Falmouth to roscoff for a long weekend

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Luke2026

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Hi, I’m looking to sail from Falmouth to roscoff for a long weekend, and wondering if somone could give me a first hand of the experience and what’s needed in-terms of paper work and customs ext?

Il be heading in Aug! Maby places say I need proof of ownership of the boat? It’s a 1980s and come with no paperwork just a simple bank transfer and he gave me the keys ? What’s actually expected for me to prove ?

Happy sailing :)⛵️
 
You need to fire off a form to Roscoff customs:

https://plaisancehautfinistere.bzh/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/preavis-roscoff-douanes.pdf

They will then give you an appointment time by return (there are alternatives but as the customs people are just across from the marina + you get a stamp in your passport this is probably your best bet)

You will also need to fill in a UK customs form C1331 or do this on line

For France:

Passport - long dated
Proof of ownership - If you don't have a Bill of Sale, get one, there are templates on line for this
Insurance documents
SSR certificate - boat registration - Small Ships Register New Registration (Part 3) | UK Ship Register

ICC, certificate of competence
Insurance papers
VHF - RYA certificate - to show you know how to use the set
VHF - Ofcom licence - For the VHF kit, free, details on line

People will argue that you don't need this or that, but without the important stuff you risk strife.

In a smaller sailing boat, If you are fortunate, it's an 18hour trip so you will likely have some hours of darkness. The approaches to Roscoff are rocky and the tides move fast. Not a passage to be undertaken, unless experienced and fully confident in yourself and the boat. I would want more than a long weekend.

.
 
I did Salcombe to Roscoff last summer (17hr overnight in 34ft). I sent in the PAF form (actually not until I arrived but not really recommended to do that) and got an appointment to get passport stampeded. As usual I took boat documents with as per doug lists (although no ICC). As usual no documents were asked for.

We really enjoyed Roscoff, good marina and a nice town.
 
Having made this trip a few times both single and double handed I'd concur on it being a bit ambitious for a long weekend (depending of course on what you view as 'long') Check in at Roscoff is usually very easy, the marina and PAF are veryresponsive

I did it on a fairly quick 40 footer, IMHO depending on your boat I'd suggest 18 hours is a bit optimistic, my quickest time was 15 hours, as mentioned above keep a close eye on your track, it's fairly easy to work out your CTS for the majority of the crossing but in particular, from when you get 10-15 NM off Roscoff, the tides can be brutal, there are some unpleasant overfalls to the North West approach at certain states of the tide, you will also cross a very busy fishing ground in the vicinity of the shipping channels, I had a 20+ hour solo crossing a couple of years ago losing around 3 hours threading my way around a fleet of mainly French trawlers doing 3 knots up and down across my preferred track.
On the plus side, access to the marina is good at all states of tide but watch out when you get there, the tides run through it quite hard at times the further out your chosen pontoon is

(I too should add I've never been asked for an ICC in my 9 years of sailing in France)
 
Luke2026 said:
Hi, I’m looking to sail from Falmouth to roscoff for a long weekend, and wondering if somone could give me a first hand of the experience and what’s needed in-terms of paper work and customs ext?

Il be heading in Aug! Maby places say I need proof of ownership of the boat? It’s a 1980s and come with no paperwork just a simple bank transfer and he gave me the keys ? What’s actually expected for me to prove ?

Happy sailing :)⛵️
Click to expand...
You certainly need a registration certificate - SSR would suffice, with the number on the hull (this was checked when we were in France).
You probably need insurance certificate, at least for Third Party.
You may technically need a Ships Radio Licence and a personal VHF licence.

You need valid passports and to do the cross border procedures, for both boat and crew for both UK and France - a wider subject.

But I don’t believe you need an ICC for a UK registered boat in France (though no harm in taking if have one)
 
Luke2026 said:
Hi, I’m looking to sail from Falmouth to roscoff for a long weekend, and wondering if somone could give me a first hand of the experience and what’s needed in-terms of paper work and customs ext?

Il be heading in Aug! Maby places say I need proof of ownership of the boat? It’s a 1980s and come with no paperwork just a simple bank transfer and he gave me the keys ? What’s actually expected for me to prove ?

Happy sailing :)⛵️
Click to expand...
Roscoff is PPF port, so if you arrive there, note you may only leave via another PPF port. You may not intend visiting other ports anyway, but to mention the restriction.
Actually, as Roscoff is a PPF port, are they still doing the paper email, or do you need to get photo and finger print scan there now, does anyone know?
I assume UK passport?
They are usually pretty good at replying to emails.
The office is 15 mins walk over in the ferry terminal, and they tend to be open only at certain times, so you definitely will do better with an appointment.
They are perfectly approachable and understand that plans change etc. That said, it isn't an Office I would be laissez faire with!
Note, there is often quite a current as you turn into the marina, and also right through the marina. I ve been berthed next to someone who could actually get out of his berth, and someone T bone the Border Patrol vessel- that didnt go down too well !Take a bit of caution.
 
You don't say what sort of boat or whether you have a crew or will be single-handed, both of which will make a difference, which could make quite a lot of difference.

I think that planning it as a long weekend is likely a mistake. You will will likely be very tired, especially if single-handed, have little time to actually enjoy being there, and crucially have negligible flexibility to adjust your schedule and arrival ports in the light of changing weather and other contingencies.

I've done Roscoff (before it had a marina) from Falmouth, Plymouth, and Salcombe a number of times in sailing boats - single-handed in a 22 footer; with one crew in a 23 footer; as part of a large crew outward, and small crew homeward, in a 38 footer; and again as part of small crew homeward in a 38 foot catamaran. I've done numerous other trips to France, primarily in various boats of my own, either single-handed or with one crew.

I have had my papers inspected by visiting officials twice IIRC, once in the anchorage at Les Sept Iles, and once in a marina (I can't remember which).

They will certainly want to see the vessel's registration document and passports for all on board, and these days, I assume, the documents for checking in and/or out of France/Schengen.

I have never been asked to prove my ownership of a boat, nor VAT status (all my boats 70s and 80s small yachts with little or no original paperwork) but they certainly did want to see my registration documents (SSR). It might be different if you are in a very new or very expensive looking boat.

Nor (in a UK boat flying a red ensign) have I ever been asked for, or have they shown any interest in if I presented them, an ICC or other certificate of competence, or VHF radio licences.

A marina office or harbour master might well ask to see a registration document (SSR or Part 1) and/or proof of insurance.
 
Assuming you mean Roscoff marina, and not drying out in the old town harbour, entering and leaving can be interesting.
Watch for the traffic lights when the ferry is arriving and leaving.
Also,the current runs like a train through the pontoons, it's one of the places that I hold the boat against the pontoon with fwd revs on whilst I get my lines onto the finger.
If you have the time Saint Pol de Leon is nice.
Re all the bits of paper mentioned above, I have never been asked for anything other than passport and a few times insurance, but insurance was mainly in Spain.

Tide info: (from Weather + CI's & BRITTANY Tide Directions )
ROSCOFF
E going Starts at:
HW Dover to HW Dover -5hr 30
HW Cherbourg +4 to HW -2
HW Roscoff -5 to HW +2

W going Starts at:
HW Dover -5hr 30 to HW Dover
HW Cherbourg -2 to HW +4
HW Roscoff +2 to HW -5
 
In a previous life (when I was young and foolish) we did Fowey to Lezardrieux in a chartered Hurley 24 (Friponne if she still exists?). Took 33 hours each way 😄
We arrived in the evening, went to the bank and withdrew exactly the marina fee to the centime, paid, then left.
An experience I wouldn't choose to repeat...
 
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