Departure/Arrival Dilemma - Carrying drugs without prescriptions

[Gerry]

We were last in St Maarten three seasons ago and there was a lot of work available. Yes you will have to work under the counter so to speak but there are a huge number of people doing just that.
Although a lot of the superyachts will be heading for Europe there are a vast number of boats that stay put and also a thriving charter industry ie sunsail etc.
Its really cheap to stay there, we stayed on the Dutch side which at the time cost us $10 a week to anchor in the lagoon. There was, and I believe still is, no charge to anchor on the French side.

Arriving in the US without a visa is NOT a good idea. you risk having your boat confiscated and yourself deported, which woulk be a pity after sailing the Atlantic!

We intend applying for our US visas in CUBA! Yes sounds crazy but we have friends who achieved this last year and said it was far easier than queuing in Barbados!Have a look at noonsite.com under Cuba.

There is possibly merit in returning to the UK but by the time you have factored in flights, living costs etc I am sceptical that you will make that much cash. our kids who are living there find it hard to make ends meet with regular good jobs...

IT skills are welcomed everywhere, so long as you are genuinely good. We could make a good living just repairing other cruisers laptops if necessary!

I still say go, if you are frugal and barring bad luck you sound like the kind of chap who will make sure he gets a job! we have other friends, sv hannah who did their first big cruise on a total budget of less than 4000 euros a year for the two of them and the cat...it was so great that they are back out here now.
Good luck Nick, the only things you are going to regret will be the ones you don't do!

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

 

[fiveflipflops]

Hi

In regards to work outside season this will mostly be picked up by locals. There is refit work in some of the biggger yards but you will need a trade they do not have. In Regards to Hurricanes, boatS do stay in St Maarten all year round. On saying that we always move out of the Hurricane box. You only need to be hit once.

To go or not to go. Put to the crowd at the bar last night. If you cross with no problems and get your visa sorted then head to the US and find work in the frist week then OK. Only 2 votes for that option. Why. Damage on crossing, how will you pay for it to be fixed. Do you need a work visa in The US and how long does that take to sort. Leave behind the solar panels to be posted on. This is a perfect plan and sailing its not always perfect.

7 Votes for Earn extra cash then cross. Why. Your plan will be the same but on a different time scale. Cash in your pocket, work when you get here and you will not be pushing it. Never a good thing to race time on a sailing boat. Cash in the pocket was the main factor and being out of season for work. Some at the bar have been potless here in the caribbean and have gone back to UK to earn. The feeling of having that few pounds in your pocket, makes all the diffrence to enjoying it or not.

All nine at the bar are live aboards. I voted to wait then cross.

what ever you choose wish you the best of luck. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

D E FIVE FLIP FLOPS

 

[Auspicious]

[ QUOTE ]
Is there a [U.S.] consulate/embassy there, so I can make a US visa application? This visa thing is so irritating, because I had US residency until I turned 18! I still even have a SS number!

[/ QUOTE ]

There is a U.S. consulate in Hamilton. It's about a 20 minute taxi ride from St Georges.

dave

 

[nickrj]

Thanks everybody as always for your thoughtful responses. Pretty neat people are taking votes on my behalf in faraway pubs!

Defying the majority of advice, Bermuda is looking like my new destination. I can safely depart in April, leaving me a bit of time to rustle some money from somewhere, get the stupid solar panels (or get an insurance claim from Deutsche Post) and it is on route to where I need to go. There is also a consulate, and I can get my Visa.

I could go back to London and earn money, but it would kill me... It would destroy what momentum I have, and if I started earning 2k a month, I'd probably sellup for a bigger boat, delay the trip a couple of years, end up married with two kids and a lost dream. Drastic, but what can I say /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'm here, I have a good boat with all the required equipment, a big dream and enough money to fill the boat with tuna and pasta. I'd be mad not to go!

!!!nick

P.S @Chrissie - I have a very old digital camera, but I sold my real photographic equipment in Holland to fund the windvane...

 

[philmarks]

Head for Natal, lie on the beach or take a bus south and then head for the Carib later in the year... but then I do love Brazil .. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Spicemariner]

We have just come back from St maarten. It is not the free and easy p1ace it used to be. Customs and Immigration boarded us at night, at anchor in 1agoon to check papers and safety equipment $300 fine if they find anything wrong. It is very hard to get jobs here now and it costs to anchor in the Dutch side $41 for us per week, p1us $30 for transiting the bridge. They are even stopping cars and buses, if you are not carrying identification, they take you to po1ice station unti1 someone arrives with your passport. There are no hau1 out spaces 1eft on the is1and, persona11y I'd stay away.

 

[Gerry]

Goodness, that is a completely different tale to the news i have been hearing and certainly a world away from the experience we had in St marten's.

When did they start charging to go through the bridge? I know that the really big boats always had to pay but was unaware the smaller yachts were being hit too. Can you still come in on the French side fee of charge?

I know that customs were always pretty 'efficient' but what time at night did they insist on boarding you? That seems a little out of order.

What do you attribute this massive change in attitude to?

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com