What dictates a cancellation due to weather?
Unfortunately there is no single variable – wind speed, wind direction, swell, potential electrical activity, are all part of a complex risk-based assessment. We are guided by our vessels Safety Management System, a legal document required by all commercial passenger-carrying vessels, unique to each vessel. The skipper has sole responsibility and discretion for weather-related decisions.
Decisions regarding weather are almost always made on the day and nearer to departure, once actual conditions are established. Cancelling too early risks higher costs with lost hotel bookings, work schedules, planned celebrations etc without need. As anyone who has swum the Rottnest Channel will know, forecasts frequently change from day to day. A decision is typically made on or before 4pm on the day of sail, or ideally 2 hours prior. However, if conditions deteriorate beyond forecast, a late cancellation can still occur. We reserve the right to cancel at any time as required in the interests of passenger safety.
As soon as the skipper gives the word, our admin team send out a bulk SMS and email to the booking owner. It is important the contact details used to make the booking align to those attending, so if you booked for someone else, we recommend contacting us prior to have this changed. Following this, our team will also reach out individually as quickly as humanly possible.
All booking changes are subject to the terms of your booking, including minimum notice periods. These apply irrespective of weather forecasts at any given time.
Charter 1’s skippers are in constant (almost hourly) check regarding weather for region(s) we sail in. Please consider the impact of everyone trying to cancel every time less than ideal forecast is published too early. Forecasts can and do change. We have your safety top of mind.
Some media sources, especially social, also use drama/fear as a hook to boost engagement. If you are concerned, we suggest giving us a call. Capella is a blue-water capable vessel and wind is also needed for sailing. If required, we will be in touch.
Available remedies are found in the Terms & Conditions where your booking was made. If this was via a third party website or agent, our team will notify the respective agent on your behalf, who will handle the next steps from there, e.g. rebooking or refund. Please note, we are unable to advise on, or override, the agents terms and conditions. Payments for bookings made on third party sites remain with the agent. We are only able to refund direct bookings.
This is the part that can sometimes be misunderstood. If you choose to rebook, a new booking is created which carries the same Terms & Conditions as all other bookings. A previous weather-related cancellation does not remove or override the conditions of a this new booking. Ocean sailing is special precisely because it happens in nature — and nature doesn’t run on a schedule. Weather is a jointly accepted risk and comes at a cost to both parties when it doesn’t go as planned.
We appreciate your understanding, flexibility, and respect for the policies that allow us to offer unique nature experiences sustainably, fairly, and above all – safely.
