Customer Terms & Conditions

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

These Booking Terms and Conditions set out the basis on which Blueco Holdings Ltd, trading as Rubicon 3, accepts bookings.

Blueco Holdings Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 12706630. Our registered office is 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, England, N1 7GU.

In these terms, “Rubicon 3”, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Blueco Holdings Ltd trading as Rubicon 3. “You” and “your” mean the person making the booking and each person on whose behalf a booking is made, including any person later added or substituted. “Lead booker” means the first named person on the booking, or the company, organisation or group representative making a booking on behalf of others. “Trip” means any sailing expedition, adventure sailing trip, sail training passage, mile builder, watch leader passage, RYA or other training course, shore based course, private yacht charter, corporate event, group event or other Rubicon 3 operated experience. “Yacht” means any vessel used by Rubicon 3 for the trip. “Skipper” means the person in command of the yacht, including the master of the vessel.

These terms apply to all bookings made with Rubicon 3 unless we agree different terms in writing. They also apply to free places, discounted places, staff or family places, press or influencer places, competition prizes and promotional bookings unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Your contract is with Rubicon 3 as principal/operator. We do not act as agent for customers and customers do not contract with a third party supplier for the provision of the trip.

These terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy, any booking confirmation, invoice, joining instructions, medical declaration, Fitness to Sail requirements, risk acknowledgements and any other written information we bring to your attention before confirming your booking.

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2. The nature of Rubicon 3 trips

Rubicon 3 provides active adventure sailing, sail training, yacht based expeditions, private charters, group events and associated training.

Customers join as active participating crew, not as passive passengers. You may be required to take part in watches, including night watches, helming, sail handling, rope work, anchoring, mooring, navigation, cooking, galley duties, cleaning, safety drills, basic vessel routines and maintenance, and any other reasonable duties connected with the safe and effective running of the yacht.

The skipper may allocate and change duties, watches, roles and responsibilities at any time. If you book or expect a particular role, such as watch leader, trainee skipper or navigator, that role is not guaranteed. The skipper may reassign you if your actual experience, competence, fitness, conduct, confidence or safety awareness does not match the role.

Training trips provide training, coaching, experience and the opportunity to develop skills. We do not guarantee any qualification, certificate, pass, assessment outcome, competence level, sea miles, logbook sign off or role allocation unless we expressly confirm this in writing.

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3. No package travel

Rubicon 3 trips are sold as single adventure sailing, training, charter or event services operated by Rubicon 3.

Where on board accommodation, food, wet weather gear, specialist clothing, lifejackets, harnesses, safety equipment, marina fees, fuel, gas, water, harbour dues or similar operational items are included, they are integral to the sailing, training or yacht based service and are not sold as separate travel services.

We do not sell flights, hotels, taxis, transfers, shore accommodation or optional shore excursions as part of the trip price unless expressly agreed in writing.

Optional shore activities, excursions, restaurants, taxis, accommodation, flights, transfers or similar arrangements that you book or pay for separately do not form part of your contract with Rubicon 3.

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4. Optional pre trip bed and breakfast on board

For some trips, Rubicon 3 may offer optional pre trip bed and breakfast on board the yacht.

This is a separate ancillary add on, available only to customers joining the relevant trip. It is not available to the general public as a standalone booking.

The pre trip bed and breakfast usually runs from 18:00 the night before the trip starts until 09:00 on the trip start day. The sailing trip itself starts at 09:00 on the advertised start day unless we confirm otherwise in writing.

The pre trip bed and breakfast includes a bunk, shower access and breakfast only. It does not include an evening meal, sailing activity, training, shore transport or any other service unless expressly confirmed in writing.

If Rubicon 3 cancels or delays the sailing trip, the pre trip bed and breakfast fee will be refunded automatically if it cannot be provided or is no longer required because of our cancellation or delay.

If you cancel your sailing trip, the pre trip bed and breakfast fee is non refundable.

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5. Making a booking

A booking is made when you provide the information we require, pay the required deposit or full price, and we issue a booking confirmation.

We may decline a booking before confirmation at our discretion, including where we are not satisfied that you meet the required fitness, medical, experience, safety or suitability criteria.

