How booking works
Transparent payments, escrow protection, and clear cancellation policies. Every sailing course booked on Odysail is protected by Stripe-powered secure payments.
Book in 3 simple steps
Find & book
Search for sailing courses, compare schools, read real reviews, and book online with instant confirmation.
Secure payment
Pay securely with Stripe. Your funds are held in escrow until the course begins — never released early.
Sail with confidence
Enjoy your course knowing you're protected by our weather guarantee, cancellation policy, and dispute resolution.
Payment & cancellation policies
Clear rules so you know exactly what to expect when you book a practical sailing course.
Practical Sailing Courses
RYA, ASA & certification courses
Payment timeline
Booking deposit
30%At booking — Non-refundable — secures your spot
Balance due
70%30 days before course — Auto-cancelled if unpaid
Funds released to school
100%48h after course starts — Schools get paid fast
Cancellation by student
| Time before start | Refund | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 60+ days before | 70% refund | Deposit kept, balance refunded |
| 30–60 days | 30% refund | Deposit lost, partial balance back |
| 14–30 days | No refund | Full amount retained |
| < 14 days | No refund | Full amount retained |
If the school or instructor cancels, you always get a 100% cash refund — no vouchers, no questions asked.
Weather guarantee
On-water sessions may be rescheduled at the instructor's discretion within 12 months. If a BMS Force 7+ storm warning is issued, you get an automatic 100% cash refund.
Who pays the commission?
Commission is charged to schools, not students. Schools pay a commission (5–15% depending on their plan) only on bookings from new students discovered through the Odysail marketplace. Students pay the course price — nothing more.
Dispute resolution
Direct resolution
24 hours
Both parties are invited to resolve the issue directly without platform intervention.
Platform mediation
5 business days
Odysail reviews evidence from both sides and makes a binding decision for claims under €2,000.
External arbitration
Claims over €2,000
Referred to EU consumer mediation or CEDR. Platform decision remains valid pending outcome.
Ready to book with confidence?
Every booking on Odysail is protected by escrow payments, weather guarantees, and fair cancellation policies.