Channel Islands

From my personal experience of sailing to the Channel Islands and I have nearly always gone from France to either Guernsey or Alderney, is that at St Peter port you are given a customs form to complete and post into the appropriate customs post box. At Alderney not a lot seems to happen although there is a manned customs office in the harbour which I guess you should visit, though I have never bothered myself. My theory being that if they are intereswted in you then they will find you.
I know this may not be the correct legal procedure and I do believe I have read somewhere about problems going from France to channel Islands but I have not experienced them myself.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yacht-links.net>http://www.yacht-links.net</A>
 
It's not a problem in Jersey - there are forms to fill in and customs men on the harbours, but it doesn't seem to be compulsory. However as soon as you enter St Peter Port they thrust a customs form into your hand before you've even tied up, and then come back to check if you've filled it in.
As long as you've got your ship's papers in order , ie. registration & insurance documents, and passports for France I don't think you need to worry too much.

<hr width=100% size=1>rich :-))
 
Yes, it's far less formal in Alderney. That's not to say that our Customs are less vigilant, just that there is less insistance on formalities than Guernsey. I can't speak for Jersey as I've not been there by boat, I'm quite happy to believe Rich on that one. Anyway, if you're visiting Alderney, give me a shout and I'll look out for you.

Bill.

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Is Gary still doing the Customs launch?

Dont worry too much about customs they just want the form filed in.


<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me
 
You still need your passport and the passport number to fill in the Customs form at Saint Peter Port when coming from mainland UK, whether you go to France or not.

Maybe you will find something on their website <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gov.gg/customs/>http://www.gov.gg/customs/</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>regards,
Philip
 
I arrived in Jersey after an exhausting trip from Cherbourg during which my motor went phut. We made the last few miles on a 2hp Honda (hooray for Honda). THe attitude in St Helier was 'tie your boat up and get some kip, we'll deal with paperwork tomorrow.' I could have kissed 'em.

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The Channel Islands are not in the EU so you must fly a Q-flag (yellow) when arriving from England or France. In Alderney, a rib will then come out to you and give you the form. You can then take your Q-flag down. Fill it out and post it in the box by the Yacht Club. At the larger islands you will be given the form on arrival by dory or in person.

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Don't quote me on this but I think you are supposed to clear out with the UK Customs form if leaving for the CI's, on the other hand should you be leaving for Cherbourg but due to tide, weather or gear failure, you happen to end up in the Channel Islands I think you'd be OK!

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
Pretty sure that Milltech is correct, strange how we always hit bad weather and had to re-route to CI.

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1. If you aren't travelling by an established carrier from a known point e.g the Cat' from Weymouth (if it still runs), how do you prove your yacht isn't crewed by Kosovan refugees?

2. CI is part of British Isles, NOT part of the UK. Tax and duty differentials are the main reasons why the Revenue men want to know where you are headed and when.

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But I don't think you have to fill the form for France do you? It's three years since I did that but I used to do four or five times in a year and I don't remember bothering with the forms for France.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
 
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