The lead booker confirms that they are at least 18 years old, have authority to make the booking on behalf of all participants, accept these terms on behalf of all participants, and are responsible for ensuring that all participants read and comply with these terms.

For private charters, corporate bookings and group events, the lead booker or corporate client is responsible for all participants in the group, including payment, sharing these terms, ensuring medical and fitness declarations are completed, behaviour, damage, loss, and any costs caused by the group.

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6. Age requirements

The usual minimum age for open/public sailing trips is 18.

Younger participants may be accepted only at Rubicon 3’s discretion and only where a parent or legal guardian is also joining the trip, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

There is no upper age limit, but all participants must meet the required medical, physical, fitness and agility standards.

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7. Prices, deposits and payment

Trip prices, deposits and payment terms will be shown at the time of booking.

Deposits are fixed amounts set by Rubicon 3. They are often around half of the full trip price, but they are not calculated or guaranteed as a fixed percentage.

For lower priced trips, usually under £1,000, full payment may be required at the time of booking.

Unless we state otherwise in writing, the final balance is due 120 days before the trip start date.

If you book within 120 days of the trip start date, the full balance is due immediately. We may, at our discretion, allow a short goodwill payment period, but this does not change the due date unless we confirm it in writing.

If the balance is not paid on time, we may treat your booking as cancelled by you. In that case, the cancellation terms below apply.

We may correct errors in advertised prices before confirming your booking. We may withdraw or change discounts, offers and promotions before booking confirmation.

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8. What is included

What is included will depend on the trip and will be shown in the relevant trip information.

Where relevant, the trip price may include the sailing, training, charter or event service, on board accommodation while sailing, food and provisioning on board, wet weather gear and specialist clothing supplied by Rubicon 3, lifejackets, harnesses and safety equipment supplied by Rubicon 3, marina fees, fuel, gas, water, harbour dues and yacht operating costs connected with the planned trip.

On board accommodation while sailing is part of the yacht based sailing/training service. It is not separate hotel style accommodation.

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9. What is not included

Unless we expressly confirm otherwise in writing, the price does not include flights, taxis, transfers, ground transport, hotels, shore accommodation, optional shore excursions or activities, meals ashore, alcohol, visas, entry permits, passports, health documents, vaccinations, immigration costs, medical costs, travel insurance, other insurance, personal spending, personal communications, formal RYA or other certification, exam, registration, assessment or certificate fees, personal kit, equipment or belongings.

For RYA or other formal training, Rubicon 3 provides the training only unless we expressly state otherwise. If you want a formal certificate, exam, registration, assessment or other official recognition, you must pay the relevant additional fee where applicable.

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10. Customer cancellation

If you cancel your booking, no monies paid are refundable.

This applies to deposits, balances, full payments and other amounts paid to Rubicon 3, except where these terms expressly state otherwise.

Cancellation must be made in writing by the lead booker. Cancellation takes effect when we receive it.

Because Rubicon 3 trips involve limited places, substantial advance planning, crewing, yacht allocation, preparation, logistics, provisioning, administration and lost resale opportunity, cancellation by a customer causes us real loss. You are strongly advised to obtain suitable insurance to cover cancellation and curtailment.

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11. Customer changes and transfers

You do not have a contractual right to move your booking to another trip or date.

We may consider a request to transfer your place to another person. Any substitute participant must meet all medical, fitness, experience, age, suitability and administrative requirements. We may refuse a transfer if we consider the substitute unsuitable or if the request is too late to process safely and properly.

Where we allow a person to person transfer, an administration fee will apply. This is usually £100, plus any additional costs incurred by Rubicon 3.

You may not assign, resell, advertise, auction, commercially transfer or otherwise dispose of your place without our prior written permission.

If you cancel, we may, as a goodwill gesture only, try to resell your place. We are not obliged to do so. If we resell your place, we may issue a credit note valid for 12 months, less an administration fee, usually £100, and less any other costs or losses. This is discretionary and does not create any contractual right to a refund, transfer or credit.

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12. Changes by Rubicon 3 before departure

Rubicon 3 may need to make changes before departure.

