French customs are on the hunt

[doug748]

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.

Indeed you have to deal with realities, which is why the high pitched whining about the new arrangements with Europe will only shorten your life, or ensure the time you have left is wreathed in misery and self pity.
You should moan on the channel designed for it: Current Affairs. Top tip.


On another tack, last year I was buzzed by a French helicopter about 30 miles out.
I could see his searchlight casting about for about 20 minutes, in the distance and coming closer in what may have been a search pattern. He eventually came behind, I guess saw me and held me in the light for about a minute. He went away or lost me, then went around near and close for some time.
He found me again and came down to what seemed mast height, behind the boat, for several minutes. Don't think there was anything on the VHF, in any case I was in no mood for conversation. I was running and taking case not to gybe in the downdraught, he cast around some more for a fair time and then departed.
The whole thing lasted about an hour. The was an Epirb alarm that night but it was, I guess, 50 miles away. Funny eh?


.

 

[Gary Fox]

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

+1

 

[Bristolfashion]

Indeed you have to deal with realities, which is why the high pitched whining about the new arrangements with Europe will only shorten your life, or ensure the time you have left is wreathed in misery and self pity.
You should moan on the channel designed for it: Current Affairs. Top tip.

Well, firstly I was replying, on topic, to the subject of this thread.

Secondly, I'm not the one whinging & bleating here; the UK voted for Brexit and negotiated a deal to, presumably, their liking. Any numpty that thought there wouldn't be hiccups in the implementation phase on both sides is away with the fairies. People will gradually get used to the useless deal that has been done and its weird & pointless provisions & difficulties will be more consistently applied. All of these issues were perfectly predictable - to quote the Brexiteer's mantra, you had four years to get ready.

None of this really affects me and I'm happy to abide by the customs arrangements in force between countries. There is no point in complaining that the French are being nasty or that the Greeks don't do things the same way as the Danes. No-one cares . Welcome back to European travel, 1970 style.

And, on your second point, I've been "checked out" by both an Australian fisheries vessel & a naval vessel (from the water), this isn't strange, it's just good border management.

 

[chrishscorp]

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

No experience of French Douane, but bruv in law and Mrs do have experience of border farce, jumped up s###s

 

[Sea Devil]

I think there is a cultural difference due in part to the French Revolution - I find French officials and most people are very courteous and always address me as Monsieur - Sir. They treat each other with dignity and respect - rich or poor and extend that to foreigners - My dealings with their Douane have been frequent over the years and I've been boarded and searched lots of times always with extreme courtesy but none the less there is a pretty iron fist behind all that Liberty/Equality/Fraternity ... I have also been boarded several times by UK border force and customs launches and they too were polite and courteous.. Both countries take security very seriously - I am pleased to say.

There are very few rules regarding sailing boats here in France other than I have to have a ''Passeport du Navire Etranger". which is a one off thing and lasts for ever (98 euro) - I wonder if they will issue those to UK boats visiting France this summer at a Port of Entry?

 

[Barbaria]

We heard this on the VHF when we passed France in December, glad I didn’t fish
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[Gary Fox]

We heard this on the VHF when we passed France in December, glad I didn’t fish
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'I am on Channel Soixante-Neuf, and I may have to use my weapon!' Ooh la-la!

 

[Adios]

We heard this on the VHF when we passed France in December, glad I didn’t fish
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"well if you want to have fun then play with your little gun, me I'm working" Thats the way to talk to them ?

 

[mm42]

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.

Whilst they don’t necessarily have eyes on, CG have vessel details of every vessel of compulsory size transiting the Dover straits, with details of IMO dangerous cargo (classes and quantities), details of any defects, crew numbers etc as do other high traffic areas of the country with mandatory reporting systems.

 

[Gary Fox]

Whilst they don’t necessarily have eyes on, CG have vessel details of every vessel of compulsory size transiting the Dover straits, with details of IMO dangerous cargo (classes and quantities), details of any defects, crew numbers etc as do other high traffic areas of the country with mandatory reporting systems.

