harvey38
Well-known member
Reckon you are correct, let the dust settle for a while and as always, money speaks so all visitors to the EU will be welcome as long as you are spending.....I think that perhaps some folk need to calm down a little, neither the EU nor the rest of the world is about to become off limits for UK sailors any more than it it is off limits for US, Canadian, Australian, Canadian or (even) Russian sailors.
In the 1990's we did a 7,000 mile loop of European inland waterways - France, Seine, Ardennes, Belgium, Rhine, Germany, Cheque R, Slovakia, Serbia, Danube, Romania, Black Sea, Istanbul, Sea of Mamara, Greece, Italy, Med, France, up the Rhone valley, Paris, Seine, back to UK - Not all EU, no such thing as Schengen, some borders, some check in/out, nobody called us 'little Englanders' - some minor irritations but WE DID IT!
Delivery 70' TSDY Malta to UK 1994 Malta- Gib check in at Gib for refuel a R&R no big deal, Check in at Lisbon for crew offload R&R again no issues, check in Guernsey for fuel / R&R, - and another Customs check in on arrival UK - again some minor irritations but we still did it!
1998 arrived Ft. Lauderdale Florida in UK registered 65' MB, 6 months visa, renewed every 6 months, still there 10 years later! US customs more than happy with it - we asked their rules and followed them.
If you are a TRUE 'Sea Gypsey' then you will be 'in transit' and justify your visit that way.
If you wish to leave your boat (but not yourself) in the EU Med permanently and become a 'Snow Bird' then you can justify it that way.
If you wish to take up residency in an EU country, pay their full taxes, contribute to the economy and health service - then you can do it that way.
But, if what you are really seeking, is to have it all ways, the best of everywhere but committed to nowhere - then you might well be asked to explain your motives to the host country - I don't see anything wrong with that.