TERMS & CONDITIONS

Effective Date: 01.08.2025
Charity Number: 1215619

Registered Address: 15 Newland, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, LN1 1XG

Welcome to Go Overboard! By registering for or participating in any Go Overboard swim, you agree to the following Terms & Conditions. Please read them carefully before completing your registration.

1. About Go Overboard

Go Overboard is a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) dedicated to supporting marine and environmental conservation through open-water swim events.

Formerly known as Albania Overboard and founded in 2014, the initiative began as an informal, volunteer-led initiative, with a single swim between Albania and Corfu. It has since grown into an international community event connecting swimmers from around the world to raise funds for environmental protection.

Go Overboard became a registered charity in 2025 (Charity No. 1215619). All funds raised through our events are directed towards our charitable objectives, primarily through partnerships with the Conservation Collective and the Ionian Environment Foundation (IEF), among others.

2. Jurisdiction

Go Overboard is governed by and operates under the laws of England and Wales.

For events taking place outside the UK (e.g. in Greece), local regulations and requirements also apply in conjunction with these Terms & Conditions.

3. Eligibility

• Our swims welcome individuals aged 18 to over 80 years old.
• Teenagers 16+ with written parental/guardian consent.
• All swimmers must undergo a mandatory pre-swim medical check-up. If the attending doctor determines that a participant is unfit to swim, for any reason, they will not be permitted to participate, regardless of prior registration or fitness level.
• By registering, you confirm that you are physically fit to swim and understand the risks of open water events, including hypothermia, dehydration, injury, and drowning.

4. Safety & Event Protocol

• Go Overboard provides:

  • Tow floats

  • Qualified medical team (pre-swim and day-of)

  • Lifeguards

  • Escort boats

• Although some swims are timed, Go Overboard events are not races.
  Participants are expected to:

  • Swim in designated groups and maintain the collective pace set by safety personnel.

  • Follow all instructions from event staff, lifeguards, medical personnel, and boat crews.

  • Refrain from racing, overtaking, or any behaviour that endangers others or disrupts safety procedures.

• Failure to follow instructions may result in removal from the event.

5. Insurance & Liability

• All participants are required to have valid personal insurance that covers open water swimming and travel for the duration of the event weekend.
• It is the swimmer’s sole responsibility to arrange appropriate insurance coverage prior to participating.
• By registering and agreeing to these Terms & Conditions, you confirm that you will have such insurance in place and understand the risks involved in participating in an open water swim.
• Go Overboard does not provide any personal accident, health, liability, or travel insurance for swimmers.
• Participation is entirely at your own risk, and you agree to release Go Overboard and its organisers, affiliates, volunteers, and partners from any liability for personal injury, loss, or damage, except where required by law.

6. Registration & Refund Policy

• All registration fees are considered charitable contributions.
• No refunds are issued under normal circumstances, including illness, injury, or change of plans.
• Refunds may be considered only in the following situations:
  • Duplicate registration/payment
  • Medical disqualification by the event doctor (pre-swim check-up)
    • To request a refund in such cases, contact hello@go-overboard.org.
    • Requests will be reviewed case by case, and refunds are not guaranteed.
• If the event is cancelled due to weather, political concerns, or other safety-related factors, no refunds will be issued.
  • We will instead aim to provide an alternative solution such as:
    • Rescheduling the swim
    • Offering entry to a future swim
    • Proposing other forms of value for your support
  • All funds will continue to benefit the designated charitable causes.

7. Fundraising Commitments

• Each swimmer pledges to raise a minimum amount, as specified during registration, via the official Crowdfunderplatform.
• Donations are non-refundable, even in the event of cancellation or withdrawal.

What We Fundraise For

Go Overboard supports high-impact environmental and community-focused initiatives. Funds raised contribute to:

• Marine conservation
• Environmental education
• Habitat and biodiversity protection

Our principal partners include:

• Conservation Collective – a global network of local environmental foundations
• Ionian Environment Foundation (IEF) – active in the seas around Corfu and Albania

Go Overboard reserves the right to:

• Choose or change its supported charities
• Allocate funds across multiple partners as needed
• Hold back a portion of funds for a “Special Causes Fund” — used to respond to urgent needs such as local wildfires, disaster relief, or humanitarian support (e.g., orphanages, displaced communities)

Final charity beneficiaries will always be announced at the time of ticket sales.

8. Data Protection

Your personal information is collected and processed in accordance with applicable privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable.

By registering for a Go Overboard swim or subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to be added to our Go Overboard mailing list.

• If you previously participated in an event or signed up under Albania Overboard, your contact information may have been transferred to the Go Overboard database.
• As a result, you may receive communications from Go Overboard even if your original engagement was through Albania Overboard.

We will never sell, rent, or share your contact information with third parties for marketing purposes.

Your contact details will be used exclusively for:

• Event planning and safety communication
• Fundraising updates
• Logistical and practical messages relevant to the event and your registration
• Newsletter communications, including:
  • Ticket sales updates (e.g. early access, save-the-dates)
  • Swim weekend logistics (e.g. dates, transport, safety info)
  • Links to join event communication tools like WhatsApp (always voluntary; swimmers join via link or QR code, ensuring privacy of personal contact details)
  • Post-event thank-you notes and sponsor acknowledgments

You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or by contacting hello@go-overboard.org

9. Media Consent

• Go Overboard captures video and photography during all events for promotional and fundraising purposes.
• Due to the group nature of the swim, it is not possible to exclude individuals from media coverage.
• By registering, you grant Go Overboard full rights to use any photo or video material featuring you for:
  • Marketing and promotional materials
  • Social media and digital content
  • Press and fundraising campaigns
• If you strongly object to the use of a particular image after publication, you may contact hello@go-overboard.org. We will review your request but are not obliged to remove the content.

10. Code of Conduct

• All participants must respect:
  • Fellow swimmers
  • Event staff and volunteers
  • Local communities and the natural environment
• Any form of aggressive behaviour, discrimination, harassment, or disregard for safety protocols may result in immediate removal from the event, without refund.

11. Contact

For any questions about these Terms & Conditions, or to request a case-by-case review, please email:
📧 hello@go-overboard.org