General terms and conditions

These conditions apply to every charter of the catamaran Wild Baleine, operated by Cruising Cata MCPY (Lavrio, Greece), presented under the name Sailing Baleine.

1. Sailing is a sport, and carries risk

Sailing, even aboard a cruising catamaran, remains a sport. It requires a minimum level of physical fitness and involves accepted risks. The client acknowledges, in full awareness, the risk of damage to property and to persons — including, in the worst case, death — for themselves and for the members of the group they book for. Personal insurance cover is strongly recommended. Exposure to the environment is in no way comparable to a hotel or a cruise ship. The likelihood of an accident, of human error, or of an unsecured environment is therefore higher than usual. This risk is accepted and borne by the client.

2. Liability

Except in the case of proven gross negligence on our part, we accept no liability. We cannot give any guarantee of good performance or of transport. Where liability is established, it is limited to the charter price, or to the amounts actually covered by the boat's insurance. These amounts may under no circumstances be exceeded, and are not cumulative.

3. If the charter cannot take place

If the boat is unavailable (technical fault, weather preventing its return from a previous charter) or the skipper is unavailable: — restored within 24 hours: no refund or compensation is due; — restored within 3 days: the charter price is refunded pro rata. No other compensation applies; — not restored within 3 days: either party may cancel the charter, and the full charter price paid is refunded. No other compensation applies. If the fault concerns the skipper or the cook only, the corresponding amount is refunded pro rata temporis, less one day. In all cases, our liability is limited to refunding the amount paid for the charter.

4. The skipper's decision

If the weather or the state of the sea does not allow safe navigation, the decision to sail or not to sail belongs to the skipper. That decision is final, even if other boats do go out. No refund is due for a day spent in harbour for this reason. This is a matter of responsibility towards the crew, the boat, and the other boats and crews that could be involved.

5. Payment and cancellation

Every charter must be paid in full before boarding. A reservation that is not confirmed by a bank payment within 5 working days of written confirmation is not binding on us. Cancellation: — more than 6 months before departure: we retain 50% of the charter price; — more than 3 months before departure: we retain 75% of the charter price; — less than 3 months before departure: any advance payment is final.

6. Deposit

A deposit is taken at the start of the charter. It covers any damage caused by the client to the boat, as well as the consumption of fuel, gas, food and drink taken from the boat's supplies. The deposit is returned at the end of the charter, less the cost of any consumption and of any damage caused. No damages or interest can be claimed in connection with the deposit or with its partial or total retention.

7. What is included, what is not

The charter price includes: the use of the boat and its inventory, insurance (hull and machinery, third-party liability, sea pollution), and all taxes and VAT. The charter price does not include: fuel, food and drink, harbour and mooring fees, the compulsory end cleaning, and optional extras (skipper, cook, snorkelling equipment, stand-up paddle).

8. Applicable law

The charter is operated by Cruising Cata MCPY, a Greek company, with a boat under Greek flag and departing from Lavrio, Greece. Greek law applies, and the courts of Athens have jurisdiction. If you are a consumer resident in the European Union, this does not deprive you of the protection granted by the mandatory provisions of the law of your country of residence.