French customs are on the hunt

[newtothis]

Mais non, Je Suisse Eccosaise

Swiss Scottish? Interesting combo.

 

[Sandy]

Unfortunately Macron is one of the 1%.

Sir, you misquote me. Please remove your remark.

 

[Sandy]

Certainly anyone with AIS and any sense will be switching it off in french waters if this is the result.

France has a system of sémaphores along their coast. They monitor all maritime traffic including yachts. Radar are their primary detection system therefor switching your AIS off is not going to do much use. They also have an active radio direction finding system and the biggest set of binoculars known to man. When I last visited a sémaphore I could easily read the 1 meter high ships name at a radar range of 10 NM. As the sémaphores are manned by the French Navy there was some other "stuff" that I was not allowed to play with.

I understand that the sémaphore system was introduced due to annoying neighbours from a small island off the mainland where eating roast beef was popular.

 

[Adios]

France has a system of sémaphores along their coast. They monitor all maritime traffic including yachts. Radar are their primary detection system therefor switching your AIS off is not going to do much use. They also have an active radio direction finding system and the biggest set of binoculars known to man. When I last visited a sémaphore I could easily read the 1 meter high ships name at a radar range of 10 NM. As the sémaphores are manned by the French Navy there was some other "stuff" that I was not allowed to play with.

I understand that the sémaphore system was introduced due to annoying neighbours from a small island off the mainland where eating roast beef was popular.

Paranoid! Its the only word for it

 

[Sandy]

Paranoid! Its the only word for it

It's called surveillance. Remember Amoco Cadiz in 1978. The French implemented a system where they know the cargo manifest of every ship that passes through their territorial waters and have "eyes on", weather permitting, while it transits. Sadly, the UK gave up its CG lookout posts.

You and me turning up in our wee boats is just part of the work they do. I was impressed with their VHF sets, I could hear Falmouth CG in France better than I can in Plymouth.

 

[Adios]

It's called surveillance. Remember Amoco Cadiz in 1978. The French implemented a system where they know the cargo manifest of every ship that passes through their territorial waters and have "eyes on", weather permitting, while it transits. Sadly, the UK gave up its CG lookout posts.

You and me turning up in our wee boats is just part of the work they do. I was impressed with their VHF sets, I could hear Falmouth CG in France better than I can in Plymouth.

Our coast is not fastidiously monitored its true. I consider it a plus point overall. Yes a few yachts might bring in some illegals if they don't run aground off Torquay next time but its worth it to feel free from the bureaucracy we have on the roads and every other part of our lives. No tax, no MOT, no insurance, no license, no registration, no compulsory electronics or even any safety gear if we feel like free soloing. Fantastic! Its like we're not slaves for a while. I weep for our poor French cousins

 

[Daydream believer]

If you know the rules they cannot search sleeping cabins without a warrant. Unless of course you invite them in.

I wondered about that. They always ask if they can come aboard & I have taken that as politeness. I have wondered what reaction would be if i said "No"
In any event, these days, I try to be as polite & helpful as possible .I have had too many run ins & threatened with fines to take risks.

 

[Daydream believer]

..... and for price ???????

have you had a quote for a Swan 45, an HR 40CS or a Contest lately?

 

[Adios]

I wondered about that. They always ask if they can come aboard & I have taken that as politeness. I have wondered what reaction would be if i said "No"
In any event, these days, I try to be as polite & helpful as possible .I have had too many run ins & threatened with fines to take risks.

How do they address you? I've always thought it says a great deal that in America people seem expected to say "yes sir" to the policeman, while in the UK the police address us as sir. I wondered how this came about and thought possibly because they have guns in America.

 

[DJE]

France has a system of sémaphores along their coast. They monitor all maritime traffic including yachts. Radar are their primary detection system therefor switching your AIS off is not going to do much use. They also have an active radio direction finding system and the biggest set of binoculars known to man. When I last visited a sémaphore I could easily read the 1 meter high ships name at a radar range of 10 NM. As the sémaphores are manned by the French Navy there was some other "stuff" that I was not allowed to play with.

I understand that the sémaphore system was introduced due to annoying neighbours from a small island off the mainland where eating roast beef was popular.

