French customs are on the hunt

dom said:
Never understand why people involve themselves in a pointless dispute while blaming the other side for starting it.

If it doesn't interest you, walk away.

Simples ! :)
Click to expand...
Its cancel culture mentality: "No one has the right to cause someone else to feel vaguely slighted even by an obvious joke by someone bored on the internet."

But the starting it point is right. Now the scottish have entered the fray we have all the makings of a classic western bar fight that starts for no reason and involves everyone. But really did I start it or did the person who turned a nothing into an issue start it?
 
I do tend to feel that the French customs have a bit of an attitude against us brits. On one holiday my wife & I had no less than FOURTEEN customs visits between Boulogne & Porniche over about 16 weeks. All very polite. But 14 ??
On another occasion I went to Boulogne & was visited by 4 officials within 40 mins of arrival & they stayed for 1 hour 5 mins. Even searched my bedding. All very polite & the female officer asked why I seemed so unconcerned. ( I had just started an evening meal & carried on eating it) She seemed to express surprise when I said "Go ahead you are just doing your job." They left not bothering any other foreign boat.Just my British one.
I get visited by the French on a regular basis. Polite , but almost certainly trying to trip me up. I have even been called up by french CG asking where I am going & purpose of trip on a number of times. In recent times I get visited anywhere along the French coast between Boulogne & Camaret.Treguier etc. Often twice per trip.
 
It's slightly odd that when the French do exactly what the Brits voted for & then negotiated a deal over, they are accused of acting out of spite! Surely the Brits should be furious if the French don't impose all the checks and restrictions that we specifically wanted? Really, you wanted it, you got it and yet the whining continues.
 
Daydream believer said:
I do tend to feel that the French customs have a bit of an attitude against us brits. On one holiday my wife & I had no less than FOURTEEN customs visits between Boulogne & Porniche over about 16 weeks. All very polite. But 14 ??
On another occasion I went to Boulogne & was visited by 4 officials within 40 mins of arrival & they stayed for 1 hour 5 mins. Even searched my bedding. All very polite & the female officer asked why I seemed so unconcerned. ( I had just started an evening meal & carried on eating it) She seemed to express surprise when I said "Go ahead you are just doing your job." They left not bothering any other foreign boat.Just my British one.
I get visited by the French on a regular basis. Polite , but almost certainly trying to trip me up. I have even been called up by french CG asking where I am going & purpose of trip on a number of times. In recent times I get visited anywhere along the French coast between Boulogne & Camaret.Treguier etc. Often twice per trip.
Click to expand...
My foreign trips have all been heading the other way to holland, germany, baltic. Bought 3 boats in holland and never been stopped or asked anything. What you describe would stop me going to France again. It makes no sense that they have no system for logging that your boat has already been checked, sounds more like a sport for them otherwise to have 14 lots of people waste their time on it is ludicrous. Asking why you're relaxed about it makes it sound like they get a kick out of annoying British sailors. Certainly anyone with AIS and any sense will be switching it off in french waters if this is the result.
 
Two summers ago a friend sailed his uk boat to france, belgium ,netherlands, denmark then right around the baltic and he only had one "altercation" with customs officials which was in germany, and he is also german !
 
Daydream believer said:
I do tend to feel that the French customs have a bit of an attitude against us brits. On one holiday my wife & I had no less than FOURTEEN customs visits between Boulogne & Porniche over about 16 weeks. All very polite. But 14 ??
On another occasion I went to Boulogne & was visited by 4 officials within 40 mins of arrival & they stayed for 1 hour 5 mins. Even searched my bedding. All very polite & the female officer asked why I seemed so unconcerned. ( I had just started an evening meal & carried on eating it) She seemed to express surprise when I said "Go ahead you are just doing your job." They left not bothering any other foreign boat.Just my British one.
I get visited by the French on a regular basis. Polite , but almost certainly trying to trip me up. I have even been called up by french CG asking where I am going & purpose of trip on a number of times. In recent times I get visited anywhere along the French coast between Boulogne & Camaret.Treguier etc. Often twice per trip.
Click to expand...
If you know the rules they cannot search sleeping cabins without a warrant. Unless of course you invite them in.
 
Athomson said:
My foreign trips have all been heading the other way to holland, germany, baltic. Bought 3 boats in holland and never been stopped or asked anything. What you describe would stop me going to France again. It makes no sense that they have no system for logging that your boat has already been checked, [ they have; you can ask them for form]sounds more like a sport for them otherwise to have 14 lots of people waste their time on it is ludicrous. Asking why you're relaxed about it makes it sound like they get a kick out of annoying British sailors. Certainly anyone with AIS and any sense will be switching it off in french waters if this is the result.
Click to expand...
... Of course this is only an indication for subsequent checks; it does not bind them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top