Brits in Brittany

[Frogmogman]

Any one who doesn't accept that the French now openly dislike the British is delusional.

I strongly disagree with this statement. It’s just not true. My experience is that there is some bafflement and bemusement about the way Johnson and frost have been behaving, but generally the reaction I find from French people is one of sympathy.

Broad sweeping generalisations attributing particular attitudes to an entire country and it's people are inappropriate.

edited to make it slightly less po-faced in the cold light of day, but I do get riled by these sort of “boo hoo the French all hate us” remarks.

 

[Bobc]

I was out during June/July and there were very few British boats about.

I found the locals very welcoming (as they always are).

Back off out there again very soon.

 

[Beelzebub]

I would venture that most people in Brittany recognise the economic value of British visitors and British presence during the last year and a half has been sorely missed.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

There is a massive exodus from Brittany of British yachts coming back to the UK for tax reasons, especially next year, and together with the 180/90 day issue, there will be very few British yachts going to France from now on. British voted to be isolated and they achieved it.

 

[Stemar]

Maybe Brits have had a taste of the nouvelle attitude of our erstwhile Gallic friends. Until this year I kept a boat in France for 10 years and had visited annually since the 80s. Anyone who doesn't accept that the French now openly dislike the British is delusional. I sold a boat through a French broker in July, with whom I'd dealt before, and even as a client the once genial banter was notably absent and replaced with a distinctly chilly atmosphere which occasionally erupted into baffled enquiries concerning the UK's approach to diplomatic issues. Even the unfortunate Dutchman who tried to communicate in English in the Capitainarie was treated with disdain until his true nationality was realised.

Maybe they thought you were Parisian...

I've never had any problems with French people, though the fact that I speak fluent French may help. Any comments about the forbidden B word were generally sympathetic, at least once I'd explained that I was as baffled as they were

 

[Bobc]

British voted to be isolated and they achieved it.

and you're going the right way for a smacked bum

 

[newtothis]

I strongly disagree with this statement. It’s just not true. My experience is that there is some bafflement and bemusement about the way Johnson and frost have been behaving, but generally the reaction I find from French people is one of sympathy.

Broad sweeping generalisations attributing particular attitudes to an entire country and it's people are inappropriate.

edited to make it slightly less po-faced in the cold light of day, but I do get riled by these sort of “boo hoo the French all hate us” remarks.

It is also exactly the reason those that do hate us do.

 

[steve123]

I've just returned from 6 weeks in southern Brittany. With one exception everyone we met was very friendly, helpful and seemed pleased to see us. This included the people at the Ford garage, Europcar and hotel who helped when the clutch on our car broke on the way down and we had to leave it in Morlaix for 2 weeks. The one exception was a woman who asked my wife if we were allowed to be there. Perhaps she hadn't realised to French rules had recently changed.

We sailed in the Quiberon bay area and saw very few British boats. A few were planning on taking them back to England but most, like us, are intending to stay. We got a berth, without calling ahead, at all the marinas we visited and only had to raft once (at Crouesty). As we normally visit in June and September this was a pleasant surprise. The south coast of England is much busier by all accounts. The French keep investigating in upgrading their marinas e.g. a new walk ashore pontoon with finger berths at St Goustan (Auray) and a new cill to create a wet dock for visitors at Port Haliguen.

Before we left England we had to get PCR test (although I don't think this is now required if fully vaccinated), provide proof of being fully vaccinated and fill in a declaration that we didn't have symptoms or, to the best of our knowledge, being in contact with a confirmed case in the previous 2 weeks. Before we left France we had to get a PCR or rapid antigen test in the 3 days before departure, book a day 2 PCR test in England and fill in a passenger locator form. The French test, passenger locator form and out vaccination status were checked before boarding the ferry, with only passports being checked in Portsmouth. The ferries both ways were very quiet with probably less than 100 cars. We got our rapid antigen test at a chemist for €29 with results and certificates in 20 minutes. I advise booking this well in advance as they are very busy now that you need to show evidence of being vaccinated to go in bars, cafes and restaurants.

