Changes to the C1331 Customs Declaration

Agreed Alcohol is expensive in CI, we found it cheaper in the UK, we came back in April with a dry boat.
Rang the number on the c1331 form

he asked about
booze
any gifts
any restricted goods
any modifications to my boat to increase value
Took less than 3 minutes and I dont recall reading any passport numbers out.

That was it , he said I could take my Q flag down, that was the worst bit, it felt like the holiday was over !
 
Robin said:
Not much point these days as gin is cheaper in France that the CI as long as you don't mind French made gin, which is actually quite OK. hic.
Click to expand...

What!!?

Gin is only permitted on my boat if it is:

Blackwood's from the Shetlands (bizarre in that it has never seen a juniper berry in its life, but very nice);
Bombay Sapphire; or
Gordon's Export.

Once allowed a bottle of Tanqueray on board, but that was out of desperation. Had run out of the permitted brands.

How much is the French stuff? Ususally reckon on about a tenner for a duty free bottle of Bombay Sapphire, but last time I bought one was over a year ago.
 
Angele said:
What!!?

Gin is only permitted on my boat if it is:

Blackwood's from the Shetlands (bizarre in that it has never seen a juniper berry in its life, but very nice);
Bombay Sapphire; or
Gordon's Export.

Once allowed a bottle of Tanqueray on board, but that was out of desperation. Had run out of the permitted brands.

How much is the French stuff? Ususally reckon on about a tenner for a duty free bottle of Bombay Sapphire, but last time I bought one was over a year ago.
Click to expand...

I kept a litre bottle of Gordons and a Litre bottle of Bombay Saphire on board in our booze rack which had cutouts to suit. They didn't always contain what it said on the labels however and only I knew when and which one did...

We have bought Barmons and Old Lady French Gins for around 8 euros a bottle (not litre) and occasionally a weaker one (30%) called Westerly that was cheaper but allowed a larger measure for taste without the increased falling over factor, neat bottle too if you owned a Westerly. All of these were quite OK with ice, tonic and a slice of lime (American habit) and none of our frequent visitors switched to drinking Scotch.

Actually at home now and boatless, we are buying Tescos Litre bottles (not their real cheapo) or whatever they have on sale when we stock right up like Bombay Sapphire at 2 for £25 per litre.

In the USA, local USA made Gordons or Booths or the like is often around $8 per 1.75lts, versus the imported UK stuff at huge costs. Once again quite drinkable, at those prices who cares!
 
Sanderling_ said:
Do I:
  1. Pretend that I am going to Dilette and divert at the last moment?
  2. Actually go to Dilette and then on to Guernsey?
  3. Submit a C1331 on the offchance I head for CI?
  4. Just ignore CI as a destination option?
Click to expand...
Ho about a fifth option, taken by the vast majority ... just go and come back without taking any notice of paperwork requirements.
 
before departure?
or
arrive before departure?

Uhmmm.. I'm not sure I can cope with all this change.

Down here in Plymouth, it always used to be the case that we stuck a slip in the HM Customs box after we arrived back, and (because no-one was ever on duty) we'd phone them, and they'd say something like "Oh, we might be down there in an hour or so, but if we're late, just go home".

With this new regime, should I be waiting off shore until UKBA has had time to send a boarding party?

If so, I'd like to watch while they explain that to SWMBO and they get the benefit of her opinion.
 
I think I have it sussed! Load duty frees - I know you soft southerners can't, but oop north it's one of our perks for non-EC trips - make first port of call the next harbour along the coast (before cracking the seals) so you satisfy the EC port of call requirement so you don't need Part 1. On the way back fill in Part 2, in case anyone cares, not forgetting to include your flares under prohibited and restricted goods, finish off duty frees.
 
What exactly would count as a passage from CI to UK via France I wonder.
- Pass through French territorial waters?
- Anchor for lunch off a French Beach?
- Dinghy ashore and leave a footprint?
- Enter the Petit Rade and anchor outside the marina?
- Or do you have to enter a French port and pay dues?
 
DJE said:
What exactly would count as a passage from CI to UK via France I wonder.
...

- Or do you have to enter a French port and pay dues?
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the nearest French Port to the CIs to the north is Omonville la Rogue, which has a few visiters' buoys, but afaik, doesn't bother to collect the tiny charge the local byelaws say is payable.

Perhaps a receipt from the restaurant would do as proof.

OlR also claims to be the only deep water port apart from Cherbourg btween le Havre and St Malo. Just don't go there in an easterly wind or an easterly swell. I did once, I won't do it again!
 
I'm trying to get my head around this, but it defies common sense.
It seems from the above that:
If I go UK - CI - UK then I need to fill in both parts of the form. And fly a Q flag etc on return.
If I go UK- CI - France - UK I need to fill in and send only part 1. The trip back to UK needs no paperwork at all.
If I go UK - France - CI - UK then I need to fill in part 2. And fly a Q flag etc on return.
And if I go UK- France - CI - France - UK I don't need to bother with any of this and I don't need any paperwork at all (except for passports, ship's papers etc).
Is that right? Do the French (and CI-ers) have any stipulations about trips France - CI and return? And if the French aren't bothered, why are we?
Baffled.
 
blackbeard said:
I'm trying to get my head around this, but it defies common sense.
It seems from the above that:
If I go UK - CI - UK then I need to fill in both parts of the form. And fly a Q flag etc on return.
If I go UK- CI - France - UK I need to fill in and send only part 1. The trip back to UK needs no paperwork at all.
If I go UK - France - CI - UK then I need to fill in part 2. And fly a Q flag etc on return.
And if I go UK- France - CI - France - UK I don't need to bother with any of this and I don't need any paperwork at all (except for passports, ship's papers etc).
Is that right? Do the French (and CI-ers) have any stipulations about trips France - CI and return? And if the French aren't bothered, why are we?
Baffled.
Click to expand...

That's about right!

The French are no more interested in a UK boat having arrived from the CI than they are one which arrived directly from the UK and you are unlikely to be setting up a stall in the market to sell your CI purchases, nor to be dropping off illegals before heading for home. Technically I believe you should fly Q coming from the CI but I've heard that tends to irritate them somewhat as they might eventually have to attend in case you came from somewhere really outside of Europe, when they ARE interested. It might be different for a French boat arriving from the CI, I don't know, but they could easily discover a tank full of duty free diesel and lockers full of M & S underwear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

webcraft
Norway - observations so far
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
TrondS
T
veshengro
Less cheek.
Replies
11
Views
493
Sea Change
Sea Change
mrming
Ramsgate to Calais - passage plan advice
2
Replies
29
Views
747
dolabriform
dolabriform

Share this page

Top