Sailing from France to England - Compliance issues

[risingsun]

It's going to be my first time sailing a private vessel from one country to another. I'm English and going to sail from France to my friend's house on the English coast line. It'll be a small Antares 8.80 yacht.

Assume I know nothing about the practicalities of sailing from one country to another in terms of compliance. What do I need to do and make sure I do everything correctly?

-Do I need to carry my passport or any other documents?
-Is there anywhere I need to register and inform the UK authorities that my vessel and myself will be entering the jurisdiction? Do I need to go through any border controls or inform anyone of my arrival?
-Do I need to do anything about customs declarations or allow any authorities to inspect my vessel?
-What exactly is the process of entering UK territory waters? Does someone from the coast guard spot my vessel approaching and then come over to check me?

 

[Plum]

Hi, you and anyone else on board should have passports to identify yourselves if challenged by UK Boarder Force but otherwise, just come as there are no other requirements for you and your boat.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[CLB]

Hi, you and anyone else on board should have passports to identify yourselves if challenged by UK Boarder Force but otherwise, just come as there are no other requirements for you and your boat.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Its not quite as simple as that. You will also need registration documents for your boat. SSR or Part 1. Unlikely to be asked for it, but on the spot fines if you are and don't have it.

 

[Plum]

Its not quite as simple as that. You will also need registration documents for your boat. SSR or Part 1. Unlikely to be asked for it, but on the spot fines if you are and don't have it.

As the OP is sailing from France to the UK, it will depend on in which country the boat is registered in, but who in the UK would check boat registration documents?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[sailorman]

It's going to be my first time sailing a private vessel from one country to another. I'm English and going to sail from France to my friend's house on the English coast line. It'll be a small Antares 8.80 yacht.

Assume I know nothing about the practicalities of sailing from one country to another in terms of compliance. What do I need to do and make sure I do everything correctly?

-Do I need to carry my passport or any other documents?
-Is there anywhere I need to register and inform the UK authorities that my vessel and myself will be entering the jurisdiction? Do I need to go through any border controls or inform anyone of my arrival?
-Do I need to do anything about customs declarations or allow any authorities to inspect my vessel?
-What exactly is the process of entering UK territory waters? Does someone from the coast guard spot my vessel approaching and then come over to check me?

Passport & Just Troll up should be ok

 

[macd]

As the OP is sailing from France to the UK, it will depend on in which country the boat is registered in, but who in the UK would check boat registration documents?

+1.
But presumably the OP will be returning to France (where his boat may even be registered). He'd be wise to have the papers aboard for the return trip, for the reasons CLB got cock-eyed.

 

[prv]

As the OP is sailing from France to the UK, it will depend on in which country the boat is registered in, but who in the UK would check boat registration documents?

Border Force asked to see them the one time we were boarded - since we were travelling from Itchenor to Lymington (so much for "intelligence-led" boardings ) I'm sure the lack of any documents wouldn't have been a problem, but since the charter boat had a nice wallet of paper we were happy to let them leaf through it.

Agree that in practice there is very little chance of any bureaucratic problem on the UK side for an EU national (including UK) with a valid passport. No requirement to report to anyone and pretty unlikely to have any contact with officialdom at all.

Worth noting that although the OP says "yacht", an Antares 8.8 is actually a smallish outboard-powered mobo. Personally I don't see why it shouldn't cross the Channel in good conditions assuming the engine and fuel system are in good nick, but it's the sort of thing they tend to suck their teeth a little over in the Mobo forum. Might not be a bad idea for the OP to ask there about the practicalities of the crossing vs the documentation side.

Unlike the UK, France has legal limits on how far offshore given categories of private leisure boat can travel - I've no idea where an Antares 8.8 falls on that scale but depending on where he's crossing from it might actually be illegal in France for him to set off across the Channel in it. Worth finding out.

I'm assuming it's a French-flagged boat - would be good if the OP can confirm. I believe (could be wrong) that registration is compulsory over there so there's no issue with whether he'll have documents or not - he will.

Pete

 

[CLB]

Must admit that I miss read the post as England to France, but even so I would suggest a boat registration certificate if going across borders. It would be beneficial to know where the boat is registered, if at all, and what flag it flies.

 

[awol]

I would plan the trip to be over before March 2019. The answer may be a tad different after that!

 

[[70521]]

If you are planning to stay until after 29/03/2019 a yellow Q flag.

Over dinner last night I was discussing with Mrs Sandy about setting up a small import service for things next April and wonder if anybody can point me in the direction of the department where I can find out what I can legally import (goods and quantity), bread/tea/coffee/baked beans that sort of stuff.

BTW I hear that Christmas is delayed this year due to problems at the major ports. A sign of things to come.

