Sailing to France.

[DJE]

There have been a few threads recently about sailing to the Channel Islands and travelling to France by ferry to visit or collect boats. But I haven't heard anything about sailing from UK to France. Covid procedures for fully vaccinated people seem manageable but we still need to isolate on our return to England.

UK customs and immigration procedures seem straightforward but require a form to be posted before departure and a phone call to Yachtline on return.

But what about French customs and immigration? There was a post some time ago about an email notification system set up by Le Havre French government announces a process to allow entry to cruisers at any French port | CA
This says that other ports of entry are to adopt the same system shortly. Does anybody know if this has happened yet? And if so does anybody have a link to the Cherbourg form?

 

[wizard]

I think the best thing would be to contact Magali at Cherbourg marina.
She ha s worked very hard to clear things up in the past regarding the local officialdom and our Scuttlebutt outings.

 

[Koeketiene]

This says that other ports of entry are to adopt the same system shortly. Does anybody know if this has happened yet? And if so does anybody have a link to the Cherbourg form?

The French definition of 'shortly' might not be what you expect.
Rather like 'soon to be introduced' UK app for EU yachts wanting to visit Britain.

FWIW: the few UK flagged boats I've seen calling on my home port seem to act like a homing beacon for the Douane launch.

 

[John_Silver]

The French definition of 'shortly' might not be what you expect.
Rather like 'soon to be introduced' UK app for EU yachts wanting to visit Britain.

FWIW: the few UK flagged boats I've seen calling on my home port seem to act like a homing beacon for the Douane launch.

Thanks for that, Koeketiene. Always best to have on the ground information.

DJE: Found this, in the document store section, of the Roscoff website: Preavis. If return to the UK quarantine is lifted, for the double vaccinated, strongly tempted to return, from Scilly, via Roscoff and North Brittany. Fingers crossed!

 

[LadyInBed]

Why not give Cherbourg Marina a call and ask +33 2 33 87 65 70
Port Chantereyne de Cherbourg-en-Cotentin

 

[Lightwave395]

Thanks for that, Koeketiene. Always best to have on the ground information.

DJE: Found this, in the document store section, of the Roscoff website: Preavis. If return to the UK quarantine is lifted, for the double vaccinated, strongly tempted to return, from Scilly, via Roscoff and North Brittany. Fingers crossed!

Whilst there last week, the Roscoff marina office told me they've had one boat recently arrived from UK. They called the number given, were told to stay at their boat and waited 48 hours for the Douanes to arrive.
As regards leaving, the office said if I call the number I could wait a similar time and that I should walk around to the Brittany Ferries terminal next door

 

[DJE]

Thanks all. I have emailed the marina with links to the Le Havre and Roscoff forms and enquired about procedures for clearing in and clearing out at Cherbourg. There are hints on the BBC this morning the the requirement to quarantine on return from France may soon be dropped for fully vaccinated people. When this happens I think there might be quite a few of us making for Normandy and Britany but I don't fancy waiting on the boat for 48 hours for the Douanes to turn up. They are going to need a much quicker system if Cherbourg is to benefit from anything like the numbers of visiting British yachts that they used to see - I seem to remember a number of about 8000 per year.

 

[laika]

Last I heard (and I asked port chantereyne some months back) the procedure at Cherbourg was still that you'd have to walk round to the PAF at 2 Rue Dom Pedro to check in and check out. Would be interested if there's an update as I have a short window between getting the boat in the water and ready for fun and starting a new job

 

[DJE]

I received a very prompt reply from Cherbourg marina. Doesn't answer everything but it does include the Cherbourg version of the reporting form:-

We would be delighted to welcome you to Port Chantereyne.

I send you some information about what you should do before your arrival in France.

Before you leave Great-Britain : Everyone onboard should have done a PCR test <72h + the vaccination proof (done for over two weeks).
You also should send the document attached at this email to the border police to declare that you are leaving.

You have to send it at the adress: didpaf-cherbourg-cic@interieur.gouv.fr

At the time of your arrival, please call the 02.33.88.72.20 to stamp your passeport.
You are now free to enjoy your stay !

Before you leave Cherbourg : You need to send the same document as before at the border police to declare that you are leaving.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you have more questions, and we wish you a nice day.



Best regards

 

[westhinder]

I have been sailing in Normandy and North Brittany for four weeks now and I have seen only one UK-flagged boat.
FWIW when I arrived in France no one asked me about vaccinations or PCR tests, but I believe that may be different if you have to comply with the new immigration regulations.

 

[stu9000]

Entry requirements - France travel advice

Was just looking into this.
Link about identifies UK interpretation of French rules.
Pcr within 72h of depsrtute
Proof of double vaccination.

Queues for Pcr tests seem long at the moment.
If the local authority keeps us on board till cleared that's a show stopper for me.

 

[Ningaloo]

I entered EU at St Malo from Jersey a couple of weeks ago. All crew double vaccinated and we used (free) PCR tests from our entry to Jersey.
On arrival we had to walk over to the ferry port where we got passports stamped after producing evidence of vaccination and PCR result. One Schengen entry form to be completed for the marina.
We then moved on to Brest where passports and NHS covid vaccination forms were photocopied, but no further checks.
Douane came for a chat while anchored off Morgat but they didn't want to see any covid documents.
No additional formalities on entering Spain - passports photocopied but no covid documents requested.

 

[DJE]

Plenty of lovely French ambiguity in all this but it seems to me that the online form is just an electronic Q flag. You still have to wait for - or go and find - the customs man before you are cleared in. But the way the CA were talking about it you are allowed to enter at minor ports (not just ports of entry) once you have sent in the form. It could be a long wait for the customs man to turn up in St. Vaast!

 

[dom]

It could be a long wait for the customs man to turn up in St. Vaast!

Indeed the combination of Brexit, Covid-19, and uncertain bureaucracy may make France a bridge to far this year.

Think I'll stick to the Old Blighty side!

 

[DJE]

Indeed the combination of Brexit, Covid-19, and uncertain bureaucracy may make France a bridge to far this year.

Think I'll stick to the Old Blighty side!

I've been considering it but Sue has decreed that we are staying this side this season.

 

[dom]

I've been considering it but Sue has decreed that we are staying this side this season.

Discretion being the better part and all that, I agree. And that is despite both of us having both UK and EU passports!