HM Customs came to say hello

[iangrant]

Must have been about a month ago - sailing back up the Solent from Lymington end just west of Cowes, sun shining, gentle breeze, HM Customs "cutter" steaming up the western approach shipping channel when a rib charged up to us, "where have you come from?" the man challenged, Northney, I replied. When, what time? he asked, about 9am I replied, OK thanks and off he went seemingly happy.
I did have a couple of dodgy characters off this forum with me, which made it a little worrying.

Anyhow - I think it is nice to see a bit of security about the place, Identity cards? sooner the better

Ian

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[Guest]

Post deleted by danfoley

 

[iangrant]

mistakes - in my navigation - well perish the thought!
Refferal to GPS, which one?



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[cloudnine]

Ian
Sounds like someone's told him about Tony's boy, know what I mean??
See you soon
Brian

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[Abigail]

Interesting. We got boarded by customs sailing from Ramsgate to Ipswich a week or so ago. Very courteous but determined. Amused by the cats (who were not amused by them!)

Wanted to show their latest trainee 'all the nooks and crannies' in a yacht, as he'd never been on one. Took up a bit of cabin sole to show him bilges, as requested. He looked at the (empty) compartment and said 'what would I expect to find in there then?'

I sat there thinking 'do NOT say drugs - they won't find it funny!" After a short pause (during which his colleague had a curiously poker face) I said "on a long passage you might find vaccuum packed cat food."

"Oh" said trainee.

Makes you wonder about the innate suspicion you would have considered an essential entry qualification to HMCE

<hr width=100% size=1>Sarah&Pip

 

[Evadne]

You must have lovely clean bilges. I keep oily bilge water in mine!

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[milltech]

Oh God, must leave this thread NOW, dare not start rant on Customs. Sack 'em all, rude and overbearing to a man, do they get training for it?


<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>

 

[Abigail]

Actually they were really polite and sweet. They didn't even slow us down as their RIB could do about four times our eight knots (which was galloping for us and I'd've hated to miss the tide!) So despite my usual inclination to hate such things (I disapprove of compulsory helmets and seatbelts for a start) I can't really say they were horrid or even inconvenient ...

And I don't like bombs either.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sarah&Pip

 

[boatless]

Agree on mainland Customs, but once I discovered how refreshingly nice the Cowes bunch were I've always cleared in there.

Yes, we could swap a lot of stories about the corrupt former.

But wait until you have to deal with the Greek lot. Essential to take a blonde daughter into the office, then they're fine. Anyone's daughter will do... borrow one. Come to that, you can hire mine.

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[Rowana]

We sometimes got the rummage squad onboard when we came into Isle of Grain refinery. One time when they came down the engine room, our 4th engineer, a little Glasgow comedian, went up to one of them and said - "Can I come roon wi ye? Ah've nivver seen intae half o' they places!

If you seen the look on this guys face. It's a wonder he didn't frog-march the 4th off there and then, and hang him from the yardarm. No sense of humour at all!

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[plombier]

You should try being boarded by the Douane as we were once 12.3 miles due north of Cherbourg (outside their limit methinks but you tend not to argue with machine guns, pistols & the foredeck gun on the cutter panning in our direction.) A very "pleasant" bunch who would only speak French although they all understood English and who had some serious misgivings about Stugeron being used for mal de mere

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[milltech]

I don't complain about the chaps in white shirts and caps that used to visit on the pontoons. They've a job to do and were always pleasant to me, it's the turds playing commandos I object to, both in their manner and their deployment. Like rabbit shooters round here all dressed up like SAS, shows an unfortunate attitude.

It's not as if they actually achieve anything significant, except maybe nicking a few cars off innocents at Dover to feed Gordons addiction.

Reference the calming effect your daughter has on Greek Customs it's always amazed me that my wife, who has only two speeds, stopped and flat out, has never received a speeding ticket. Yet I, the most serene of men, have an album full.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>