Ostend...

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Mudplugger

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Stunning long week-end taking part in the annual Wivenhoe & Brightlingsea Ostend Rally, lots of sun, Food, wine, and good company...65 for dinner on Saturday and Bar not closing untill 04.30! celebrating 20 years since the first...reason for posting...all uk yachts in port (16of17 of us)over the weekend were visited by Police checking paperwork...seem to be taking a significant interest in Ships Papers, ICC, VHF , Insurance etc. managed to avoid by taking a couple of early & late showers, and actually wasn,t approached, could be that borrowed transport was still showing Breskens as home port. By the way Duty Free no longer available on Sat. pm, if order placed with Didier (RYCO) by 17.00 Sunday, delivered Monday am @ 9.30...HTH for any heading that way!
 
Hope you're aware that it ain't actually duty free, and that UK boats returning from Ostend are being raided by Customs and Excise!!
 
it at least VAT FREE so C& E take an interest + take your booze

i went over whit w/e came back for the very first time in 30 yrs with NO STORES /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
came back 2 weeks ago loaded with beer from the S/market £ 2.00 more than Gen Stores for a 24 slab but the C & E can get STUFFED /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

s/mart charge E4.50 a trolly for del @ a time to suit you /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
It is duty free.

Not really worthwhile for beer - marginally cheaper than supermarket.
Spirits & fags less than half price.

Have never been boarded by C&E.
Maybe one boat has - it's like the one boat being fined in Holland for red diesel.

Live a little - take risk /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
It is not duty free in the old meaning of the words, when there was an allowance you could bring in. It's actually 'bonded stores' and that's why you cannot bring it in.
I am a coastguard chappie and I get to hear snippets of what C&E are up to afloat. I can assure you it's a few more than one boat that have been boarded, that the experience is very unpleasant and expensive, and that they have us east coast boating folk on their agenda!
So the moral is, don't do it, it's not worth the risk. Do a Sailorman and go to the supermarche instead.
 
[So the moral is, don't do it, it's not worth the risk. Do a Sailorman and go to the supermarche instead. ]

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On what grounds!...as far as I can see, if travelling in international waters, one is entitled to take on board bonded stores..and providing one complies with the curent legislation in regard to Duty Free allowances, don,t see what the problem is. Suggest that far more attention should be paid to the numerous large & V.large RIBS inhabiting some of the coastal ports on the other side. Particularly in view of the engine sizes. 300+hp, and the ability to hit the UK in a couple of hours. Have to say that as the Revenue have as much chance of catching them, as a snowball in hell, they go for the easy touch.
 
[ QUOTE ]
..and providing one complies with the curent legislation in regard to Duty Free allowances, don,t see what the problem is. ....

[/ QUOTE ]
There are no Duty Free allowances within the EU. They were abolished years ago. That's the whole point. What you buy as 'duty free' in Ostend are 'bonded stores' which have a whole different set of rules and regs.
C&E may well find it easier to bag a yottie than a giant RIB, but as I'm on a yacht and not a RIB I think I'll avoid the risk in the first place.
 
As a naval type chappie, I have first hand experience of how 'bonded stores' work.
Warships have had them for years - and still do.

Owning bonded stores is not illegal.
What is illegal is consuming them inside territorial waters or even worse landing them ashore.
Note: territorial waters - these extend to 12NM offshore.
So on an average Ostend-Harwich run you have roughly 50NM in which to consume your booty.
When you enter UK territorial waters and you fly the quarantine flag all C&E can do is take note of your stock and lock/seal your drinks cabinet. You have to sign a form stating that you will not consume these inside UK territorial waters. And that's it. They can not fine you or impound your boat.
The can not accuse you of smuggling as you flew the Q flag.

If however, they should fail to inspect you upon arrival... who cares.

This may not be the point of view of C&E, but it is the law and is enforced as such by the courts. C&E have been convicted time & time again.

Every Duvel/brandy/gin I enjoy is one in the eye for Gordon Brown and his merry gang of thieves.
This government has an increasing authoritarian reflex - they can only take your rights away if you let them.

This quote has always stuck:

[ QUOTE ]


It's the duty of every patriot to defend his country against it's government.



[/ QUOTE ]
 
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