Mbm cruising and red?

[ian38_39]

There are probably plenty of threads on red already so this one is not supposed to be another that questions the legality.

I am not signed up for an MBM cruise so not directly effected and being petrol I am not under threat of fine but I was just wondering if the current situation will have any effect on the MBM cruising events?

Would also be interesting to see what others are going to do with their individual cruising arrangements?

It struck me that if this whole thing goes badly then with white heading ever closer to the point that it will be £2 litre waterside if we go that way, even with the fines it is cheaper to go this year than next.

An average 40' fly doing around 1mpg would be costing around £10 per mile in fuel alone if the white thing pans out.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Suggest MBM cruises visit south coast of Ireland rather than ze euro fatherland. No problems here for visiting leisure craft. Fill up with white or more readily available green diesel. Craft can pay the duty difference on marked diesel by end march the following year. White diesel in ROI about €1.50/litre. It's a long two day run from uk south coast to south coast of Ireland and warrants 10-14 days to get to the delights of the Cork/Kerry coast. Don't know why visiting uk craft bother with the flat boring east coast and it's sterile caravan park marinas (eg dun Laoghaire, Malahide). Waterford, Cork, Kerry destinations infinitely superior.

 

[rafiki_]

I guess Neale will be along in a bit, with his plans for the MBM cruises. Rafiki's biggest challenge going foreign this year will be from the Welsh I expect.

 

[IDAMAY]

Cruising Plans

I see that the Little Ship Club has already cancelled a planned cruise to Belgium and Holland. For our part we were planning to go to France but now not so sure. We will probably hang back until some brave soul tests the water!

 

[neale]

We are obviously looking into this and speaking with the RYA and HMRC. At the moment, the way we see it, is that nothing has changed. Personally I would not have taken a cruise to Belgium anyway, and have avoided doing so for the last two years because of the situation there. The only real change made by this recent announcement is that the authorities here can now wash their hands of you should you get fined: "we told you it was for UK use only, so don't expect us to bail you out". Do you really think you could have relied on them to back you before this statement?

The French have given no indication that they are about to start fining British boats for having red diesel in their tanks. If they do, that will be a whole new ball game.

My own opinion is that the French understand and appreciate the business they get from UK boats visiting their north coast, and they know that the short term gains they might get from a few fines would be outweighed many, many times over by the loss of business from British boats visiting their ports.

But, like I said at the beginning, we are watching the situation, talking to the relevant people and will change our plans if we feel it is prudent.

 

[AndrewN]

RYA M/C

RYA will be running their Motor Cruise to France and Channel Islands.

 

[ian38_39]

Good to know there are still people prepared to go and I really do hope your right.

Wish I shared the optimism on the ability of any government to see past short term gains, just like the metriculation tax or whatever it is, and the current luxury tax's being banded around Europe.

We have abandoned plans to go further afield this year thanks to fuel costs but it would be a really sad day if the only people to leave our waters were the super rich.

Good luck and I hope it all goes well.