France VLS-T

congrats, we have the trip up to the big city in a couple of weeks time. Out of interest how much did you put in your covering letter about your plan? Did you have to do a separate letter about accommodation, i.e. the boat? Do you think having the boat already there and a contract is a big factor? We’ve got to get over and back….
 
congrats, we have the trip up to the big city in a couple of weeks time. Out of interest how much did you put in your covering letter about your plan? Did you have to do a separate letter about accommodation, i.e. the boat? Do you think having the boat already there and a contract is a big factor? We’ve got to get over and back….

My main covering letter (there were two) included excruciating detail including a full description of the boat, the thing to bear in mind is 'what do they want to hear ?'...

The second letter was simply a clear statement that I am fully retired and have no intention of working

Having the boat there, including copies of the current and past 4 years berthing contracts I'm sure helped

Best to also include proof of ownership, SSR details and insurance
 
Just to reinforce what Lightwave said, its crucial that the promise not to work is in a seperate letter of it's own.

As said put yourself in the shoes of a non boaty official when explaining your situation. Making it easy for them is indeed the key to sucess.
 
It maybe worth pointing out that entry must be from UK (we were told). We’d hoped to enter from Spain or Portugal on the way back to UK but ‘No’. We could have flown to UK, entered France from there and travelled onward to the boat before sailing back via France but we decided ‘tfd’ and gave it a miss in the end as we’d have had to concoct a whole new plan and residence etc. It’s a useful facility for those travelling from UK though 👍.
 
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