French Customs

[aod]

Just returned from a race to Cherbourg and had an interesting experience. Firstly on a dead down wind ride towards the outer Rade in 28 knots true wind surfing at 11 knots we had the Duane following us with the bow of their 75-80ft coastal vessel about 35ft from our transom bathing us in a search light for about 2 minutes which was down right bloooming dangerous before they roared off.

Secondly in the marina a mate of mine on another boat who was cruising with family and friends got pretty heavily turned over by them and they were very hot on the correct paperwork mainly the ships registration papers (which he had to have faxed over).

It's pretty clear that they have tightened up a great deal so if you are planning a trip to France it would be wise to make sure all the crew have their passports and the ships papers are in order.

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[byron]

<font color=blue>Obviously they were looking for someone/something which is why they 'bathed you in their searchlight' as regards their being dangerous, with twin screws and the boat handling experience they have gained doing the job there is not the slightest doubt in my mind they were perfectly in control of the situation.
Turning to your mate. If they spun him it would be for a similar reason. Having taken the decision to make a spin it is quite right and natural that they ensure all is in order. Otherwise what would be the point? "Bonjour mon Amis" "Is that your boat? OK we will take your word for it even though we are on the lookout for a similar one that has just run down from Holland"

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[snowleopard]

me too

got turned over in boulogne in november. FWIW these are the things they were interested in:

papers: don't even think of turning up without at least registration doc and passports. if you aren't part 1 registered, you may need proof of ownership. they radioed our passport details to HQ.

diesel: we had a lot of big cans of red diesel in the cockpit, i had to explain we were motoring a long way, they have rules about importing duty-free fuel.

they were a bit half-hearted about the search, our customs could have taught them a thing or three. they did take the lid off one watertight compartment but not much else.

they were quite pleasant about it and one at least spoke good english, they were very interested in our trip- we had our track chart from the caribbean laid out. they didn't show any interest in log books. at the end (after about an hour) they advised me on where to buy the booze for the return trip.

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[Col]

Cherbourg?Which pontoon? we were on "P"


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[aod]

I think we were on Q rafted up next to Bounty Hunter.

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[petery]

Did they ask for proof of VAT payment?

...

I've got a second hand 20+ year old part 1 registered boat and no chance whatsoever of getting the necessary receipts.

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[Col]

Easter at Cherbourg.

I keep all my paperwork including VAT status & insurance in a plastic document case. They checked my part1 cert and passports, briefly skimmed my radio & ICC licences, and didn't bother with the rest. Didn't ask to come on board, or ask what I had on board.


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[byron]

Re: Did they ask for proof of VAT payment?

<font color=blue>I think they are only concerned with TVA (VAT) payment if you are keeping the boat there longer than 6 months. Maybe someone knowledgeable can clarify this.
I have been spun regularly by the Froggies and never ever been asked for VAT/TVA paperwork. That's not to say it will not happen in the future.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: Did they ask for proof of VAT payment?

I used to live in France and pass on some advice from the British Embassy there. I needed some documentation (this was before the single union or whatever the hell the post Maastricht EU is called) countersigned so I could get a certificate to say I lived in France and thence a Carte de Sejour (ID card for foreigners). The guy in the Embassy signed my form, then produced a series of huge stamps with things like 'signee et avouee devant moi' 'lu et approve' and whopping great UK crests on them. He then proceeded to smother the document in rubber stamps. What's that about? I asked. Don't worry, they love them, says our man in Paris. The iron rule with French bureaucrats is to smother them with sheets of official looking British paperwork. ICC, SSR, VHF licence, operator's certificate, a copy of your harbour bill, a a copy of the bill of sale for your boat with a harbourmaster's stamp or one from your local post office (see, it's the stamps that does it). You can't prove your boat is pre-VAT? Sign an affadavit in front of a friendly lawyer. Tell him/her to give it the full monte with the stamps. The lesson is, you can never have too much paperwork in France.

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[PeterGibbs]

Two years ago when I was inspected in Lorient by the French customs, they ended the visit by presenting me with a small document showing I had cleared their procedures. They said this could be showed in the event a further inspection was demanded elsewhere. Very useful.
Of course, no other inspections occurred that season!

PWG

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[Gunfleet]

Dead right. They'll happily sign your log to say you've been inspected too.

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[ean_p]

Oh for an old John Bull printing set...........and the worlds your oyster......

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[Piers]

Cherbourg is a Customs training centre, so they need boats to practise on...

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[Sybarite]

Being in based in French waters with a British flag (boat is registered as a foreign national owned boat in Toulon) I regularly get checked. I find that they are invariably polite and helpful. The only problem I had was with the last one who asked to see my British registration papers. I told him that I did not need them as the boat was registered in France (and I wasn't going to pay for two registrations) . He tried to argue but clearly was unsure and did not press the matter.

I have found life much simpler now since I decided to forget to fly a flag.

John

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[Chris_Robb]

We were searched last week in Lorient. They were confused when the old boat name on a plaque below the steering wheel did not match with the part one reg. They didn't understand the Dutch Customs Vat exemption certificate - but as it had a stamp on they seemed happy.

Then they searced the boat. We had a near one - my dear son had a little pack of that weed stuff, which he managed to hide away with the ships papers he was refiling just infront of the customs officer!


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[qsiv]

How'd the trip back go - I was thinking of you as that NNE near gale battered us in Alderney!

Is the Relais Bretonne (or whatever it is now called) still a good eatery? SWMBO used to correct all my charts before we set off on a cruise, carefully annotating possible ports of call with rosettes and Knives & Forks ....

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[Chris_Robb]

Re: French Trip

just posting a little resume of our experiences!

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