You can't sail in the channel for long without hearing "vessel so and so this is CROSS Joburg calling for your compulsory report"

And once on a yacht on a delivery trip in February we were called by them as we came up the Alderney Race. Very polite but asking for our port of departure and our intentions. Must have been surprised to see us at that time of year.

 

[dom]

How do they address you? I've always thought it says a great deal that in America people seem expected to say "yes sir" to the policeman, while in the UK the police address us as sir. I wondered how this came about and thought possibly because they have guns in America.

Nah, guns don't especially bother me - I grew up around them.

It's the person holding them that matters and US cops do seem to include too many glass-half-full types.

 

[DJE]

“les anglais - une sale race...”

Ouch!

 

[jordanbasset]

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.

Agree, it's almost as if some do not realise that sovereignty and taking control of our borders is a two way street

 

[Daydream believer]

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.

With due respect- & i do not want to get into a leave remain debate here- That is a remoaner attitude.
There are ways of doing things. In the same way that a policeman in this country can handle an incident. He can do it sensibly & apply the law or he can do it in a different way & although still applying the law he may leave a bad taste in the mouth. Many will attest to that I am sure. The EU customs are- or so it would appear from stories one hears- being as awkward as they can to prove a point. Not necessary & just shows their distaste for the UK. Another excellent reason for us to have departed their useless organisation one might suggest.

 

[dom]

Also my experience of living in France a total of 2.5 years. Usually went like this
”You are English?”

Mais non, Je Suisse Eccosaise

”I’m sorry, I did not intent to insult you”. On one occasion followed by “les anglais - une sale race...”

Curious that your magical friend switched back into French knowing that you hadn't grasped even the most basic French pleasantries

And lest anybody believe such nonsense, UK buyers are falling over themselves to buy property in Paris while the French are the largest buyers of prime London property.
French buyers top London property purchases as Chinese investment slips

Did you know that many French refer to London as France's sixth largest French city?

I too am not British but find the UK a fantastic and welcoming place and London is bursting with opportunity.

But do carry on!

 

[Bristolfashion]

With due respect- & i do not want to get into a leave remain debate here- That is a remoaner attitude.
There are ways of doing things. In the same way that a policeman in this country can handle an incident. He can do it sensibly & apply the law or he can do it in a different way & although still applying the law he may leave a bad taste in the mouth. Many will attest to that I am sure. The EU customs are- or so it would appear from stories one hears- being as awkward as they can to prove a point. Not necessary & just shows their distaste for the UK. Another excellent reason for us to have departed their useless organisation one might suggest.

Well, it is not surprising that brexit fanboys report the imposition of normal customs processes, which they wanted, as being "difficult".

If one considers the right royal stuff up that the uk has made of implementing an agreement it wanted, we should also cut some slack to the French who also had very short notice to implement an arrangement that they didn't want. It is, apparently, way too soon to tell if Brexit is a success, but plenty of time to tell that the French have got it wrong!

I have just seen a video of a policeman beating to the ground a journalist (clearly identified) covering the Bristol riots. Most enforcement officers do a great job, sometimes in difficult circumstances, but they do not always get it right. And, if the customs rules say "no X allowed", room for discretion is limited.

 

[Lightwave395]

i do not want to get into a leave remain debate here-

yea right.... and then you did

 

[michael_w]

Having had boardings from both the French Douane and Border Farce, the Douanes were polite without the macho attitude of the Brits.

 

[Stemar]

All I have to add to the "debate" is that I went to France with a very rusty O level in French, lived there for six years and came back with a French wife. We have returned several times a year since. I have no recollection of any anti-British or anti-English sentiment beyond friendly piss-taking, when I gave as good as I got.

I do have to wonder where lies the problem with those who do have issues. Of course you'll find the odd xenophobic idiot in France, just as anywhere else - even (gasp!) England, and it is possible that the French attitude towards those who enforce the rules, legal and administrative, is not without some reason, but it is a human failing for a little power to go to the head, not a failing of any race or nationality.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Swiss Scottish? Interesting combo.

James Bond's parents were said by Iain Fleming in "You Only Live Twice" to be Andrew Bond from Glencoe and Monique Delacroix from Vaud in Switzerland. Possibly as explanation for Sean Connery's accent in the films.