Cherbourg this easter ( or near future)

[Daydream believer]

Anybody try Chebourg in their boat, this easter. If so can they tell us how it went, with the customs.
Logging in & out with passports & any other details. Plus how helpful, or otherwise the officials & marina staff were.
Failing that if anyone goes soon can they post some factual info based on real time experience, so that we all have the heads up on what to expect, rather than supposition , rumour and opinion please ?

 

[LadyInBed]

I've always found the marina staff to be very helpful, I hope it hasn't changed.

 

[Daydream believer]

I've always found the marina staff to be very helpful, I hope it hasn't changed.

Helpful in what way? Just ordinary marina business is one thing,Helping us get fuel, telling us where to buy bread, or whatever, etc. Yes good at that, like most marinas. But now we have the added complication of dealing with the customs officers. Will they help us deal with them in any way? IE give us useful info etc.
I am just a little surprised that no one on the forum has responded with some real info. perhaps some have made a week of it & we might hear after the weekend. I hope so. I cannot believe that a foreign destination so close to the Solent has been switched off so completely. Even though it is still only easter

 

[ithet]

Some useful info and reports already posted in another thread:
Entry to France

 

[Daydream believer]

Some useful info and reports already posted in another thread:
Entry to France

Thanks but that thread is really just a lot of suposition & the form suggested at the beginning for Le havre is of no use if one has to traipse to Rouen to get one's passport stamped on entry/exit
There is one comment -which is partially useful- from a sailor who visited Roscoff. But Roscoff is a long haul from the Solent, even if stopping off at the CIs.

However, my question specifically referred to Cherbourg ( where many Solent sailors head for short stays) & it specifically referred to ACTUAL experience over easter or to experience thereafter.

Quotes re boimetric systems are pointless because I hear that they have already been delayed to September. So hardly of use to the average summer cruising sailor wanting to nip over for a 14 day holiday with wife &/or kids.

I doubt that the majority give a stuff about VAT & dual nationality issues which just cloud the subject for most. We all know about the UK stuff.(1331) They just want to know what forms to fill in NOW to get in & out of France.

 

[DJE]

Hoping to go to Cherbourg for a few days early in May. I am intending to follow the advice on this page from Cherbourg Marina.



Entry procedure for boaters from third countries (and in particular for British boaters)
- The owner must complete this form and send it on arrival and departure from Cherbourg to the PAF e-mail address on the form. Only one form is required per boat.

- The owner must also call the PAF (+33 (0)2 33 88 72 20) for stamping the passport of each member of the crew. The PAF can then decide to move directly on the boat or ask the whole crew to go to their premises at 27 rue Dom Pedro.

 

[Lightwave395]

There is one comment -which is partially useful- from a sailor who visited Roscoff. But Roscoff is a long haul from the Solent, even if stopping off at the CIs.

That'll be me then... It was indeed a long haul but a relatively quick one - 163NM in 25 hours, the moon was so bright it never really got dark

 

[ashtead]

Reading those instructions does that mean you are emailing the same form even if setting off for say St Malo from cherbourg? Hopefully the cherbourg marina Wi-Fi will cope with all this traffic . Likewise that PAF number might become overwhelmed maybe?

 

[Daydream believer]

Reading those instructions does that mean you are emailing the same form even if setting off for say St Malo from cherbourg? Hopefully the cherbourg marina Wi-Fi will cope with all this traffic . Likewise that PAF number might become overwhelmed maybe?

Once you are logged in to the Schengan zone you do not have to log in anymore. You do need to log out though.

 

[ashtead]

Yes that was my understanding and as far as I can tell you can log in at any time before leaving home although the eta might be somewhat with an estimate or do those with experience just do it when checking in at the marina office? The point which confused was the reference to departure from Cherbough .

 

[LadyInBed]

You might find some help here ?

Port de Chantereyne Marina​
Port Authority:	​	Port du Plaisance Chantereyne​
Address:	​	Bureau du Port Cherbourg 50100 France​
Phone:	​	0233876570​
Fax:	​	​
800 Number:	​	​
Email:	​	capitainerie@ville-cherbourg.fr​
Web Site:	​	www.ville-cherbourg.fr/fr/ville_maritime/port_de_plaisance/​

 

[Daydream believer]

I find it odd that no one has actually been there this season yet.
It is their experience that I am after. I am going to CIs via Cbg soon & do NOT want to be the guinea pig
It looks like I may have to do Yarmouth to St PP in one hit.

 

[Boathook]

I find it odd that no one has actually been there this season yet.
It is their experience that I am after. I am going to CIs via Cbg soon & do NOT want to be the guinea pig
It looks like I may have to do Yarmouth to St PP in one hit.

Someone has to be first ....?

 

[Daydream believer]

Someone has to be first ....?

Yes , but I am a magnet for customs officers. They just love me. Cannot stay away

 

[Sandy]

Yes , but I am a magnet for customs officers. They just love me. Cannot stay away

Sounds like you are on their watch lists.

Is there anything you wish to disclose to the forum?

 

[Daydream believer]

Sounds like you are on their watch lists.
Is there anything you wish to disclose to the forum?

Watch list- I would say I am.
Record for one trip, with the wife, was no less than FOURTEEN visits. On another to Boulogne three officers decended on me within 20 mins of my arrival. They stayed for 1 hour & 5 mins. I was the only boat visited. They even searched my bedding. The lady officer sat next to me talking, while the 2 men checked my papers, phoned back to base & searched the boat. She asked why I did not seem concerned. I said that I was so used to it that it no longer fazed me.

 

[Boathook]

Watch list- I would say I am.
Record for one trip, with the wife, was no less than FOURTEEN visits. On another to Boulogne three officers decended on me within 20 mins of my arrival. They stayed for 1 hour & 5 mins. I was the only boat visited. They even searched my bedding. The lady officer sat next to me talking, while the 2 men checked my papers, phoned back to base & searched the boat. She asked why I did not seem concerned. I said that I was so used to it that it no longer fazed me.

People like you are needed / required / wanted to 'protect' the rest of us !
Please buy yourself a drink on our behalf to celebrate your arrival at Cherbourg after the customs have left.

Whichever port you safely arrive at I hope that the voyage is enjoyable.

 

[Daydream believer]

People like you are needed / required / wanted to 'protect' the rest of us !
Please buy yourself a drink on our behalf to celebrate your arrival at Cherbourg after the customs have left.

Whichever port you safely arrive at I hope that the voyage is enjoyable.

Thanks. But having been Arrested, Twice threatened with fines ( once after giving a TV interview with the customs officials) & met one group of customs officers so many times that I was on christian name terms ( one used to see me & come for a coffee), Not to mention the bar steward in Burnham who delighted in stripping my boat & one that I was seen to be crewing on, back in the late 70s, early 80s. I think that I have done my bit for the forum. Someone else should carry the mantle.
As for the drinking--- I do not drink much as a rule, but I admit that one of the first jobs when arriving at a different destination is a celebratory beer in a bar somewhere. Customs dodging in Ostend when red diesel was an issue became quite an art form.

 

[Barton Seagoon]

I am sailing across to Cherbourg this week, as crew on a friend's Moody 38. The owner has phoned the marina for advice and we are not expecting any hassles. I will report back next week when we return.

 

[Daydream believer]

I am sailing across to Cherbourg this week, as crew on a friend's Moody 38. The owner has phoned the marina for advice and we are not expecting any hassles. I will report back next week when we return.

Please give us chapter & verse. I am sure that it is not just me that will be watching with interest.