Go Sailing Association - Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 16 October 2025

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

The Go Sailing Association ("GSA", "we", "us", "our", “club”) is committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of our members and website users. This policy explains what personal data we collect from you, why we collect it, how we use it, and how we keep it secure.

We operate in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We aim to be completely transparent about our data practices.

2. What Information We Collect

We only collect information that is essential for the operation of the club and the safe organisation of sailing activities. This includes:

  • Membership & Contact Information: Your full name, postal address, email address, phone number, and date of birth.

  • Sailing Experience: Information you provide about your sailing background and qualifications, which helps us ensure safety and appropriate crewing on our trips.

  • Emergency Contact Details: The name and phone number of a next of kin, which we will only use in the event of an emergency during a club activity.

  • Trip & Booking Information: Records of the sailing trips you have booked or participated in.

  • Communications: Records of our correspondence with you.

What We DO NOT Collect

  • Financial Information: We do not collect or store any bank account details, credit/debit card numbers, or other sensitive financial data. All payments are processed through secure third-party payment gateways, and your financial details are never visible to or stored by the GSA.

3. How We Use Your Information

Your data is used exclusively to manage the club and deliver the services you expect as a member. Our primary uses are:

  • To Manage Your Membership: To process your application, send renewal notices, and communicate important club information.

  • To Organise Sailing Activities: To create crew lists for skippers, manage trip bookings, and ensure we have essential safety information (like your emergency contact details) for all participants.

  • To Communicate With You: To send you our newsletter, notify you of upcoming trips, and respond to your enquiries.

  • To Comply with Legal Obligations: To meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities.

4. Data Sharing – Our Promise to You

We will never sell, rent, or share your personal data with any third party for marketing purposes. This is our fundamental promise to you.

The only instances where your data may be shared are for essential operational purposes:

  • With Trip Skippers: For the sole purpose of safely managing a specific sailing trip you are on, we will provide the skipper with a crew list containing names, contact numbers, and emergency contact details.

  • With Emergency Services: In the event of a medical emergency or serious incident, we may share necessary information with emergency services to ensure your safety and well-being.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously. We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss, or alteration. Access to personal data is restricted to authorised GSA volunteers who require it for club administration and trip management.

6. Data Retention

We will retain your personal data for as long as you are a member of the Go Sailing Association. If you choose to end your membership, we will securely delete your personal data after a reasonable period required for administrative and legal purposes, unless you request we do so sooner.

7. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a data subject, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • The right to be informed: To know how we are using your data.

  • The right of access: To request a copy of the information we hold about you.

  • The right to rectification: To have inaccurate data corrected.

  • The right to erasure: To request that your data be deleted.

  • The right to restrict processing: To limit how we use your data.

  • The right to object: To object to the processing of your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not handled your data correctly.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and we encourage you to review it periodically. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy will always indicate when the latest revisions were made.

9. How to Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please do not hesitate to contact us.