This policy explains how the website uses cookies and other storage/access technologies. UK rules in this area include the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), UK data protection law and amendments made by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
NORTHING is the public-facing name of this website. The website operator is Whitstable Yacht Club, using the operator details shown in this notice.
1. What these technologies do
Cookies and similar technologies can store information on, or access information from, a browser or device. They can support essential functions, remember choices, measure how a service is used or enable advertising-related functions. The legal rules depend on the purpose and on whether an exception applies.
2. Essential technologies
Essential technologies support functions that users request or that are necessary for the service to operate securely, such as remembering privacy choices, maintaining interface state and protecting against misuse. Where PECR permits an exception, these technologies do not depend on optional consent.
Our privacy-choice record is designed to persist for up to six months so that the site does not ask the same question on every visit. You can clear browser storage at any time; doing so may cause the preference panel to appear again.
3. Site measurement
Measurement technologies can help us understand aggregate use of the website, identify pages that are useful and improve reliability or design. Under the post-2025 PECR framework, certain limited statistical uses may qualify for an exception if legal safeguards are met, including clear information and a simple free means of objecting. Where a measurement use does not meet an exception, we rely on a valid consent choice before it is used.
The site preference panel lets you turn site measurement on or off. If measurement tools are introduced or changed, we review their purpose, data sharing and retention before use.
4. Marketing and advertising technologies
Marketing technologies may be used to measure advertising, limit repetition, attribute visits or personalise advertising. These purposes are treated separately from essential functions. Where consent is required, they remain off until you choose to allow them.
Advertising or marketing providers may act as independent controllers or processors depending on the service. When such a provider is active, relevant information about the provider and the technology will be added to this policy or the consent interface.
5. Third parties and embedded resources
The website can load resources such as fonts, icons or scripts from external delivery services. This may result in the provider receiving normal request information such as IP address, browser information and the requested resource. Such network requests are distinct from permission to set non-essential advertising or analytics storage.
6. How long technologies remain
Session technologies expire when the browsing session ends. Persistent preferences may remain for up to six months unless you clear them earlier. If we use third-party measurement or marketing technologies, their specific duration will be disclosed in this policy or the preference interface and reviewed for proportionality.
7. Managing your choices
You can choose “Necessary only”, allow optional categories, or open the settings panel to make a category-by-category choice. You can revisit those choices by clearing the relevant browser site data and reloading the website. Browser controls can also block or delete storage, although blocking essential technologies may affect requested functions.
8. Consent and lawful use
Where PECR requires consent, the consent must meet UK data protection standards: it must be freely given, specific, informed and expressed by a clear positive action. We do not treat continued browsing or a pre-ticked option as consent. Where a statutory exception applies, we still provide clear information and any objection mechanism required by law.
9. Changes to this policy
We update this policy when technologies, providers or legal requirements change. Material changes are reflected in the date on this page and, where necessary, in the consent interface.