Yes, assuming the ships report truthfully..

 

[newtothis]

Yes, assuming the ships report truthfully..

There are entire businesses based on collating port state control reports and deficiencies, as well as looking out for and tracking dodgy ships and where they have been. Shipping likes to hide, but it's harder to get away with things these days.

 

[Koeketiene]

We launched in the last week of March (2021) from our French base for a shake down cruise. A day later, whilst sitting at anchor, we were visited by a Douane cutter.

They were out and about in Benodet too earlier this week.
Eight of them walking the pontoons looking for foreign registerd boats.

 

[Koeketiene]

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 ??

Normally, after your first check, and if there is nothing to report, they issue you with a chit (valid for a year IIRC) that you have been boarded/checked) and should you ever be so unfortunate to be boarded another time in the same year you can just show them the chit.

 

[Koeketiene]

Our coast is not fastidiously monitored its true. I consider it a plus point overall.

No shit, Sherlock.
A couple of years ago, the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov turned up in Scotland and the first thing the RN learned about it was a report on a Scottish newspaper website.
And this is a fact, I worked in Northwood at the time.

HMS York scrambled to Scotland in security scare as Russian fleet comes within 30 miles of Britain for the first time in 20 years

 

[Adios]

No shit, Sherlock.
A couple of years ago, the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov turned up in Scotland and the first thing the RN learned about it was a report on a Scottish newspaper website.
And this is a fact, I worked in Northwood at the time.

HMS York scrambled to Scotland in security scare as Russian fleet comes within 30 miles of Britain for the first time in 20 years

One ship does not threaten a nation so its really not that crucial. Watch over movement of significant quantity of foreign troops and equipment must be done by satellites over russia these days not men on cliffs with binos. Apart from France it seems where British yachts are considered an existential threat so they have some giant binos.

 

[bobgarrett]

I am always most intrigued by those who report being stopped so many times by French or UK patrols and shore parties. We have only been checked onboard twice (tempting fate now...) in st Petersburg and Helsinki. What is it that seems to attract such attention? In France the closest I think we have got is saying "bonjour" as the douane wander down the pontoon in Cherbourg looking for a target. Maybe some look suspicious even over radar and AIS!

 

[doris]

I asked my daughter's French friends if they still called us "les rosbifs"
After an embarassed paused they replied
"No the British are known as "les F***offs", because that is the phrase most commonly heard."
A sad indictment of British tourists.

Your daughter must frequent the lower grade establishments, in the SE/Med perhaps. In the more conservative parts I have been called un rosbif, always with a grin, on assorted occasions, often when sharing a bottle.
I find English and French people get on very well, the bureaucrats , in their many guises, are the problems. On both sides of the ditch!

 

[Sandy]

I am always most intrigued by those who report being stopped so many times by French or UK patrols and shore parties. We have only been checked onboard twice (tempting fate now...) in st Petersburg and Helsinki. What is it that seems to attract such attention? In France the closest I think we have got is saying "bonjour" as the douane wander down the pontoon in Cherbourg looking for a target. Maybe some look suspicious even over radar and AIS!

The French also check their own nationals. I suspect one or two posters on here might have a hissy fit if they were boarded by somebody with legal reason to do so.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

No shit, Sherlock.
A couple of years ago, the Russian aircraft carrier Kuznetsov turned up in Scotland and the first thing the RN learned about it was a report on a Scottish newspaper website.
And this is a fact, I worked in Northwood at the time.

HMS York scrambled to Scotland in security scare as Russian fleet comes within 30 miles of Britain for the first time in 20 years

You worked at Northwood at the time.
Lol

Tea boy I assume.

 

[Koeketiene]

You worked at Northwood at the time.
Lol

Tea boy I assume.

Nice try - not biting ?