A major change means a change of advertised start point by more than 100 miles, a change of advertised end point by more than 100 miles, or a change of start date by more than 24 hours.

If we make a major change before departure, we will organise reasonable travel and accommodation needed for you to reach the revised start or end location on time. If we cannot organise this, we will reimburse reasonable travel and accommodation costs that we have approved or that were reasonably and necessarily incurred because of the major change.

All other changes are minor changes. Minor changes may include changes to itinerary, route, ports, timings, yacht, skipper, mate, watch system, training plan, activities, equipment availability, berthing arrangements, food arrangements or other operational details.

You accept minor changes and they do not entitle you to cancel, receive a refund or claim compensation.

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13. Cancellation by Rubicon 3 before departure

If Rubicon 3 cancels the trip entirely before the trip start, we will refund the monies you have paid to Rubicon 3 for that trip.

Unless we agree otherwise in writing, we are not responsible for consequential losses, including flights, hotels, taxis, transfers, visas, lost wages, replacement holidays, insurance excesses, equipment purchases, pet care, childcare or other costs.

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14. Route, itinerary and end date

Rubicon 3 adventure sailing takes place in a dynamic marine environment. Weather, sea state, ice, fog, ports, authorities, technical issues, safety considerations, crew welfare and the skipper’s professional judgement may all affect the route.

No intermediate port, anchorage, stop, activity, shore visit, route, mileage, wildlife sighting, training exercise or itinerary item is guaranteed.

Advertised itineraries are guides only. They describe what may be possible if conditions allow.

The advertised start and end points are core trip details, subject to the major change provisions above. The end date is planned with reasonable care and usually with contingency time, but yacht travel by sea cannot be legally guaranteed in the same way as fixed land transport. You must allow sensible onward travel margins.

After the trip has started, changes caused by weather, port restrictions, authority decisions, safety concerns, medical issues, crew issues, customer ability, repair limitations, maintenance limitations, technical problems, route changes, missed stops, waiting alongside, returning early, delaying departure, or altering the sailing plan do not entitle you to a refund or compensation.

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15. Remote operation, repairs and ancillary equipment

Rubicon 3 operates in remote and demanding environments. Access to repairs, parts, engineers, maintenance, shore support and replacement equipment may be limited or unavailable.

The core service is the provision of the sailing, training, charter or event service with reasonable care and skill. Ancillary equipment and comfort systems are not guaranteed.

Ancillary equipment may include heating, air conditioning, water maker, fridge, freezer, RIB, tender, outboard, windlass, kayak, snorkelling equipment, charging systems, domestic equipment, entertainment equipment or other non essential facilities.

Failure, restriction or non availability of ancillary equipment does not entitle you to a refund or compensation, provided the trip can continue safely and the core sailing service is being provided with reasonable care and skill.

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16. Fitness to Sail and physical requirements

All customers must meet Rubicon 3’s Fitness to Sail requirements.

You must be physically and medically able to take part in an active offshore sailing environment. This includes being able to climb companionway steps unaided, move around deck while clipped on, use a sea toilet, sleep in a narrow bunk, brace yourself in a moving yacht, climb into and out of a tender where required, tolerate watchkeeping including at night, lift, pull and handle ropes, cope with seasickness, live in confined mixed accommodation, follow instructions quickly and reliably, and participate safely as active crew.

The skipper may assess your fitness, agility, competence and suitability when you join and at any time afterwards.

If the skipper decides that you do not meet the required standard, or that your participation creates a safety, medical, operational or welfare risk, you may be refused boarding, asked to disembark, excluded from active sailing duties, moved to a different role, or removed from the trip.

If this happens because you do not meet the requirements, have overstated your ability, have failed to disclose relevant information, or cannot safely continue, you will not be entitled to a refund. You will be responsible for your own accommodation, travel, repatriation and other costs, and for any costs Rubicon 3 incurs as a result.

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17. Medical declarations and health disclosure

Every customer must complete a medical declaration for every trip.

You must provide complete, accurate and honest information about any medical condition, medication, allergy, intolerance, disability, mobility issue, psychological or psychiatric condition, addiction, recent surgery, pregnancy, injury, sleep disorder, heart condition, epilepsy, diabetes, severe allergy or any other matter that may affect your ability to take part safely.

