Terms & Conditions
All bookings are subject to these Terms and Conditions with additional terms for specific activities laid out in succeeding sections: 1.(General Booking) 2.(Courses) 3.(Schools and Groups) 4.(Lake Usage) For brevity The Rye Watersports Ltd will hereafter be referred to elliptically as “Rye Watersports” in these Terms and Conditions.
General Participation Terms & Conditions
By submitting your booking, you represent to us that you have the authority to make the booking on behalf of your party and that you accept on behalf of your party that the booking is subject to these Terms and Conditions.
By booking onto a course, signing out for hire, launching your own equipment, or becoming a member, you are confirming that you have read and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions and declaration. signed consent in the form respectively of a booking form, hire/launch sheet or membership form must be received before access to the water is given.
A contract exists as soon as we issue our Booking Form and/or a minimum of a deposit payment is taken, whichever may occur first, although these typically represent a single contiguous process.
Participants should be in good health, confident in the water and fit for their activities. We recommend they are able to swim.
Customers acknowledge that all water sports involve an element of risk, and all participants agree to partake in their chosen activity or activities at Rye Watersports at their own risk.
Rye Watersports is a busy site with potential hazards, natural and manmade, so children should be closely supervised and kept away from equipment and storage facilities. Customers/participants bringing children are responsible for this when they are on land.
Qualified Rye Watersports staff may, where necessary and as required, perform basic first aid whilst a customer or participant is on site. If there are any reasons why this cannot be administered Rye Watersports must be informed in advance.
Any person suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and deemed to be unfit will be refused permission to take part in any activity or use any equipment or craft on the lake and shall not be entitled to a refund.
Rye Watersports operates a zero-tolerance behavioral policy. Any threatening or aggressive behaviour towards its staff will result in refusal of lake usage or removal from the water without refund. Sustained behaviour of this sort will result in a site ban.
Infringement of terms and conditions may result in being requested to leave the site and/or withdrawal of service without refund.
Rye Watersports management will have the final word on all matters of lake usage and may ask you to come off the water at any time.
Prices and payments
Prices may be subject to change at any time.
Where an error in price representation is found, Rye Watersports will charge the correct price.
For schools & corporate groups the initial deposit required is 50%.
The full balance is due 14 days before booking commencement. If a booking is made within 14 days of its start date full payment will be required. Deposit payments can be made over the phone or in person for any booking or courses can be booked in full online.
Any booking using Rye Watersports gift vouchers must be booked before their expiry date to be redeemable. It is booking date, not activity date which is applicable to the voucher’s expiry date.
Centre Cancellation
We reserve the right to postpone a booking or part of a booking as a result of unsuitable conditions, or other circumstances outside Rye Watersports’s control. In this event a mutually convenient date to reconvene will be arranged. Refunds are not given.
Insurance
Rye Watersports has full public liability insurance which covers all activities operated by Rye Watersports.
Personal insurance against loss, damage, injury or accident whilst visiting the site is the responsibility of the client.
Rye Watersports accepts no liability for any loss, damage, injury or accident which is the result of client negligence, however caused.
Medical Conditions
Anyone suffering from any medical or other condition must notify Rye Watersports prior to booking and again on arrival at the centre. Whilst such medical conditions may not necessarily prevent course participation, Rye Watersports cannot accept responsibility for injury or accident resulting from any client’s medical condition.
If a medical condition has been declared, then the participant is responsible for ensuring they bring with them any prescribed medication that may need to be taken by them during their time at Rye Watersports. Rye Watersports has a duty of care for that participant and if (for example asthma or epi-pen issued allergies) a participant turns up without the prescribed means of regulating their condition (for example inhaler or epi-pen) Rye Watersports reserves the right to prohibit their participation due to the risk they might pose to themselves and/or their group out on the water. In this case they shall not be entitled to a refund.
Marketing
For marketing purposes, Rye Watersports occasionally takes photos of water activities. On these occasions when participants will be identifiable from the photo, we will inform participants and obtain appropriate consent before taking photos. The photos will only be used by Rye Watersports for official Rye Watersports promotional materials (i.e. website, brochure, leaflets). Consent can be withdrawn at any time and Rye Watersports will take all reasonable steps at that point to respond in an expedient manner and time frame.
- Courses
Additional terms and conditions specifically for course bookings.
Offers and Course Packages
‘Fast track’ packages must be completed within 12 months.
Packages count as one course: refunds cannot be given in the event of cancellation of a second or third part of an offer package. In the event that the Package is not completed within 12 months, no refunds will be given.
