Clearing French Customs in Camaret

[nealeholl]

Sorry, I know this has been asked, but from what I have read, not fully answered! We plan to sail from Falmouth to Camaret in about three days time. I have printed off and filled in the PAF customs form, but cannot find an email for where I am meant to send it. I realise that Brest or l’Aber-Wrach are other possible destinations, but I’d appreciate some advice from someone who has crossed to Camaret recently. I know lots of people do ! Many thanks!

 

[chrishscorp]

Have you tried ringing the marina and asking if they are a port of entry ? they may be able to send you a form to enable you to enter without getting stamped in in your passport. the form is generic its just the email addy that is different and goes to the area PAF office, that is one angle to try.

Sorry not been to Cameret hopefully port specific advice incoming shortly

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Sorry, I know this has been asked, but from what I have read, not fully answered! We plan to sail from Falmouth to Camaret in about three days time. I have printed off and filled in the PAF customs form, but cannot find an email for where I am meant to send it. I realise that Brest or l’Aber-Wrach are other possible destinations, but I’d appreciate some advice from someone who has crossed to Camaret recently. I know lots of people do ! Many thanks!

AI Overview


Yes, Camaret-sur-mer is listed as a port of entry for yachts, including British yachts, in France. Specifically, it's one of the approved non-PPF (point de passage frontalier) marinas where you can check in and out when arriving from or departing to the UK, according to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Port of Entry:
  Camaret-sur-mer is recognized as a port of entry by the French authorities for yachts, meaning it's a place where you can officially enter and exit the country for customs and immigration purposes.
  
  
• Approved Non-PPF Marina:
  France has a system where some marinas, like Camaret-sur-mer, are designated as approved non-PPF marinas, allowing for easier check-in/check-out procedures compared to designated border crossing points.
  
  
• Procedures for British Yachts:
  British yachts, like all other yachts, need to follow entry and exit procedures when arriving in or departing from France. This usually involves completing a border control declaration form and potentially reporting to the port authorities.
  
  
• Recommended Practice:
  While Camaret-sur-mer is a port of entry, it's always a good idea to check the specific procedures with the marina or port authorities in advance to ensure a smooth arrival and departure, says Noonsite.com.

 

[robmcg]

We entered the EU at Camaret in September last year. You just need to mention to rhe marina that you need to check in there. The marina will give you a form to fill in and will take copies of your passport. The marina will fax this info to Brest and you will receive an email back from the Authorities in Brest confirming your entry into the EU. All very straightforward, no stamp in your passport required. Your entry will also be logged on to an EU wide system. We left the EU through Lisbon airport some 89 days later. Our info was on the computer system there with our point of entry being Brest (Camaret). All very straightforward to do.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Good news indeed as Camaret is a significant transit point between N and S Britany.

However do we still have the reluctance/official refusal to mix and match so that normal passport stamping in at Roscoff prevents exit from Camaret under the"special' arrangements? If so then like 2 years ago one is doomed to sail or bus to Brest for formal exit or lose another day or two pointlessly returning to Roscoff

We were moored in Camaret needing to make swift return to Cornwall and as it stood, motored our boat to Brest, for passports and then returned past Camaret , having had to promise we would not go ashore. A potential additional 2 hours on the return leg which starts to add up.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Good news indeed as Camaret is a significant transit point between N and S Britany.

However do we still have the reluctance/official refusal to mix and match so that normal passport stamping in at Roscoff prevents exit from Camaret under the"special' arrangements? If so then like 2 years ago one is doomed to sail or bus to Brest for formal exit or lose another day or two pointlessly returning to Roscoff

We were moored in Camaret needing to make swift return to Cornwall and as it stood, motored our boat to Brest, for passports and then returned past Camaret , having had to promise we would not go ashore. A potential additional 2 hours on the return leg which starts to add up.