You must tell us about any change in your medical, fitness or health position between booking and the end of the trip.

We may ask for further information, a doctor’s letter, medical evidence or additional assurances. We may refuse or cancel a booking if we reasonably decide that you cannot safely take part.

If you truthfully disclose a condition and we decide you cannot safely join, the outcome will be considered case by case. A refund is not guaranteed.

If you fail to disclose something material, or provide inaccurate or incomplete information, and that later affects safety, requires medical attention, creates operational problems, affects others on board or would have affected our decision to accept you, we may treat the matter as customer cancellation or removal. You will not be entitled to a refund and you will be responsible for your own travel, accommodation, repatriation and any costs Rubicon 3 incurs.

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18. Specific medical and health restrictions

We cannot accept anyone who will be 24 weeks pregnant or more at any point during the trip.

Anyone who is pregnant, may be pregnant, or becomes pregnant after booking must tell us immediately. For pregnancy under 24 weeks, participation remains subject to our assessment of the trip, route, remoteness, weather risk, medical access and any medical advice we require.

We may refuse or remove a customer where there is, or may be serious mobility limitation, uncontrolled epilepsy, severe heart condition, recent surgery, severe allergy, an infectious or contagious illness, a condition requiring treatment or monitoring that cannot reasonably be managed on board, a condition that may require rapid evacuation where evacuation may not be available, or any condition that the skipper or Rubicon 3 considers unsafe in the circumstances.

CPAP may be allowed only if approved in advance. You must use a Rubicon 3 approved power pack and must not connect CPAP equipment to the yacht’s DC system unless the skipper expressly permits it.

Type 1 diabetes may be acceptable, but you must discuss it with us before booking. We may require additional information before deciding whether the trip is suitable.

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19. Risk acceptance

All Rubicon 3 sailing trips involve inherent risk. Offshore sailing, adventure sailing and high latitude sailing can be dangerous. Medical care may be limited. Evacuation may be delayed or impossible for extended periods.

By booking and taking part, you confirm that you understand and accept the inherent risks of the trip.

These risks include serious injury or death, drowning, hypothermia, falls, crush injuries, rope injuries, burns, cuts, head injuries, seasickness, dehydration, fatigue and sleep deprivation, fire, flooding, grounding, collision, dismasting, abandon ship situations, limited medical care, delayed evacuation, unpredictable weather, sea state, ice, fog, ports and authorities, confined living conditions and mixed sleeping accommodation.

Rubicon 3 will manage risk professionally and provide the service with reasonable care and skill. However, we cannot eliminate the inherent risks of offshore and adventure sailing.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

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20. Insurance

Travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended.

You should obtain insurance suitable for your trip, including where relevant cancellation, curtailment, medical treatment, emergency evacuation, repatriation, sailing as crew, offshore sailing, ocean passages, high latitude or remote area sailing, pre existing medical conditions, personal accident, personal belongings and personal liability.

Rubicon 3 does not check the adequacy of your insurance and does not recommend any specific policy. You are responsible for checking that your policy covers the exact trip, location, activity, duration, medical history and risks.

If you choose not to obtain suitable insurance, you accept the financial risk of doing so. Rubicon 3 is not responsible for losses that suitable insurance could have covered.

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21. Skipper authority

The skipper has ultimate authority over the yacht, safety, crew, route, duties, participation, conduct, alcohol, equipment, weather decisions, training decisions, risk management and operational matters.

You must comply immediately with the skipper’s instructions.

The skipper may refuse boarding, require you to stay below, remove you from duties, restrict your activity, reassign your role, search luggage where permitted by these terms, prohibit photography, restrict equipment use, require you to disembark, or take any other reasonable step needed for safety, security, legal compliance, crew welfare or effective operation of the yacht.

Failure to comply with the skipper’s instructions may result in removal from the trip with no refund. You will be responsible for your own costs and any costs Rubicon 3 incurs.

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22. Alcohol

Rubicon 3 does not provide alcohol as part of the trip.