Extensions beyond 12 months may be arranged and must be requested before the end of the 12 months – the extension fee will be £25 per course within the Package.
Packages and general course offers may not be used in conjunction with any offer and are not subject to a membership discount.
Books of Tickets
Books of day launch tickets are valid for 12 months from the date the first ticket is signed off. No refunds are given for unused tickets if they are not used within the 12 month period. Should any special circumstances or injury prevent usage of tickets we must be made aware in writing of the situation. These will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Tickets can be signed off for use within the same family, but not for friends or other customers who may be joining the ticket holder.
Youth & Junior Participants
I allow Rye Watersports the right of Loco Parentus for all children I have booked for if they are unable to contact me during the course (applies to under 18 year old participants only).
Children booked onto full-day camps will be under Rye Watersports supervision from the time they are signed in at the start of the day until they are signed out at the end of the day.
A parent or guardian must sign every child they have booked for in and out each day of their camp.
If your child is aged 13+ and you are happy for them to arrive and/or leave on their own we must have your permission in writing before we can allow this.
Pictures will not be taken unless you have requested and received permission from Rye Watersports. You cannot take any pictures and/or put them on social media unless they are solely of your child or you have the parental permission of all kids in the photos.
Client Cancellation/Postponement
In the case of course cancellation, notice must be received in writing 14 days prior to the course date and a cancellation fee of £35 will be incurred.
Cancellation within 14 days of a course will result in loss of the full course fee.
Clients failing to attend courses without notification will forfeit their remittance.
In the event that a client has to postpone attendance on a course, Rye Watersports reserves the right to charge a rearrangement fee of £25 per person.
Minimum Course Numbers
In the event that minimum course numbers are not met Rye Watersports reserves the right to postpone the course. Where possible, personal tuition may be offered for a shorter period of time with additional free hire, or the course will be rolled over to a mutually convenient date, or a course voucher valid for 12 months will be offered. Refunds are not given.
- Schools and Groups
Additional terms and conditions specifically for School and Group bookings.
Payment
A minimum deposit payment of 50% of the full invoice total is due within 30 days of confirmation of booking, or by return if less than 30 days.
As per general terms and conditions, balance payment is due at least 14 days prior to event date.
All invoices can be paid by Direct Bank Transfer to:
Account Name: Rye Watersports Limited
Sort Code: 40-39-18
Account: 41379410
Consent
Parental/Participation consent is the responsibility of the event organiser and required for all activities undertaken at Rye Watersports.
A signed booking form confirms that consent has been given for all participants.
Cancellation Policy
In the event of cancellation of a booking, notice must be received in writing at least 14 days before event and cancellation fees will be incurred as follows:
120 days before event – no charge
90 days before event – no charge
60 days before event – 10% of booking
30 days before event – 20% of booking
14 days or less before event – 100%
In the event of cancellation without written notice the full event fee will be charged.
Group numbers
Our minimum group size is 6, which must be charged for i.e. any groups smaller than six must pay for the minimum of 6 places.
Where expected numbers are booked, we advise clients to book for a realistic number.
Notification of final numbers must be received and confirmed by Rye Watersports in writing at least 14 days prior to event or charges will be made for original numbers booked.
Notice of a decrease in numbers greater than 30% of the booking must be received in writing and agreed at least 30 days before activity day or charges will be made for original numbers booked.
Notification of an increase in numbers greater than 30% must be received and confirmed by Rye Watersports in writing at least 30 days prior to event.
Rye Watersports cannot guarantee spaces for extra attendees.
If no prior written agreement has been made, Rye Watersports reserves the right to charge for the number of people booked, should fewer students attend on the day.
Group Ratios
Rye Watersports operates under strict instructor:participant ratios which we must keep to. If you expect your numbers to increase or decrease please be sure to enquire of the ratio that your group falls under at the time of booking.
Where a full ratio is surpassed an additional instructor is required to be put on by Rye Watersports to take the group back within ratio. Rye Watersports must charge for a minimum of 2 spaces into any additional ratio your group size requires i.e. if you bring one person over the full ratio you will be charged for the minimum of 2 spaces into the next ratio.
- Lake Usage
Additional terms and conditions specifically for lake users using the lake without direct supervision from an Rye Watersports instructor.
General Usage
By using the lake you agree to be bound by Rye Watersports terms and conditions and everyone going onto the water should familiarise themselves with these terms.
