Cross Channel paperwork...

[Solostoke]

Hi all.
After some help/reports from people who have ventured across into France this season.
On Saturday I hope to leave Dover for Boulogne and to check in there as it is my understanding it is a ppf port.
We'll then sail on to Dieppe, Fecamp, Le Havre and then fly back to the UK.
The following points are what I *think* I understand!
Flying back means I need to enter via a ppf port. But my sources suggest that if I pick Boulogne I will have to travel to Calais. I would rather not have to get a train from Boulogne to Calais to pick up a stamp.
I really don't want to sail into Calais just to get a stamp.
Tides and boat speed etc. put me off going straight to Dieppe.

Any experiences welcome!
Thanks
Dave

 

[oilybilge]

Hi Dave, I’m afraid your options are pretty much as you describe. To make matters worse the Calais PAF now want you to get stamped in/out on the very day of arrival/departure, even if you’ve come from Boulogne. I wrote about it here: https://forums.ybw.com/threads/more-paf-faff-at-calais.

If you do go round the morning after, just claim a late night arrival and look apologetic and you should get your stamp

The round trip from Calais to Boulogne isn’t so bad and the frequent little baladin bus takes you straight from Calais station to the ferry terminal and back again. Do a search and there are a couple of useful threads on how to find the PAF office.

 

[Solostoke]

Just to update for anyone who is looking for this..... Here's what we actually did and how it went!
Sailed from Dover to Boulogne on the Saturday at 0900. Sent the paperwork emailed to Boulogne and arrived there at 1500.
Sailed to Dieppe on the Sunday and arrived there around midnight. Monday morning walked to the ferry terminal with passports and asked for a stamp as we were to fly out. Didn't mention Bolougne.... Weren't asked when we arrived, where we were going, just a smile and a stamp! Good times!

 

[[70521]]

My passport has an odd number of stamps in it. I still get asked why several years after I was unable to stamp out.

I've heard the 'snap' of Marigolds with other sailors having 'irregularities' with their passports and wonder if I should travel on a British seaman’s card.

 

[Solostoke]

My passport has an odd number of stamps in it. I still get asked why several years after I was unable to stamp out.

I've heard the 'snap' of Marigolds with other sailors having 'irregularities' with their passports and wonder if I should travel on a British seaman’s card.

And why were you unable to stamp out?
Well I had never heard of a seamans card. Interesting!

 

[jane444blue]

Just don't check in. If you do you need a departure one too, which means coordinating timings and place. In Cherbourg atm, only came back here after finding this out and got told I was only given a departure one earlier for 7am tomorrow due to Fastnet start. Otherwise it should be same day for the stamp, at 10am which if you want an early tide doesn't work.
Luckily Cherbourg is pretty full of cool race boats, a fun race village and very entertaining.....for those of us that enjoy that sort of thing.

 

[ashtead]

As it always seems that when in cherbourg the next stop tends to be Jersey with an early start for us I have always thought a stamp out would be needed the day before (unless I guess you don’t bother and stamp out somewhere else later on the return leg and ignore the sojourn in the CI )

 

[wonkywinch]

As it always seems that when in cherbourg the next stop tends to be Jersey with an early start for us I have always thought a stamp out would be needed the day before (unless I guess you don’t bother and stamp out somewhere else later on the return leg and ignore the sojourn in the CI )

Highly risky since I don't believe there is any softening of attitude with illegal immigration rules even if you speak nicely and have an expensive yacht.

 

[ashtead]

I guess the thought was I would get an exit stamp eventually just having travelled via jersey as part of the journey before reaching say st Malo etc. I appreciate you would be using up the allowance for days in France when at sea in transit but surely many do this every year now.

 

[Boathook]

Highly risky since I don't believe there is any softening of attitude with illegal immigration rules even if you speak nicely and have an expensive yacht.

When I was in Cherbourg the other year I got the impression the French customs weren't to bothered about whether you stayed an extra day being realistic over having to leave, as the the tides and weather would take priority .....