 

[DJE]

We've been here since 26 th July but so far have seen only two other red ensigns between Brest (where we cleared in) and Pornichet. Both those other boats were heading North and the one we spoke to was returning to the UK due to the RGR VAT issue. We've had no problems with any locals at all and we were able to upload our Welsh Covid vaccination QR codes on to the French app for the pass sanitaire.

Presumably you arrived in Brest on your own boat. What is the procedure for checking in and checking out again?

 

[Sea Devil]

I understand that entry to France is not a problem. It's the going home to UK . I think you have to test before leaving France and again when you arrive in UK. Having said that, I may be wrong! Anyone have any experience?

I am based here in France with Brit reg boat and Brit passport and was going to sail over next week BUT... I need a covid test 48 hours before arriving in UK and I need to fill out a passenger location form on line and in order to do that I need to buy and have delivered to the marina I will head for a 2 day covid test because you cannot progress online the form without the ref number...
One stumbling block is that the passenger locator form requires the entry place in the UK - I tried to put in Eastbourne but it would not accept it - spoke with Yachtline boarder force guy who suggested putting in Dover and just going to Eastbourne....

I would add that returning to France will be easy - I have a carte de sejour and both jabs so I can just sail in with no paperwork or tests. If you come from the UK I promise you will be made very welcome if my local marina is anything to judge by - they just want to see the return of UK boats to the marina...
You will need to fill out a form in the marina office on arrival. The local French boarder force (Port Police) will be informed of your arrival and theoretically they will travel to the marina and stamp your passports and stamp you out to conform with the 90/180 day rule although I suspect in high summer they will not bother - that is locally not a national policy....

 

[doug748]

"................One stumbling block is that the passenger locator form requires the entry place in the UK - I tried to put in Eastbourne but it would not accept it - spoke with Yachtline boarder force guy who suggested putting in Dover and just going to Eastbourne...."

To pick up that point..

One of the drawbacks of submitting stuff on line is that you can meet some problems which are almost unsurmountable - esp trying to use a small mobile screen at short notice. If you have no contract or poor coverage, you can also be at the mercy of unreliable WiFi and dodgy signal strength.

People have moaned that the UK exit and entry C1331 has to be posted but in my view that is a benefit. It's easy to write exactly what you want on a written form and it can't be turned away. It's also easy to be absolutely certain that your notice can be posted, on time, in a typical 2 day window.



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[Sea Devil]

"................One stumbling block is that the passenger locator form requires the entry place in the UK - I tried to put in Eastbourne but it would not accept it - spoke with Yachtline boarder force guy who suggested putting in Dover and just going to Eastbourne...."
To pick up that point..

One of the drawbacks of submitting stuff on line is that you can meet some problems which are almost unsurmountable - esp trying to use a small mobile screen at short notice. If you have no contract or poor coverage, you can also be at the mercy of unreliable WiFi and dodgy signal strength.

People have moaned that the UK exit and entry C1331 has to be posted but in my view that is a benefit. It's easy to write exactly what you want on a written form and it can't be turned away. It's also easy to be absolutely certain that your notice can be posted, on time, in a typical 2 day window.

But as far as I can see the passenger locator form is only available online - I searched for a hard copy version which of course, if I posted it in France, would probably arrive in the UK 4-6 days after my arrival in the boat and it must be submitted 48 hours before arrival... As for the C1331 I resent being asked to post something on arrival in the UK as I do not have any UK stamps and no way of getting them plus I need to find a post box and there is not necessarily one in a marina. it is archaic!

 

[longjohnsilver]

But as far as I can see the passenger locator form is only available online - I searched for a hard copy version which of course, if I posted it in France, would probably arrive in the UK 4-6 days after my arrival in the boat and it must be submitted 48 hours before arrival... As for the C1331 I resent being asked to post something on arrival in the UK as I do not have any UK stamps and no way of getting them plus I need to find a post box and there is not necessarily one in a marina. it is archaic!