Or you could look at it like France is being very accommodating in having ports like Camaret as opposed to specific customs controlled ports of entry. Why should they design a system just to accommodate UK sailors?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Or you could look at it like France is being very accommodating in having ports like Camaret as opposed to specific customs controlled ports of entry. Why should they design a system just to accommodate UK sailors?

The French seemed to have designed a system they dont themselves fully understand and cant really manage. Cross channel yacht tourism is down, with loss of revenue both sides

The UK is by no means alone in having pointless bureaucracy

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The French seemed to have designed a system they dont themselves fully understand and cant really manage. Cross channel yacht tourism is down, with loss of revenue

The UK is by no means alone in having pointless bureaucracy

No it's a piece of bureaucracy forced on them which they produced at short notice with a degree of inconvenience to themselves. The very small loss of income is of no great concern to either local business or the marinas, there are plenty of French people and boats to take up the slack.
It's called taking control of ones borders.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

No it's a piece of bureaucracy forced on them which they produced at short notice with a degree of inconvenience to themselves. The very small loss of income is of no great concern to either local business or the marinas, there are plenty of French people and boats to take up the slack.
It's called taking control of ones borders.

So why are there complaints about loss of trade if everything is as good as humanly possible?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

So why are there complaints about loss of trade if everything is as good as humanly possible?

The last time I was in Brittany ( St Cast and a few other ports) was last summer the restaurants were full and required booking, there were no empty berths except as usual on the long pontoon under the seawall, I always make a point of counting the UK boats and it has always been in single figures so no change. It's echoed along the coast. Roscoff was much the same when I caught the ferry from there. Further south where I was earlier this summer ( La Rochelle ) same as I always remember it the town quay was full and it was difficult to get a table in André restaurant as always.
If a few burger joints and fast food places suffer and close it will be no bad thing, the decent restaurants will still exist with their normal customer base.

 

[chrishscorp]

Good news indeed as Camaret is a significant transit point between N and S Britany.

However do we still have the reluctance/official refusal to mix and match so that normal passport stamping in at Roscoff prevents exit from Camaret under the"special' arrangements? If so then like 2 years ago one is doomed to sail or bus to Brest for formal exit or lose another day or two pointlessly returning to Roscoff

We were moored in Camaret needing to make swift return to Cornwall and as it stood, motored our boat to Brest, for passports and then returned past Camaret , having had to promise we would not go ashore. A potential additional 2 hours on the return leg which starts to add up.

It is what it is and that is what we have to work with, It was originally just a handful of ports of entry which was restrictive it has now opened up a bit yes you cant mix stamping and the email system but we know that and you just have to plan and work your passage around that.

Does it make life interesting yes, is it straight forward no, but compared to a 2 week all inclusive in Majorca with a bunch of other brits, I will trudge to the PAF office any day

 

[doris]

No it's a piece of bureaucracy forced on them which they produced at short notice with a degree of inconvenience to themselves. The very small loss of income is of no great concern to either local business or the marinas, there are plenty of French people and boats to take up the slack.
It's called taking control of ones borders.

Actually from what’s I’ve seen the marinas and local business, eg. restaurants etc, are very concerned about any loss of UK trade. The Fastnet into Cherbourg is an example on a big scale.
If your think that the EU is taking control of it’s borders, I’ll have a glass or two of whatever you’ve been drinking!

 

[doug748]

Actually from what’s I’ve seen the marinas and local business, eg. restaurants etc, are very concerned about any loss of UK trade. The Fastnet into Cherbourg is an example on a big scale.
If your think that the EU is taking control of it’s borders, I’ll have a glass or two of whatever you’ve been drinking!

Yes, marinas and local business on the north coast are very sensitive to any loss of UK boating trade, places like Roscoff and the other suspects are normally rammed with UK boats and when business was down, post covid, there were regular complaints and headlines in the local press.

It is easier for a French boat to visit the UK than the other way around. The French have not just kindly made life more comfortable for visiting yachtsmen they are also looking after their own interests. It would be better if they adopted the UK system but they do love a muddle and peaked caps.

