1st Time Over

[Luke]

I know this is going to sound ignorant - but I will soon be making my first Channel crossing for many years - and first time as skipper. Can someone tell me what the form is re arriving in France, Customs clearance, Q flags etc.

Gratefully
Luke

 

[jimmie]

I only bother with two things

Ships papers & a courtesy flag, q is irrelevant as France is part of the EC. If you go to the Channel Isles though you should use it as well as the Customs form.

 

[Piers]

Ignorant - no! Adventurous - yes! You'll have great fun.

France is part of the EU, hence no Q flag or customs. But make sure you have all the necessary paperwork for the boat - proof of VAT payment, passports, SSR or part 1, VHF, etc etc.

At some French marinas, it is usual just to go straight to a free visitors berth without calling on VHF. This would certainly apply to Cherbourg.

A point - the outer Rade at Chebourg is limited to 14kts. This is njot published, but I have known boats to be stopped and fined for doing more than this, especially if their wake has caused problems to other boats.

Caution with shore power - it's sometimes wired the wrong way round. ie, live to neutral and vice versa. Some people just accept this, some rewire their shore power plug, and some carry pre-wired shore power plugs to cope.

As an idea, and if you are making for Cherbourg and have GPS, I would use waypoints for the entrance to the Outer Rade, entrance to the Inner Rade, and entrance to the marina. Reason? Fog, which I have known to come along at the most inconvenient of times. Hence, it's easy with GPS.

The only other problem is where to buy the wine from....

Piers du Pré
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
www.dupre.co.uk/fsPlaydeau.htm

 

[jtwebb]

It is vital to have the correct paper work as the French Customs look for trouble. I have been checked on each of the last two trips. On the last one they damaged the carpet fittings, trampled through bedding with boots etc and tried to induce the helmsman to make a mistake in the Dover TSS. Rumour has that they are on commission for the heavy fines they collect.

J Webb

 

[tony_brighton]

When and where are you going?

 

[robp]

No customs or "Q" as others have said. I carry insurance docs, copy of purchase receipt, which in my case includes VAT. Passports and most importantly an original registration document which can just be SSR. A friend was advised only to carry a photocopy and was then fined 1000 FF. (St Vaast).

Personally, I've never been stopped

Have a great trip.

Rob

 

[johndf]

I had a FF500 fine in 1986 for having no SSR in St Malo. I've never made that mistake again, but I did have my SSR checked last autumn out at sea, about 10 miles off the French coast. The Douanier didn't come on board. The cutter circled me then came up from astern. The officer stood on the foredeck and looked over into my cockpit where I was holding up the SSR for him to read. After a minute or so he was satisfied and off they went.

On both occasions the Douanes have shown no interest whatsoever in passports.

 

[Luke]

Thanks for all of the feedback. Documents it is. As for the wine - I'm sure I'll sniff it out.

Regards
Luke