dinghy to France

[Guest]

Can anyone tell me what paperwork I need to take a DART15 cat to France for some coastal sailing? I have been told that I need an RYA certificate of Helmsman's competence and that the boat needs to have Small Ship Registration. Is this so? Naturally i have evidence of 3rd pty insurance, and motor insurance to cover trailor etc.
Are there any regulations about launching off beaches etc- I know that the French like to cone off areas for small craft launching/recovery and police these fairly vigorously at times of the year.
Any advice would be appreciated.


Beefeater.

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[tcm]

We're in France.

If your boat is uk-registered, and you stay in the sea and linked ports (not inland) then you need only comply with UK regs. No ICC is needed, nor SSR, not part 1.

You will need insurance and some evidence that the boat is yours , or authority that the boat is yours to use, and such papers should be originals not copies.

You need an ICC (with CEVNI endoresement , but forgotten what it means) for inland use of a boat. But again, SSR not needed.

Yes, stay out of coned coastal areas, these show inshore limit for boats, and going inside is how to get holed cos often they denote rocky bits too. The smaller line of buoys further inshore is supposedly the outer limit for swimmers.

Dunno bout slipways. These always seem to be free. But you have to take the trailor out of the way, to the carpark or whatever, which may not be free.

The "police" are often volunteers, hence jolly keen. Keep low speed near the coast (limnit is erm 10 knots within erm about 300metres of all french shore i believe) and inside boat channels to/from beaches. Some boat channels seem to be rented out to waterski outfits on beaches, so if using them you might givem 5euros.

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[Guest]

Thanks for this. For future reference- how does one get an ICC -do you need to join the RYA?
My boat is not 'registered' as such- I have owned it some 5 years, and am not a member of the Class association, just using it for coastal cruising, no racing etc, hence I have no 'registration' paperwork.

Beefeater

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[extravert]

I don't understand tcm's reply...

> If your boat is uk-registered... ...nor SSR, not part 1.

These 2 seem to contradict. If it's not on the SSR or part 1, then it is not registered.

I would suggest that you get your boat registered on the Small Ship's Register (SSR). It only costs £10, and dinghies can go on it. You will then get a number, which you mark on your hull (cheap stick on letters from a car shop) and a small laminated certificate, which you will need to carry on your boat somehow.

Insurance will be required, which I'm sure you have, and theoretically you could be asked for evidence that VAT has been paid on the boat or that it is over a certain age, but I think that is unlikely with a dinghy.

If your boat is registered on the SSR it is part of the UK merchant fleet, and should fly a red ensign to be strictly correct, but a dinghy would probably get away without.



<hr width=100% size=1>Adventures of the VAT unpaid <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.xrayted.fsnet.co.uk>Teddy Bear Boat</A>

 

[snowleopard]

ICC: the RYA will issue one provided you already hold a UK certificate (i believe day skipper will do). it is free to RYA members, the fee to non-members is slightly higher than the membership fee so it's worth joining for the year. if you don't already have a certificate you'll have to take a test. Even if you have the UK yachtmaster you will have to take a CEVNI test to get an inland ICC, the ordinary one is coastal/offshore waters only.

SSR: the french require that all visiting boats are registered. the only exception is small inflatables which are classified as 'engins de plage' (beach toys). they are unlikely to check but there are many stories of xenophobic french officials who like to apply the letter of the law to british tourists. for the sake of £10 to register, why risk the hassle?

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