HPYC Policy Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

HPYC Policy Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

 Customer and Staff Safety

As has always been the case, the safety and security of our guests and staff remain our highest priority. We take great pride in maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, we have taken additional measures to make our cleaning and disinfection protocols even more rigorous:

We have implemented the government’s recommendations for a safe working environment including additional cleaning, barriers, social distancing and the provision of PPE.

We would like to share with you our three-step process

Anti-bacterial spray surface cleanser is available (subject to availability) on board each yacht for your use during your charter.Our staff follow government guidelines to minimise the risk of spread of the virus and have all been issued with hand sanitiser, for use when they are not able to use soap and water, as well as disposable gloves, facemasks, visors and overalls.

• We request that the number of customers entering our office is limited to one person at any given time. We also ask all customers to wear masks whilst in the office.
• Video handovers and boat notes will be sent to you in advance of your charter and the final handover on the day will as far as possible be carried out on the pontoon. Our staff will be available to assist and support you in any way possible but will always follow our prescribed safety precautions.
• We will carry out external checks as soon as possible upon return of a yacht but will, where possible (i.e., where a yacht has not been immediately re-chartered) leave 24 hours between the return of a yacht, refuelling and carrying out internal return checks, to minimise risk to our staff. This may result in a slight delay in being able to confirm to you that the yacht has been returned in satisfactory condition and to let you know of any fuel costs.
• Hired wet weather clothing will be “quarantined” for 24 hours before being made available for reuse.

We have placed a poster on board each of our yachts to remind you and your crew of the guidelines regarding protecting yourself against Coronavirus.

Charter and Sailing School Course Flexibility

Given the continuing pandemic we have adjusted our booking policies to give you extra peace of mind. For bookings made until further notice:

You can now get insurance that offers cover for disruption related to COVID-19. Such policies may include cover for:

• cancellation if you or anyone covered by the policy receives a positive coronavirus test result in the two weeks before you travel
• medical costs if you get coronavirus while you are away
• additional transport and/or accommodation expenses if you fall ill with coronavirus while you are away

Not all policies offer this kind of cover, so, if you’re looking for COVID-19 cover, you should read the policy document carefully before you buy, to verify exactly what is and isn’t covered.

Please be aware that some policies now state that if you’ve chosen not to have the recommended vaccinations, then you won’t be covered for any COVID-19 related claims. This includes cancellation, curtailment, or emergency medical and repatriation expenses.

The policy will also set out what evidence you’ll need to support any COVID-19 claim, to make sure your claim will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

For new bookings received after the implementation date of this policy, the following applies:

• If you or your crew are affected by Coronavirus or by quarantine or border closures, then you may rebook your charter or course to another date providing that the revised departure date is within 12 months of the original departure date. If the rescheduled booking is more expensive then the price difference will be due; otherwise, the price will remain unchanged. For any such booking departure date changes there will be an admin charge of £100 (plus any costs that we cannot recover, e.g., for provisions, pre-booked moorings or skipper fees that we cannot cancel).
• Should you choose to cancel your charter rather than defer it to a later date then please note that the balance of your charter fee remains due if you cancel your charter within two months of departure.  If you cancel your charter due to Coronavirus, then we will attempt to recharter the yacht. If we are successful in doing this then provided the rechartered fee is not less than the fee for your cancelled charter, we will return to you the charter fee that you have paid less 50% of your deposit payment and less any costs incurred due to the cancellation, e.g., for any provisions, pre-booked moorings, admin fees or skipper fees that cannot be cancelled.