Customers may bring alcohol on board, but consumption is always at the skipper’s discretion.

The skipper may restrict or prohibit alcohol at any time. The skipper may decide that a customer is not fit to sail, keep watch, handle equipment, go on deck or take part in duties.

If the skipper reasonably believes that you may be impaired by alcohol, you may be asked to take a breathalyser test. If you refuse, or if you are over the legal limit or otherwise considered unfit by the skipper, you may be required to remain below and not participate in sailing until the skipper considers you fit to do so.

Alcohol misuse, unsafe behaviour or failure to follow alcohol restrictions may result in removal with no refund.

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23. Smoking, vaping, drugs and medication

No tobacco smoking is permitted on board or ashore during the trip period. This is because residual smell on clothing affects the confined yacht environment.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are not permitted on board. They may be permitted ashore, subject to local law and skipper instructions.

Rubicon 3 has a zero tolerance drugs policy. Illegal drugs, cannabis and drug misuse are not permitted, regardless of local laws or claimed recreational or medicinal use.

Lawful prescribed medication is permitted, but must be declared where relevant and must be carried, stored and used safely. Medication that may impair judgement, balance, alertness or participation must be declared before joining.

Possession, use or suspected use of illegal drugs, cannabis, undeclared impairing medication or controlled substances may result in refusal of boarding or removal from the trip with no refund. Rubicon 3 may contact law enforcement, customs or other authorities where appropriate.

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24. Prohibited items and searches

You must not bring prohibited or unsafe items on board.

The following are not permitted unless Rubicon 3 gives express written permission: personal lifejackets, firearms, pyrotechnics, diving cylinders, spear guns, fuel, gas canisters, heaters, candles, pets, extra guests, personal locator beacons, AIS alerting devices or similar emergency alerting devices that may conflict with Rubicon 3’s safety systems.

You must use Rubicon 3 supplied lifejackets and safety equipment unless the skipper expressly agrees otherwise.

Drones, cameras, laptops, large battery banks and similar equipment may be allowed, but only with skipper permission and subject to safe storage, charging rules, local laws, port rules, customs, immigration, wildlife restrictions and operational safety.

If the skipper or Rubicon 3 reasonably suspects that prohibited, unsafe, illegal or undeclared items have been brought on board, we may inspect or search luggage, cabins, bunks or belongings. Refusal to cooperate may result in refusal of boarding or removal with no refund.

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25. Behaviour and hygiene

You must behave in an orderly, respectful, hygienic and safe manner.

You must not endanger, intimidate, harass, abuse, bully, threaten, discriminate against, distress or annoy other customers, crew, staff, port officials, local people or third parties.

You must not undermine the skipper, disrupt crew morale, ignore instructions, create unhygienic conditions, interfere with the operation of the yacht, damage property, delay the yacht, cause diversion, or expose the yacht or Rubicon 3 to legal, customs, immigration, port or regulatory problems.

If your behaviour is unacceptable, unsafe or disruptive, we may refuse boarding, remove you from the trip, restrict your participation or terminate your booking. You will not receive a refund and you will be responsible for your own costs and any costs Rubicon 3 incurs.

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26. Customer experience, qualifications and competence

Some trips or roles require specific experience, qualifications, competence or confidence.

By booking such a trip or role, you confirm that your stated experience, qualifications and ability are accurate.

We may ask for proof. The skipper may assess your actual competence at any time.

If you have overstated your experience or ability, or if the skipper decides that you cannot safely fulfil the role you expected, we may move you to a lower role, restrict your participation, refuse boarding or remove you from the trip. This will not entitle you to a refund.

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27. Passports, visas, immigration, customs and health requirements

You are responsible for checking and complying with all passport, visa, immigration, customs, vaccination, health, entry, exit and travel requirements for every country, port and territory relevant to the trip.

You must have a valid passport and all required documents.

You must comply with customs, immigration, police, port, health and other official requirements.

We are not responsible if you cannot travel, cannot join, are refused entry, are refused exit, are detained, fined, delayed, removed or otherwise affected because you have not complied with these requirements.

