Anyone had PERSONAL experience of Authority requirements in Cherbourg this summer?

Yeoman_24

Yeoman_24

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Trying to avoid scaremongering so just the facts please guys.

Has anyone been personally boarded in Cherbourg or anywhere else on the French NW coast and if you were, how did it go and what was inspected and expected regarding documentation and in date equipment?. Thanks.
 
If Morlaix counts, some 20 years ago un agent de police asked to come aboard, looked at one Guernsey passport (there were two adults, three children on board), was satisfied, and left.
 
We were boarded by 4 customs officers (?) in Cherbourg last year at about 17.30 bst on a Monday, just after we had moored and we’re going for a shower. The two crew were allowed off to the showers with no checks, I had to show my passport, the SSR card and insurance documents. They noted all the details in a book and also asked for my home port and port of departure. These details were radioed through to someone and presumably verified. I was also asked some sailing questions i.e. ‘what is the name of the sail at the front’. No equipment checks were carried out.
They were friendly and efficient and were satisfied with the answers to their questions. It was all low key apart from the pistols on their belts. Good luck.
 
CJU said:
We were boarded by 4 customs officers (?) in Cherbourg last year at about 17.30 bst on a Monday, just after we had moored and we’re going for a shower. The two crew were allowed off to the showers with no checks, I had to show my passport, the SSR card and insurance documents. They noted all the details in a book and also asked for my home port and port of departure. These details were radioed through to someone and presumably verified. I was also asked some sailing questions i.e. ‘what is the name of the sail at the front’. No equipment checks were carried out.
They were friendly and efficient and were satisfied with the answers to their questions. It was all low key apart from the pistols on their belts. Good luck.
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Thanks. Just a bit twitchy planning our first Crossing as information is so sketchy so cheers for info! We are going on a Monday too!!
 
Personally I travelled from Cherbourg to Boulogne this summer without anything other than help. Stopped at Fecamp & Dieppe.
I met a chap in Plymouth before heading for France who claimed he had been boarded in French territorial waters and fined 60 Euros for using red diesel.
For interest the French marinas are using self service refuelling pontoons. Neither Fecamp nor Dieppe were operational when I was there so I question their reliability and would top up tanks at any opportunity.
Enjoy your trip across the Channel.
 
Returned from Cherbourg (to Chichester) yesterday. No sign or sight of officialdom.
The last time I was challenged by French customs/police was in Bolougne in, I think, 1973. They came aboard heavily armed and in deck-marking black boots, and after a few cursory questions spent the next hour in the cockpit almost drinking the boat dry - but to be fair we met them later in a dockside bar (still uniformed) and enjoyed their hospitality.
Vive l'entente cordiale among mariners!
Fear not and enjoy the experience
 
We have sailed the whole Brittany Coast since May this year. NEVER had to produce any documentation at all. We have filled in 'Forms' occasionally but not met with anything other than kindness and helpfulness. I do know that boats get boarded sometimes but I have never heard anyone (other than drug/people smugglers) have a bad experience.
Cherbourg is very used to receiving UK boats and appreciate you coming. Just go and enjoy 'La Belle France'...
 
Yeoman_24 said:
Trying to avoid scaremongering so just the facts please guys.

Has anyone been personally boarded in Cherbourg or anywhere else on the French NW coast and if you were, how did it go and what was inspected and expected regarding documentation and in date equipment?. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I was boarded in Cherbourg last season by two friendly officers
In my case it was safety equipment they were interested in. They inspected two life jackets and asked to see my VHF after which they left
Never asked for insurance or any other documents
 
OK, just this year's personal experiences.

Arrived in Cherbourg yesterday. The usual pleasant welcome, no formalities, we just paid and got a welcome pack with some French biscuits.

We were "boarded" last week in Morgat by the customs. They wanted to see boat registration and passports. They politely asked if the could look inside the boat, we agreed and they had a quick look inside. Very polite and pleasant.

We have been asked to show our insurance certificate twice this year. In La Sable D'Olone and in St Martin. Apart from that no different from any other year.
 
We were boarded as we left Cherbourg at the end of July. Very pleasant people who, in our case, just wanted to check passports. Having left us, they went on to board the boat behind us, so presumably they were conducting a number of spot checks on that particular day.

I was also boarded near St Valery-en-Caux in 2016.

It does happen occasionally but, in my experience, it's nothing to be worried about if your paperwork's in order.

Have a great trip!
 
Sailed to Cherbourg early June this year ( OK , it was flat calm and we motored!) saw a French police/navy / customs cutter about five miles off Cherbourg, but we were neither approached or boarded. So no probs.

Andrew
 
We were boarded by 3 customs officers in Brest in June. They were interested in our passports, which they checked on the telephone with their base, and in the ship’s papers. They then wanted to have a look inside and opened all the lockers they could find. They did not find a good number of lockers or stowage spots ;-)
We were issued a form that certified we had been checked and they told us that we would not be checked for the rest of the season.
Nothing to worry about.
 
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