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[Fr J Hackett]

Yes, marinas and local business on the north coast are very sensitive to any loss of UK boating trade, places like Roscoff and the other suspects are normally rammed with UK boats and when business was down, post covid, there were regular complaints and headlines in the local press.

It is easier for a French boat to visit the UK than the other way around. The French have not just kindly made life more comfortable for visiting yachtsmen they are also looking after their own interests. It would be better if they adopted the UK system but they do love a muddle and peaked caps.

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It's a requirement of entry to an EU country, the French have made it easier for visiting yachtsmen rather than having to go to a "controlled" port of entry and through customs verification like you do in virtually every other country in the world. There is a reason the UK is so lax in controlling it's borders, it hasn't got the will or ability to do it.
The procedure for a French yacht and nationals returning to France after visiting the UK is much the same as for a UK yacht visiting France.

 

[doug748]

It's a requirement of entry to an EU country, the French have made it easier for visiting yachtsmen rather than having to go to a "controlled" port of entry and through customs verification like you do in virtually every other country in the world. There is a reason the UK is so lax in controlling it's borders, it hasn't got the will or ability to do it.
The procedure for a French yacht and nationals returning to France after visiting the UK is much the same as for a UK yacht visiting France.

If we confine ourselves to facts, the French system is more onerous and dangerous for visiting yachtsmen than that of the UK. The monumental border problems in Europe are not focussed on yachts crossing the channel from the UK to the continent. The matter is largely irrelevant to those problems.

If the French have made things easier it is partly out of self interest. As De Gaulle said: "No nation has friends only interests"

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[Fr J Hackett]

If we confine ourselves to facts, the French system is more onerous and dangerous for visiting yachtsmen than that of the UK. The monumental border problems in Europe are not focussed on yachts crossing the channel from the UK to the continent. The matter is largely irrelevant to those problems.

If the French have made things easier it is partly out of self interest. As De Gaulle said: "No nation has friends only interests"

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The fact that the UK is unable to control its borders effectively and efficiently has no bearing on what or how France controls theirs, I fail to see where there is any danger involved.

 

[[70521]]

Currently in Roscoff. Very few UK boats are in.

So why are there complaints about loss of trade if everything is as good as humanly possible?

The economies of small seaside towns on both sides of the channel depend on people visiting. France like the UK is feeling the pinch at the moment.

Local businessess love to moan if they are not profitable enough to keep the owners in the style they have become accustomed to

 

[st599]

It would be better if they adopted the UK system but they do love a muddle and peaked caps.

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The RYA said that the EU offered that and the UK turned it down and requested 90/180. There were some corroborating websites discussing this at the time.

 

[doug748]

The RYA said that the EU offered that and the UK turned it down and requested 90/180. There were some corroborating websites discussing this at the time.

Yes. For all I know that may be the case, the mainland authorities are free to do what they like, as are we. I should point our that I am very fond of France and have spent a considerable amount of time sailing there.

I was just making rwo points :

1) The French authorities were always going to ease their entry requirements because it is hugely in their interests to do so.

2) The UK system is not so prescriptive and therefore easier and safer than the French.

.

 

[Lightwave395]

Yes. For all I know that may be the case, the mainland authorities are free to do what they like, as are we. I should point our that I am very fond of France and have spent a considerable amount of time sailing there.

I was just making rwo points :

1) The French authorities were always going to ease their entry requirements because it is hugely in their interests to do so.

2) The UK system is not so prescriptive and therefore easier and safer than the French.

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Can't agree with your point 2) above,
I've never had any problem or inconvenience getting in or out of France, the most confusion I've experienced seems to be returning to the UK when I've had a different reaction to my return depending on who I'd tried to check in with,
I came into Falmouth last year from Roscoff, emailed my SPCR / 1331 whatever it's called now, got no acknowledgement, subsequently called Yachtline (I think it was called) a guy answered the phone, wanted the barest of detail and couldn't wait to get back to his breakfast, not really interested in me