Port of entry experiences

[misterjenkins]

Looking for recent experiences with French ports of entry.

We're planning trips South and West from the channel Islands to the north Breton coast. St Malo is kind of the wrong direction, Roscoff is a bit of a long haul. We're wondering about anchoring somewhere like the Treguir River or port blanc en route to Roscoff.

Interested if anyone has any relevant experience with this. Is there any flexibility in these arrangements, or does it have to be direct to a port of entry?

 

[bobgarrett]

Looking for recent experiences with French ports of entry.

We're planning trips South and West from the channel Islands to the north Breton coast. St Malo is kind of the wrong direction, Roscoff is a bit of a long haul. We're wondering about anchoring somewhere like the Treguir River or port blanc en route to Roscoff.

Interested if anyone has any relevant experience with this. Is there any flexibility in these arrangements, or does it have to be direct to a port of entry?

St Quay or St Cast as per..

Entering & Leaving France for Cruisers – An update from the Cruising Association | CA

 

[doug748]

Looking for recent experiences with French ports of entry.

We're planning trips South and West from the channel Islands to the north Breton coast. St Malo is kind of the wrong direction, Roscoff is a bit of a long haul. We're wondering about anchoring somewhere like the Treguir River or port blanc en route to Roscoff.

Interested if anyone has any relevant experience with this. Is there any flexibility in these arrangements, or does it have to be direct to a port of entry?

If you stop on the way you put yourself in a dodgy position. However I know someone who recently did that very thing and have met a number of folks who are doing similar. French systems are rigid though, some officials in Roscoff seem to have little to do except fiercely protect their pensions.

Their English is not good and even if your French is perfect I would on No Account mention any deviation from your submitted plan.
You are requested to make an appointment by phone, I found this impossible. Best time to catch them in a chummy mood is by tagging onto the end of embarking ferry foot passengers.
Note you need a separate form filled in for your exit.

 

[Lightwave395]

Looking for recent experiences with French ports of entry.

We're planning trips South and West from the channel Islands to the north Breton coast. St Malo is kind of the wrong direction, Roscoff is a bit of a long haul. We're wondering about anchoring somewhere like the Treguir River or port blanc en route to Roscoff.

Interested if anyone has any relevant experience with this. Is there any flexibility in these arrangements, or does it have to be direct to a port of entry?

I don't know where you're departing from but if you're thinking of anchoring in Treguier en-route to Roscoff you may as well stop overnight in Guernsey and go on to Roscoff from there ?
As to Roscoff PAF, they've been laid back and helpful the couple of times I've been to see them in the past 12 months but earlier this summer they were getting a bit tetchy with the increased number of UK yotties arriving at the ferry port and pushing the call button expecting instant service. There is usually only a full complement of staff there when ferries are due in / out so they're usually busy, best time I found was just after a ferry had gone
The Bloscon marina staff are always helpful, in particular there's a guy there - Antoine - who is a dual French / USA citizen and obviously fluent in french and english (well american)

I keep my boat there