard Rules

9.1 Skipper’s Authority

The skipper has full authority regarding navigation, safety, and general organization aboard, as described in our Onboard Rules page. The participants are under the command of the skipper and commit to following the skipper’s instructions and the onboard rules.

9.2 Participation in Duties

Members are expected to participate in daily tasks and watch duties as assigned by the skipper, commensurate with their skills, physical abilities and experience.

9.3 Meals, Dietary and Allergy Restrictions

Members should be aware that requests for special meals or beverages can only be met to a very limited extent, due to restricted storage and galley space. For instance, it is not feasible for us to offer six different fruit juices on board, nor can we prepare three different menus each time.

Should a member have any dietary or allergy restrictions, this information must be provided at the time of booking. Please be advised that while we endeavour to accommodate these restrictions, we are unable to make exceptions for all requests for the reasons outlined in the previous paragraph.

9.4 Prohibited Activities

The following are prohibited:

• Smoking below deck
• Possession or use of illegal substances
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Behavior disrupting harmony onboard or endangering the safety of the vessel or others aboard

9.4 Disembarkation

The Association reserves the right to disembark any member whose conduct endangers the vessel or other participants. In such case, the skipper may sail the vessel to the nearest port to disembark the member, and the Association will have no further responsibilities whatsoever toward the departed member.

10. Communications

Our onboard satellite communication system is only meant for necessary sailing and emergency operations, It doesn’t allow any personal vocal or written communications nor data downloads.

In the event you need to send an urgent non-professional message or email and have no personal data coverage, our system can be exceptionally used. Same applies if a relative needs to reach you urgently while at sea.

Outgoing and incoming messages or emails should always be as short as possible, with no attached file, no previous message threads and/or no email signature.

11. Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

11.1 Governing Law

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

These terms and conditions follow applicable Swiss legislation, including the Swiss Code of Obligations and the maritime law principles incorporated into Swiss law.

11.2 Jurisdiction

Any dispute relating to the interpretation or execution of this contract shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at the Association’s registered office in Switzerland.

12. Final Provisions

12.1 Severability

If any provision of these terms and conditions is declared null or unenforceable, the other provisions shall remain in 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.