 

[dom]

Passport & Just Troll up should be ok

I know you meant this tongue in cheek, but having been boarded many times by the professional and friendly UK Border Force, I would agree with passports for all, but would also recommend carrying the ships papers, insurance documents, etc. Boardings take place for a variety of reasons ranging from random stops, to intel-led, to failing some risk assessment. Either way, proper docs are preferable to airy explanations

 

[Tranona]

It's going to be my first time sailing a private vessel from one country to another. I'm English and going to sail from France to my friend's house on the English coast line. It'll be a small Antares 8.80 yacht.

Assume I know nothing about the practicalities of sailing from one country to another in terms of compliance. What do I need to do and make sure I do everything correctly?

-Do I need to carry my passport or any other documents?
-Is there anywhere I need to register and inform the UK authorities that my vessel and myself will be entering the jurisdiction? Do I need to go through any border controls or inform anyone of my arrival?
-Do I need to do anything about customs declarations or allow any authorities to inspect my vessel?
-What exactly is the process of entering UK territory waters? Does someone from the coast guard spot my vessel approaching and then come over to check me?

Welcome.

As you will see from the replies there are various issues to consider.

First you personally can enter and leave the UK without any restrictions, and sensible to carry your passport.

Second the boat. As has already been suggested your boat is perhaps not the most suitable for crossing the English Channel - it is a small motor boat intended for coastal and inshore usage. On a very calm day and with an experienced helm it would be possible to do it - but the channel is rarely like that - and it is probably the busiest waterway in the world for commercial shipping.

You don't say where in France you are departing nor where in England you are landing. A crossing at the eastern end is very different from the western end and they present different challenges.

The formalities are very simple. Your boat will need to be registered and comply with requirements of the register including flying the ensign of that country. It is sensible to have insurance, a VHF and a licence to use it. It is highly unlikely that you will be stopped by any officials on the UK side, but if you are they will want to see these documents. There is currently no need to report to anyone on entry into the UK. However as already suggested this may change next year.

When you find out a bit more about the practicalities (and wisdom) of crossing in your boat you may well decide using a ferry is a much more attractive way to visit your friend!

 

[LadyInBed]

Having looked at pics of Antares 8.80 yacht they all appear to be Outboard driven, if per chance it has a Diesel engine, be aware that nearly all quayside fuel outlets only supply RED diesel.
The French authorities will frown on that and fine you if you are caught, so getting fuel will have be from a garage, so you may want to have a trolley on board.

PS The French authorities tolerate UK flagged boats having a tank full of Red Diesel

 

[[70521]]

Having looked at pics of Antares 8.80 yacht they all appear to be Outboard driven, if per chance it has a Diesel engine, be aware that nearly all quayside fuel outlets only supply RED diesel.
The French authorities will frown on that and fine you if you are caught, so getting fuel will have be from a garage, so you may want to have a trolley on board.

PS The French authorities tolerate UK flagged boats having a tank full of Red Diesel

But he is in FRANCE and sailing to England.

 

[sailorman]

Having looked at pics of Antares 8.80 yacht they all appear to be Outboard driven, if per chance it has a Diesel engine, be aware that nearly all quayside fuel outlets only supply RED diesel.
The French authorities will frown on that and fine you if you are caught, so getting fuel will have be from a garage, so you may want to have a trolley on board.

PS The French authorities tolerate UK flagged boats having a tank full of Red Diesel

:encouragement:

 

[LadyInBed]

But he is in FRANCE and sailing to England.

But he has to get back, and I doubt that he will carry sufficient fuel for the two way trip!

 

[PaulRainbow]

But he has to get back, and I doubt that he will carry sufficient fuel for the two way trip!

But as the Antares 8.8 is powered by petrol outboards, it isn't going to be an issue.

A trolley might still be useful though, not many UK marinas sell petrol, especially on the East Coast.

 

[CLB]

The 8.80 is perfectly capable of crossing the Channel. I have done so myself in boat less capable and smaller. It's all about picking the right weather window.

 

[dom]

But he has to get back, and I doubt that he will carry sufficient fuel for the two way trip!

Nice Cat C boats so shld be fine on a nice day, but never seen an inboard one either. Mind they carry 400l of fuel so depending on where he's crossing, and unless he goes nuts, shld be easily enough fuel for the return!

 

[PaulRainbow]

I spent a few years cruising the East coast with an 8m Jeanneau motorboat, including some pretty awful weather. We did coast trips of up to 150 miles (100 mile legs at a time) and were regularly offshore up to 35 miles. A trip across the channel would have been a doddle. We were always careful with passage planning and the weather.

I would not hesitate to cross the channel in the Antares 8.8. It's even got a spare engine