Terms of Service

1.1 Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of Crew the Boat (the "Platform"). Crew the Boat is operated by ACADEMIA IMPERIALIS LTD (company number 16477045), registered in England and Wales, with registered office at 2nd Floor, College House, 17 King Edwards Road, Ruislip, London, HA4 7AE, United Kingdom ("Crew the Boat", "we", "our", or "us"). Our Platform connects UK boat owners/skippers with sailors for genuine, non‑commercial crew opportunities.

1.2 Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using the Platform, you confirm that:

• You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms
• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract
• You will comply with all applicable laws and regulations

1.3 Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by posting an updated version on the Platform with a revised "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the Platform after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

2.1 Age Restriction

You must be at least 18 years of age to use this Platform. By registering an account, you confirm that you meet this age requirement. We do not knowingly collect or process personal data from individuals under 18.

2.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach
• Ensuring your account information is accurate and up to date

2.3 Email Verification and Identity Verification

You must verify your email address to use certain features of the Platform. Failure to maintain a valid, accessible email address may result in service limitations or account suspension. We also offer optional identity verification (for example via Stripe Identity) to increase trust and platform safety. Completing identity verification is voluntary and may provide increased visibility and higher rate limits. See our Privacy Policy for details of how identity data is processed.

3.1 Genuine Crew Opportunities Only

The Platform is designed exclusively for:

• Boat owners seeking crew members for genuine sailing opportunities
• Sailors seeking crew positions on private vessels
• Legitimate cost-sharing arrangements between sailors (fuel, food, moorings)

3.2 Prohibited Uses

You must NOT use the Platform for:

• Commercial charter operations: Advertising commercial hire & reward arrangements (as defined by UK maritime law)
• Commercial fares: Charging set fees, per-person rates, or any fare structure beyond genuine cost-sharing
• Fare advertising or ticketing: Posting price lists, ticket sales, or links that enable the sale of berths or passage
• Illegal activities: Any activity that violates UK law, including maritime regulations, safety requirements, or customs/immigration rules
• False information: Misrepresenting qualifications, vessel details, or trip plans
• Harassment or abuse: Inappropriate behavior, offensive content, or conduct that makes other users feel unsafe
• Spam or fraud: Automated posting, phishing, scams, or any deceptive practices
• Bypassing safety: Circumventing rate limits, moderation, or safety controls, including attempts to move conversations off‑platform to avoid moderation

3.3 Cost-Sharing Policy

Crew the Boat facilitates cost-sharing arrangements, NOT commercial transactions. Cost-sharing means:

• Shared direct costs only: Fuel, food, moorings, and other direct trip expenses divided among participants
• Post-voyage settlement: Costs calculated and shared after the trip, not as pre-set fees
• No profit motive: No commercial gain for the vessel owner beyond recovering direct costs

Any listing appearing to advertise commercial services will be removed. Repeated or serious breaches may lead to account suspension or a permanent ban. This policy maintains compliance with UK hire & reward regulations.

4.1 Your Content

By posting content on the Platform (listings, messages, profiles, photos), you:

• Grant us a non‑exclusive, worldwide, royalty‑free licence (with the right to sublicense to our service providers) to host, use, reproduce, modify for formatting, publicly display, and distribute your content for the purpose of operating, improving, and promoting the Platform
• Confirm you own or have permission to use all content you post
• Warrant that your content does not violate any third-party rights or UK law
• Accept responsibility for all content posted under your account

4.2 Content Standards

All content must:

• Be accurate, truthful, and not misleading
• Comply with UK maritime regulations and safety guidance
• Respect privacy and confidentiality obligations
• Not contain offensive, discriminatory, or abusive language
• Not include external links that bypass moderation safeguards

4.3 Moderation

We may review, edit, or remove content that violates these Terms or our community guidelines. To keep the community safe, we operate layered moderation including automated checks, rate‑limiting, and human review. We may apply scoped sanctions (e.g., chat‑only or site‑wide) with auto‑expiry. You may appeal sanctions via support.

4.4 Reporting and Enforcement

Users can report listings, messages, or profiles for review. We investigate all reports and may take enforcement actions including warnings, content removal, account suspension, or permanent bans.

5.1 Listings

When posting a listing, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and up-to-date information
• Use cost-sharing language only (no fares, no fixed prices)
• Specify the level of experience required
• Describe safety equipment and qualifications held
• Update the listing when it is filled or no longer required

5.2 Messaging

Messaging is monitored for safety and compliance with UK online safety regulations. You agree not to send:

• Explicit, offensive, or harassing content
• Spam or unsolicited commercial communications
• External payment links or requests for fares or deposits

5.3 Crew Assignments

Crew assignments help manage confirmed trips. You must:

• Confirm crew in good faith
• Communicate any changes promptly
• Respect cancellation policies agreed between parties

5.4 Verification

Verified users receive enhanced visibility and higher rate limits. Verification may include:

• Uploading supporting documents (e.g., RYA/MCA certificates)
• Optional identity verification via Stripe Identity and review by our team
• Maintaining accurate profile information

5.5 Search, Ranking, and Featured Placement

We may order results to improve relevance and safety. Featured listings appear first, followed by other results typically ordered by distance or freshness. Ranking signals may change over time.

5.6 Rate Limits and Fair Use

To keep the Platform reliable and safe, we apply per‑minute rate limits across actions such as messaging, profile updates, and listing creation. Limits may be higher for verified users. Attempting to circumvent limits (e.g., automation) is prohibited and may lead to sanctions.

5.7 Availability and Changes

We strive to keep the Platform available but do not guarantee uninterrupted service. We may change or discontinue features, or schedule maintenance, without notice.

