Has anyone ever been boarded by Border Force?

[Triassic]

I spent a very enjoyable day once acting as mother ship for two friends who wanted to sail their dinghy around the Isle of Sheppey. Late in the afternoon they came alongside me in the shallows off Herne Bay and I handed them a large black bag containing all their dry clothes that I had been keeping safe.....

I then set off on a very fast reach back to the Medway. Just off Warden Point I saw this motor boat some way off heading straight towards me from the Southend direction. It continued to do so despite me being in no particular channel and just at the point I was beginning to question their navigation they swung parallel to me so I could see "Border Force" in large letters down their side. I hove to and engaged in conversation with a very nice young lady who was doing her best to hang on whilst leaning over their bow.... "Routine check" she explains. "Really" I replied, "nothing to do with me handing a big black bag to two men in a dinghy off Herne Bay then"...... Honesty was obviously the best policy as a few minutes later I was merrily on my way again but it is kind of reassuring to know that they are out there and some busy body on shore is still interested enough to report things.

 

[Rappey]

Twice for me. Went out from Portsmouth for a sail around the nab tower and back.
Close to the nab the customs rib appeared out of nowhere, came along side, asked where I had come from and going to, then asked to come aboard. I said "sure, knock yourself out" to which they replied "sorry to trouble you " and departed.
2nd time was when I went to shamrock Quay (20+ yrs ago) to collect a mast.
Tied up along side in a commercial area and 10 customs guys lept out from wherever they were hiding and stormed the boat .
Where have you come from, what are you doing here etc. They had a very quick look inside, told me everything was fine and vanished back into the surroundings.
Can only assume I was not the vessel they were waiting for !
.

 

[Daydream believer]

An hour or so later a Severen class size lifeboat appeared in the distance heading flat out towards me. They hove to alongside

can one, heave to, in a lifeboat?-- or any motorboat for that matter.