Privacy notice

1. Who is responsible for your information

The Chip Wreck LTD is the controller of personal information processed through Fathom & Wake. Our address is 15 Market Street, Preston, PR1 2EL. Our authorised representative is Elliot Fairburn. Privacy enquiries may be sent to [email protected] or made by telephone on +44 1772 474913.

This notice applies to information collected through this website, through passage enquiry forms and through later communications about our editorial work and maritime excursions. Where an independent vessel operator processes information for its own legal or operational purposes, that operator will act under its own privacy notice.

2. Information we collect

When you submit an enquiry, we collect the information entered in the form, which may include your name, email address, telephone number, preferred month, group size and the message you choose to provide. If you continue towards a booking, we may also need the names of travellers, accessibility or dietary information relevant to the passage, emergency contact details and records of correspondence.

When you use the website, technical information may be generated, including IP address, browser and device type, referring page, pages viewed, approximate location derived from IP address, cookie choices and timestamps. We do not ask you to provide special category information through the general enquiry form. If information about health or accessibility is needed for safety planning, we request only what is necessary and handle it with additional care.

3. Why we use information and our lawful bases

We use enquiry information to answer questions, suggest suitable sailing windows and take steps requested by you before entering into a contract. Where a booking is made, we process the information needed to administer the booking and deliver the passage under the contract.

We use essential technical information to operate, secure and diagnose the website on the basis of our legitimate interests in providing a reliable service. Optional analytics and advertising technologies are used only where the required consent has been given. We may retain transaction and accounting records to comply with legal obligations. Where we send optional editorial or promotional messages, we rely on consent or another lawful basis permitted by UK electronic marketing rules and provide a clear way to stop them.

4. Sharing and international transfers

Information may be shared with service providers that support website hosting, email delivery, customer administration, payment processing, analytics and security. For a confirmed passage, relevant details may be shared with the vessel operator, skipper or harbour contact where needed to arrange the trip safely. We require providers acting on our behalf to protect personal information and use it only under our instructions.

Some providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where this happens, we use an approved transfer mechanism or rely on a recognised adequacy arrangement, together with appropriate technical and contractual safeguards. We do not sell personal information.

5. Retention and security

General enquiries that do not lead to a booking are normally retained for up to 18 months after the last meaningful contact. Booking, payment and tax records are generally retained for up to six years after the relevant financial year. Safety records may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to address an incident, legal claim or regulatory requirement. Cookie records follow the periods described in our cookie policy.

We use proportionate organisational and technical measures designed to protect information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure. Access is limited to people and providers who need the information for the purposes described in this notice. No transmission method is completely risk-free, but suspected incidents are assessed and reported where the law requires.

6. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have the right to ask for access to your personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion, restriction, portability or objection to certain processing. Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time without affecting earlier lawful processing.

We may ask for information needed to confirm your identity before acting on a request. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office. We encourage you to contact us first so that we have an opportunity to address your concern.

7. Cookies, third-party links and children

Cookies and similar technologies are described in our cookie policy, including their categories, purposes and typical duration. Links to external archives, heritage organisations or booking partners lead to services with their own privacy practices; this notice does not control their processing.

Our content and passages are intended for adults arranging travel and are not directed at children. A parent or guardian should provide any information required for a young passenger as part of a booking.

8. Changes and contact

We may update this notice when our services, providers or legal obligations change. The current version is identified by the date at the top of the page. Material changes will be presented clearly where appropriate.