I have just sent a request to gov.uk for an online version. It will be interesting to see if one is available, although I suspect not otherwise why wouldn’t they have it available on the website? But the website does say you can’t request it, so I have.

 

[DJE]

You will need to fill out a form in the marina office on arrival. The local French boarder force (Port Police) will be informed of your arrival and theoretically they will travel to the marina and stamp your passports and stamp you out to conform with the 90/180 day rule although I suspect in high summer they will not bother - that is locally not a national policy....

But is there a requirement to stay with the boat until you have seen the French border force or customs man? I've been hearing stories about people waiting 48 hours to be checked in.

 

[Sea Devil]

I have just sent a request to gov.uk for an online version. It will be interesting to see if one is available, although I suspect not otherwise why wouldn’t they have it available on the website? But the website does say you can’t request it, so I have.

But if you get it in hard copy how do you make it arrive in the UK 48 hours before your arrival when post takes a variable 4-6 days and validate the form you have to order a 2 day covid test and insert the reference number and you can only order them for delivery 48 hours before arrival....

 

[Sea Devil]

But is there a requirement to stay with the boat until you have seen the French border force or customs man? I've been hearing stories about people waiting 48 hours to be checked in.

Yes that is true... That is the legal situation and you could have to wait indefinitely for the Port Police/Boarder force to check you in. You are right.
The French port/marina industry is very keen to get UK boats back visiting for financial reasons. They are in touch with local Mayors who also want tourism... Port Police are to some extent influenced by local government but I am certain the stories you have heard are true.
The way round the problem is to go first to Cherbourg, Le Havre, Calais or Roscoff and perhaps Dieppe as the car ferry passengers must use Port Police on arrival.... All the list are ports of entry with Port Police offices nearby... 1K walk to the Cherbourg office from the marina visitors berths

 

[Lightwave395]

But is there a requirement to stay with the boat until you have seen the French border force or customs man? I've been hearing stories about people waiting 48 hours to be checked in.

When I left Roscoff at the start of last month bound for Falmouth I just went next door to the Brittany Ferries terminal and got an exit stamp there - the marina office said if I call the PAF I may have to wait for up to 48 hrs, the border police guy at the ferry port just asked when I was leaving, gave me a stamp and off I went into Roscoff for a last lunch of moules before leaving later that day - best to go there just after the ferry has arrived/left as you know they'll be there, all very relaxed including the free PCR test at the marina officewith same day result (the free testing is ending soon)

 

[KeelsonGraham]

Maybe Brits have had a taste of the nouvelle attitude of our erstwhile Gallic friends. Until this year I kept a boat in France for 10 years and had visited annually since the 80s. Anyone who doesn't accept that the French now openly dislike the British is delusional. I sold a boat through a French broker in July, with whom I'd dealt before, and even as a client the once genial banter was notably absent and replaced with a distinctly chilly atmosphere which occasionally erupted into baffled enquiries concerning the UK's approach to diplomatic issues. Even the unfortunate Dutchman who tried to communicate in English in the Capitainarie was treated with disdain until his true nationality was realised.

You’re generalising from one personal experience. With a home in France, we’ve had plenty of post Brexit interaction with the French. No problems at all.

 

[DJE]

Sea Devil, Lightwave. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[doug748]

I have just sent a request to gov.uk for an online version. It will be interesting to see if one is available, although I suspect not otherwise why wouldn’t they have it available on the website? But the website does say you can’t request it, so I have.

Baffled.

You are not going to Alderney because you can't fathom the on-line Travel Tracker. I did, and can agree with you it is very difficult and maybe impossible in some circumstances with only a mobile.

Post for the 1331, on the the other hand, is simple, available to all and reliable.

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