All lake users must wear appropriate clothing and footwear both whilst on site and on the water and be competent for the prevailing conditions in the craft they are using.
All lake users will sign out on the appropriate Rye Watersports form before going onto the water. This includes signing agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions, agreement of declaration of any medical conditions, and provision of an emergency contact number.
All lake users must show respect to and listen to Rye Watersports staff, and agree to abide by any and all decisions and judgement calls they make as they are responsible for ensuring safe lake usage.
Any lake users suffering from medical conditions should inform staff before launching.
Wetsuits and buoyancy aids must be worn in accordance to Rye Watersports procedures.
There is strictly no swimming; lake users must stay with their craft at all times and not jump off boats.
No one may teach on the lake apart from authorised Rye Watersports instructors.
Competency
Novices are not allowed to use the Lake except as part of a beginner course run by Rye Watersports.
Anyone who is not under the direct supervision of an authorised Rye Watersports instructor must have a minimum of a Level 1 competency in the craft they are using. The easiest way of ascertaining this competency is through the completion of a Level 1 course.
Under certain conditions, at the discretion of Rye Watersports, hirers may be allowed to hire without certification if they are deemed competent by the Rye Watersports staff.
If you go onto the water and it is deemed that you are clearly not of the required competency you will be brought off the water and may still be charged for your time on the water.
Rye Watersports management has the final decision on a person’s competency.
In certain weather conditions Rye Watersports management will place temporarily increased competency level requirements whilst the conditions persist, these decisions are at the sole discretion of Rye Watersports.
Payment and Prices
Hiring is charged at an hourly rate per craft hired upon return to the centre.
Launching is charged at a daily rate and must be received before launching.
Refunds will not be given.
Insurance
Personal insurance against injury accident or loss while hiring or launching is the responsibility of the client. Rye Watersports will accept no liability for any such injury, accident, damage or loss, howsoever caused.
Under Rye Watersports policy the lake user is only covered for loss or damage to the equipment hired from Rye Watersports.
Rye Watersports shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control (such as extreme weather conditions. the actions of third parties not employed by us or latent defects); this includes loss or damages to vessels, gear, equipment or other goods left with us for repair or storage, and harm to persons entering the premises and/or using the facilities or equipment; customers should ensure that their own personal and property insurance covers such risks.
All lake users may themselves be liable for any loss or damage caused by them, their crew or vessels.
Hirers shall be responsible for the cost of any damage or loss to any craft or equipment.
Anyone launching their own kit must have adequate insurance, which should cover third party liability of at least £1,000,000.
Any vessel, gear, equipment or other goods are left with us at the members’ own risk; members should maintain adequate insurance which should also cover third party liability of at least £1,000,000.
General
There are no exemptions to any booking conditions or lake usage terms for members, including minimum competency levels and tuition restrictions.
Members are only entitled to access the water, facilities and boat park at times that the centre is open unless with prior arrangement.
Rye Watersports reserves the right to move equipment or boats at our discretion for reasons of safety or good management.
Owner members are responsible for keeping their boats and trailers presentable and in working order. Membership renewal may be refused if boats are left in a state of disrepair. Trailers are not to be left around the boat park without prior Rye Watersports agreement.
Equipment stored at Rye Watersports is done solely at the Member’s risk. Owner members are responsible for the security of their boats and trailers, which they should take reasonable measures to ensure as the lake is unlocked during the day.
Rye Watersports must be informed in writing beforehand of any boats entering or leaving site storage, even if temporary. This includes changes to equipment stored.
Renewal Pro Rata Rates
The membership period runs from April 1st to March 31st.
Members renewing are responsible to ensure that fees are received by 31st March in order to continue membership each year. Late payment will result in a recharge of the Joining Fee.
Payment by debit/credit card or bank transfer to:
Rye Watersports Limited
Sort Code: 40-39-18
Acc: 41379410
Surname, Initial and membership number as reference.
In the event of non-payment of membership subscriptions by renewal due date Rye Watersports reserves the right to remove and dispose of boats/boards/canoes without further notice and keep any disposal proceeds as payment for overdue membership fees.
Liability
Rye Watersports shall not be liable for any loss or damage caused by events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control (such as extreme weather conditions or the acts of third parties not employed by us); this includes loss or damages to vessels, gear, equipment or other goods left with us for repair or storage, and harm to persons entering the premises and/or using the facilities or equipment; customers should ensure that their own personal property insurance covers such risks.
Last updated: March 26th 2023 @ 10.45am