6.1 Paid Features

Crew the Boat offers optional paid features including:

• Featured listings (7-day boost)
• Listing boosts (24-hour bump)
• Alert subscriptions (monthly or yearly)
• Qualification and identity verification (where offered)

We process payments only for platform features. We do not process or mediate any payments between users for voyage costs; any cost‑sharing arrangements are settled directly between participants after a trip and must not be advertised as fares.

6.2 Stripe Payments

All paid features are processed through Stripe Checkout. Stripe's terms and privacy policy apply in addition to these Terms. You authorise us and Stripe to charge your chosen payment method for one‑off purchases and, for subscriptions, on a recurring basis until you cancel. We do not store full payment card information.

6.3 Refunds and Cooling‑off

Paid features are digital services that begin immediately on purchase (e.g., a listing becomes featured, a boost is applied, or alerts begin). By purchasing, you request immediate supply and acknowledge that your 14‑day right to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations may be lost once delivery starts. This does not affect your statutory rights where a service is not as described or fails to perform with reasonable care and skill. If a paid feature fails to activate due to a technical fault, contact support within 7 days for resolution or a refund.

6.4 Subscriptions (Alerts)

Alert subscriptions renew each billing period (as shown at checkout) until cancelled. Credit-based alert subscriptions expire at the end of the purchased period and do not auto-renew. You can cancel any time in Settings; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period. No free trials are offered. We may change prices; any change will apply on the next renewal after we notify you.

6.5 Pricing and Taxes

Prices are displayed at checkout and may change from time to time. VAT, if applicable, will be shown at checkout. You are responsible for any taxes arising from your own activities arranged through the Platform.

6.6 Chargebacks and Fraud

If a chargeback or payment dispute occurs, we may suspend benefits of the related purchase and your account pending resolution. We may share relevant information with our payment processor to investigate suspected fraud.

6.7 Errors and Price Changes

We may correct pricing or feature errors. If a material change affects a pending purchase, we will notify you and provide options.

7.1 Safety Responsibility

Skippers are responsible for vessel safety, crew briefings, and ensuring voyages comply with applicable law (including COLREGs and local regulations). Crew members must be medically fit for the voyage and follow safety instructions on board. You agree to conduct your own due diligence before sailing, including checking weather, equipment, and experience levels.

7.2 Insurance

It is your responsibility to ensure adequate insurance coverage (e.g., third‑party liability, personal accident) for your sailing activities. Crew the Boat does not provide insurance and does not verify users' policies.

7.3 Emergency Procedures

Parties should agree on emergency contacts and protocols before departure. The Platform may provide optional fields for ICE (in‑case‑of‑emergency) contacts and medical notes visible to confirmed crew.

8.1 Ownership

All content, trademarks, logos, and software on the Platform are owned by Crew the Boat or its licensors. You may not copy, distribute, or modify Platform content without permission.

8.2 Licence to Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, revocable licence to use the Platform for lawful purposes consistent with these Terms.

8.3 Feedback

If you submit suggestions or feedback, you grant us a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty‑free licence to use them without restriction or obligation to you.

9.1 Platform Role

Crew the Boat is an introduction platform. We do not operate voyages, provide crew, or become a party to arrangements between users. We are not an agent, employment business, recruiter, charterer, organiser, or insurer.

9.2 Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded under law. Subject to the foregoing, and to the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for:

• Injury, loss, or damage arising from voyages arranged through the Platform
• User conduct, including misrepresentation or failure to follow safety guidance
• Losses not caused by our breach
• Any business losses (including lost profits, revenue, contracts, data, or goodwill)
• Indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages

We do not exclude liability for services not carried out with reasonable care and skill, but our total liability to you for foreseeable loss or damage arising out of or in connection with the Platform shall be limited to the higher of £50 or the total amount paid by you to us for paid features in the 12 months preceding the claim.

9.3 Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Crew the Boat, its directors, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from:

• Your use of the Platform
• Your sailing activities arranged via the Platform
• Content you post on the Platform
• Your violation of any law or third-party rights

10.1 Privacy Policy

Our collection and use of your personal data is governed by our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

10.2 GDPR Compliance

We comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. You have rights regarding your personal data, including access, rectification, erasure, and data portability. See our Privacy Policy for details.

11.1 Termination by You

You may delete your account at any time via your privacy settings. We will handle your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

11.2 Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately if:

• You breach these Terms
• You engage in prohibited activities (commercial operations, fraud, harassment)
• We receive repeated user complaints about your conduct
• We are required to do so by law or regulatory authority
• We reasonably believe your account poses a safety or legal risk

11.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your access to the Platform will be revoked
• Your listings may be removed
• Messages and content may be anonymised or deleted
• Refunds are not issued for partial subscription periods already supplied

12.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a dispute with us, please contact us first through the Platform. We will attempt to resolve the issue informally before either party pursues formal legal action.

12.2 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

12.3 User Disputes

Disputes between users (e.g., skipper and crew) are the sole responsibility of the parties involved. We are not responsible for resolving user disputes and will not act as mediator or arbitrator.

13.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Crew the Boat regarding use of the Platform.

13.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

13.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

13.4 Force Majeure

We are not responsible for failure to perform or delay caused by events outside our reasonable control, including adverse weather, power or internet failures, or outages of third‑party services.

13.5 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account without our written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms to another entity.

13.6 Third‑Party Rights

These Terms are between you and Crew the Boat only. No third party has any right to enforce any provision of these Terms under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

For questions about these Terms, please contact us through the Platform or at:

Crew the Boat (operated by ACADEMIA IMPERIALIS LTD, No. 16477045)
2nd Floor, College House, 17 King Edwards Road
Ruislip, London, HA4 7AE, United Kingdom

Email: support@crewtheboat.com