You must reimburse Rubicon 3 for any fines, penalties, costs, losses, delays, port charges, legal costs or other expenses caused by your failure to comply.

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28. Food, allergies and dietary requirements

You must tell us about any allergy, intolerance, dietary requirement or food related medical issue before booking and must update us if anything changes.

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate dietary requirements, but yacht provisioning, remote locations, limited storage, shared galley facilities and cross contamination risks mean we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Severe allergies must be declared clearly. We may decide that a trip is unsuitable if the allergy risk cannot be safely managed.

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29. Mixed accommodation and living conditions

Yachts are confined, shared, working environments.

Accommodation is mixed, close quarters and not hotel style. There may be limited privacy, limited storage, shared toilets, shared washing facilities, noise, movement, damp, smell, condensation, interrupted sleep and changing watch routines.

By booking, you accept these living conditions.

Special requests may be considered, but are not guaranteed. We do not accept bookings that are conditional on a special request being met unless we confirm this in writing.

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30. Professional crew hours of rest

Professional crew must comply with legal hours of rest and fatigue management requirements.

There will be times when the skipper, mate or other professional crew are off duty or unavailable except in an emergency.

This is part of safe yacht operation and does not amount to a failure to provide the trip.

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31. Security deposits for private charters and corporate bookings

For private charters, corporate bookings, group bookings or whole yacht bookings, Rubicon 3 may require a security deposit.

The amount, payment deadline and conditions will be confirmed in writing. The security deposit will be payable in advance.

We may use the security deposit towards damage, loss, cleaning, delay, diversion, fines, port charges, repair costs, replacement costs, recovery costs, crew overtime, unpaid sums or other costs caused by the group or any group member.

If the security deposit is not enough to cover the loss, the lead booker or corporate client remains responsible for the balance.

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32. Damage, loss and customer caused costs

You are liable for damage, loss or costs caused deliberately, recklessly or negligently by you.

You are also liable for Rubicon 3 equipment that is lost, damaged or not returned, including wet weather gear, specialist clothing, lifejackets, harnesses, safety equipment, electronics, tools, galley items and yacht equipment.

We may recover from you any costs caused by your conduct, including delay, diversion, missed clearance, fines, port charges, cleaning, repairs, rescue, repatriation, crew overtime, replacement equipment, legal costs and administrative costs.

For group, private charter and corporate bookings, the lead booker or corporate client is responsible for damage, loss and costs caused by any participant in the group.

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33. Personal belongings

You bring personal belongings entirely at your own risk.

A yacht is a wet, moving, confined, salty and demanding environment. Personal items may be damaged by water, leaks, damp, condensation, sharp edges, movement, impact, corrosion, lack of storage, weather, other people or normal yacht conditions.

Rubicon 3 is not responsible for loss or damage to your belongings except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

You should not bring valuables unless you are prepared to accept the risk. There are no secure safe deposit facilities on board.

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34. Photography, video, drones and media

Rubicon 3 may take photographs, video and other media during trips and may use them for marketing, website, social media, brochures, advertising, press, public relations and promotional purposes.

Customers may take photographs and video, including images of other customers and crew, subject to skipper instructions and the law.

If you share photographs, video or other media with Rubicon 3, or tag Rubicon 3 online, you grant Rubicon 3 permission to use that media for promotional purposes unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Drones may only be used with skipper permission and subject to local law, port rules, customs, immigration, aviation rules, wildlife restrictions, privacy rules and safety.

No photography, filming or drone use is permitted where the skipper forbids it.

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35. Infectious or contagious illness

You must not join a trip if you have an infectious or contagious illness that may put others at risk, unless Rubicon 3 has expressly confirmed that you may do so.

You must tell us before joining if you have symptoms or have recently been exposed to a significant infectious illness.

If you become ill during the trip, you must tell the skipper immediately.

We may refuse boarding, isolate you where practical, restrict your participation, require medical advice, require you to disembark or take other reasonable steps to protect the yacht, crew, customers and operation.

If you fail to disclose an infectious or contagious condition, or fail to follow instructions, you may be removed with no refund and may be responsible for costs caused.

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36. Events beyond our control

Rubicon 3 is not responsible for failure or delay caused by events beyond our control.

