cross channel sailing

[neil_s]

Hi there!

I have been reading up and scaring myself about all the paperwork you need to visit France which has cropped up since I sailed there last (about 10 years ago). Would those of you who cross the channel regularly comment on what is really needed to keep the gendarmes (or is it douaniers) off your back? I would like to extend my sailing a bit, now the family are growing up. My boat was built in 1977, is insured and I have done the RYA shorebased course. Do these regulations apply to the Channel Islands, too? Any comments gratefully received and fulminations about VAT sympathised with!

Neil

 

[castaway]

Hi Neil

I posted a similar question a few weeks back after reading an artical in the RYA mag concerning the ICC. If you do a search fo "ICC" you will see the replies.

I think that you are in the similar situ to me... that is when we last sailed futher afield than that permited by kids schools time etc., the fact that you had made it was sufficient reassurence that you were competant to enter a foriegn port with out sinking their Navy.

I appears that one should have an ICC qualification, but Im sure that many don't and have never been asked for one.

I'll get one when I have time, in the mean time...

Regds Nick

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[LadyInBed]

Re: Minimum Requirement

Is Passport and SSR card
Other documents that are useful to carry for both UK and EU are:
Cert of Boat Insurance
Radio Licence
Radio Operators Cert
Others also say:
Proof that VAT has been paid on the purchase of the boat

ICC is only required in France if you go inland onto the canals, but that is a different story.

 

[Col]

Re: Minimum Requirement

ICC with CEVNI req'd inland water & canals.

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[snowleopard]

SSR problem

had a barney with a douane francais officer who pointed to the line on the ssr cert which says 'this certificate is not proof of ownership' and demanded to see my proof. when i told him it was all teh receipts for the materials and would he like me to fetch it ashore, he gave up (this was in fort de france, martinique). last month i was rummaged in boulogne and they copied every document in my forlder from passport details to portuguese light dues receipt!

 

[JamesS]

In addition to what has already been printed you MUST have original proof of ownership (copies are not acceptable). I speak from experience - whilst in Bologne some six years ago we were boarded by French Customs. We didn't have proof of ownership and this reeuted ina £200 on the spot fine. My wife had to visit the cash machine while I waited on the boat with customs.

If we refused to pay they were going to impound the boat!.

I hope this helps.

 

[byron]

If it's any consolation the Doune guy in charge of the Marina end of the Bolougne and yachts etc., (he is the one who would have given you the hard time 6 years ago) retires on January 4th 2003.
He has given me many a hard time too, on one particular occasion he took me out to Dinner, got pissed, forgot he was with me and went home leaving me with the bluddy bill.

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[drawp]

I've had my boat in Brittany since June this year and have seen neither hide or hair of anyone in a uniform. We hear the horror stories but I bet the majority of boats crossing the Channel do not even get a second glance from French officials.

 

[davel]

Agree with this.
Never had any problems nor the slightest interest shown.

Dave L.

 

[Paulka]

Same to me!

I went all around Corsica, and some places on the med coast of France, never saw any Custom's officer, nor Gendarme, or whatever.

I think, as a foreigner, you, and your boat just have to stick to the regulations of your country, except for the inland waterways, where a special permit is requested.

Paul

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: original proof of ownership

If you don't own the boat . . .
If you've changed the name of the boat after purchase . . .
. . . what then?

 

[hlb]

Re: original proof of ownership

Think they call it Piracy.

Haydn

 

[brianhumber]

I must look dodgy, but last year was the first year I have not been stopped for fiche.
Each time they look at Shipping Registry form, VAT receipt and Passports for anybody on board, never proof of sailing qualifications.
The one time I took a risk as I'd left the file at home, they stopped me at sea with a rib from a gunboat and it was 1,000ff cash or return to France and go to court next day. Any currency was accepted, by luck we managed to find the money and got a nice offical reciept.

Don't take a risk and go with your documents.

 

[Gunfleet]

Blimey! I'd change the boat's name if I were you. I've never been stopped. Perhaps I look too poor. I've been controlled by the Gendarmes Maritime in a marina, but even that was very laid back.

 

[neil_s]

It looks like driving the car - if they don't like the look of you, they'll get you on something!

I have been trying to get some sort of line on the VAT exemption. According to the RYA, if your boat was built prior to 1985, and you can show proof of build date and proof that the boat was in the UK on 30th Dec 1990 (If I remember right) your'e away scot free. What constitutes these proofs I'm not sure. My boat has a lapsed part 1 registry which shows her year of construction, but the other bit is not so easy!

Many thanks to all for the useful comments, too.

Cheers for now! Neil

 

[BobE]

I sailed over to Alderney, Cherbourg, St.Peter Port,and North Brittany this year...was never asked for anything at all in the way of ships papers, or my competence...I actually have certificates for completing a Radar course and a VHF course, but nothing else...
I guess that I look my age (68) and maybe they feel sorry for an old duffer??

Just DO IT
Cheers

 

[byron]

When the VAT rules on boats came in one only had to contact the HMC&E at Dover with the information on your boat and they issued you with documentation. I suspect there is still a Clerk somewhere who will is detailed off to take care of such matters. Contact Dover to see.

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[gjeffery]

Interesting to know how far offshore you were when they boarded you

 

[brianhumber]

we had been to Cherbourg two weeks running and I suppose they wondered why. It was all very friendly we were boarded by two from a rib, one rummaged looking for large spaces, or illegal immigrants, the other stayed in the cockpit. We had left at midnight and it took until after 2 am for them to catch us. Fair Cop I knew the rules and should have had the right paperwork.

 

[colin_jones]

Good to know that La Douane Francaise has some money. In spite of a regular acrimonious correspondence, they still owe me £100 for damage their launch did to my boat in 1995. We still carry their admission of guilt etc and must be the only crew who actually call them aboard .... in order to enquire about the state of their exchequer.
It depends where you are and if they are in one of those periods not up to the target in the monthly amount of fines they are required to raise. I get stopped so often in the Brest area that I know most of the officers by name. As long as you have plenty of paper work, they are always happy - but do not ask them what they do with all the data they collect and even collect again next visit.