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paulrush

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I will be arriving West Indies hopefully Antigua. Can anyone help with what the authorities require when landing with crew that may or maynot be staying with the boat. ie is return ticket required if leaving the vessel. what skipper statement is required for crew remaing with vessel. Any thoughts appreciated

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Sorry, I don't know the formal requirements but I do know that there are a good many people who do come and go from yachts, specially the islands with international airports, so the WI immigration departments will be well familiar and have standard procedures.

I recall getting info about this on arrival at some of the islands when I was cruising through WI a few years ago, but as it wasn't relevant to me I didn't take much notice. You may be right that it is necessary to prove that your crew has means of getting home before you can get a clearance certificate for the yacht to depart ("zarpe"), which all the islands require*.

*<font size=1>Except the French territories for an EU registered yacht.</font size=1>
 
a small addendum. it's not essential to have an air ticket back home, it is sufficient to leave the EC economic area. from antigua the nearest out-of-area destination is guadeloupe.

when signing off crew in st lucia the customs wouldn't accept airline tickets dated 2 weeks ahead & said i had to come back nearer the time. one crew member joined another boat so i went with her passport and the other skipper to sort it out with the customs but they said just cross her off my list and add her to the other, no need for official intervention!

in the case of antigua, they are a seriously stroppy bunch, particularly at english harbour. make sure your paperwork is in order, be obsequious, don't get impatient at their arrogance and you should be ok.

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English Harbour

Yes, I'd second that. What is it with the desk guys in some of these WI islands? Yet when I've needed to see people 'higher up' they have been perfectly reasonable.

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Thank you for the replies the information is most helpful. What information is note on a crew list?. I guess even a desk job in the sun has its setbacks!!

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Thanks for info, Please clarify your first sentence? Andrew B mentions a 'ZARPE' any info on what constitutes a crew list.
regards.
Paul

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Zarpe.

Simply a clearance certificate. More correctly, a zarpe is a paper belonging to the yacht that is stamped with clearance permission from each country, or each port in those countries requiring it. The charge is usually minimal, but it does mean you can only depart countries from ports able to issue one. They will of course check your crew list corresponds to that on entry.

Whenever you arrive at a new country in the West Indies or Latin America (or indeed anywhere outside the EU) you need to produce your clearance certificate from your last destination. If you can't, there is a real risk they will fine you, or send you back to your last destination to get one. The latter is particularly true in the WI. It's worth remembering this when leaving the Canary Islands for jumping the pond. They won't actually send you back in Barbados, but it definitely oils the wheels to have one.

Some of these certificates are works of art. I still have one (by dint of illegal entry at my next port) which declares I am in ballast (i.e. no cargo), the number of fixed gun mounts is nil, and my rats are free of plague. As it is dated from the American Revolution (i.e. days months and years after 4th July 1776) it would have been utterly incomprehensible to the next Spanish speaking port - but that hardly matters, what is important is that is in copper-plate script, smothered in stamps, and looks extremely official.
 
Re: Zarpe.

Thanks
Which port in the Canaries will issue a Clearance Document, also do you know what information is required on a crew list?
regards
Paul R

<hr width=100% size=1>Paul R
 
Clearance from Canaries

I obtained one from the marina at St Sebastian, Gomera. I believe most of the marinas will provide one.

Some of the cruising books like the Atlantic Crossing Guide suggest carrying copies of a crew list, and provide details of what to include. Name, Sex, DOB, Nationality, Passport number: those for sure. But I've found many entry ports and customs authorities have their own standard form for yachts to fill in, they won't accept a copy of a printed list. So I wouldn't be too bothered, though it can be handy to have one for your own use.

As the skipper is technically the only one permitted ashore to get clearance and has to do all the filling in, definitely an incentive to sail short-handed!

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