These may include war, threat of war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, epidemic, pandemic, natural disaster, fire, flood, extreme weather, storms, ice, port closure, authority decisions, government action, border closure, customs or immigration restrictions, rescue operations, medical emergencies, mechanical or technical issues not caused by lack of reasonable care, supply chain failures, transport disruption, lock closure, harbour restrictions, or any other event that could not reasonably have been avoided.

Where such events affect a trip, we may change, delay, curtail, reroute, postpone or cancel the trip as reasonably necessary. We will act reasonably and with safety as the priority, but we will not be responsible for consequential losses.

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37. Subcontracting and operational support

Rubicon 3 may use subcontractors, freelance skippers, mates, instructors, maintenance providers, engineers, shore support, trainers, suppliers and other personnel to help deliver the trip.

This does not change your contract with Rubicon 3. Rubicon 3 remains responsible for providing the contracted service with reasonable care and skill.

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38. Website accuracy and information

We make reasonable efforts to ensure that website, brochure, email and advertising information is accurate.

However, information may change. Photographs, videos, route descriptions, wildlife references, weather descriptions, training examples, itineraries and previous trip reports are illustrative and do not guarantee what will happen on your trip.

We may correct errors in prices, dates, availability, descriptions or other information before booking confirmation.

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39. Complaints

If you have a problem during the trip, you must tell the skipper immediately so there is an opportunity to resolve it.

If the issue is not resolved on board, you must contact Rubicon 3 as soon as reasonably possible during the trip at info@rubicon3adventure.com.

Serious incidents, injuries or near misses must be reported to the skipper immediately.

If you wish to make a formal complaint after the trip, you should write to info@rubicon3adventure.com within 28 days of the trip ending, giving your booking details, a clear summary of the issue and any supporting evidence.

Failure to raise an issue promptly may affect your rights where Rubicon 3 was denied a fair opportunity to investigate, fix the issue, gather evidence or reduce any loss.

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40. Our liability

Rubicon 3 will provide the contracted service with reasonable care and skill.

We are not liable for your own acts or omissions, acts or omissions of third parties unconnected with the provision of the trip, events beyond our control, inherent risks of offshore or adventure sailing, weather, sea state, ice, fog, port restrictions or authority decisions, failure of ancillary equipment where the core service is still safely provided, loss or damage to personal belongings except where liability cannot legally be excluded, consequential losses including flights, hotels, taxis, transfers, visas, lost wages, replacement holidays, insurance excesses, equipment purchases, pet care, childcare or other indirect costs, or business losses.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Where we are liable for loss that does not involve death, personal injury or liability that cannot legally be limited, our liability will be limited to the price paid by the affected customer for the relevant trip, except where a lower or higher limit is required by law.

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41. Data protection, medical information and emergency contacts

You must provide accurate emergency contact details for every sailing trip.

You must provide accurate medical, dietary, allergy, fitness and emergency information and keep it updated until the end of the trip.

You authorise Rubicon 3 to share relevant information with skippers, mates, shore support, medical advisers, emergency services, insurers, port authorities, rescue services and other appropriate persons where reasonably necessary for safety, welfare, legal compliance, emergency response or trip operation.

For corporate, private or group bookings, the lead booker or corporate client must ensure that each participant has provided the required information and has agreed to it being shared with Rubicon 3.

We process personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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42. Notices and communication

Booking related communication will usually be sent to the lead booker.

The lead booker is responsible for passing information to all participants.

You must make sure we have current contact details for you and must check emails and joining instructions carefully.

Formal notices to Rubicon 3 should be sent to info@rubicon3adventure.com unless we specify another address.

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43. Severability

If any part of these terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the rest of the terms will continue to apply.

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44. Changes to these terms

The terms that apply to your booking are the terms in force when your booking is confirmed, unless a change is required by law or is agreed with you in writing.

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45. Governing law and jurisdiction

These terms and your contract with Rubicon 3 are governed by English law.

The courts of England and Wales will have jurisdiction over any dispute, claim or matter arising from your booking or these terms.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may have the right to bring proceedings in your local courts where consumer law requires this.

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