So who sends in form C1331 before they go to the Channel Islands?

[Sans Bateau]

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/492253/customs-notification-process-changed

Have I misunderstood or have I been breaking the law all these years?

 

[Robin]

Like it says this really is a small change. We used to have a Customs box at our YC marina, maybe still do but I haven't looked lately, so not really a problem. Mostly anyway we would go via Cherbourg for a wine and food stock up en route first anyway, then return the same way for the stuff to take home, whilst neatly avoiding any need to mess with C1331. The rules say if you go 'unintentionally', ie set off for the EU (like Cherbourg) but change your mind mid-Channel and divert to Alderney or St Peter Port, that is OK but you need to fill in part 2 of C1331 on return to the UK - except that if you later return via France you are back in the EU and no longer need that C1331 part 2 when you go home from say Cherbourg. Nonsense? You betcha! Bureaucracy Rules OK?

 

[JohnP]

C1331

I do now. In previous years I was able to deliver the form to the harbour office. They were collected about every two weeks! I report to Brixham C.G. as I leave Salcombe so it would not be difficult for the C.G. cutter to listen in. When we had a Customs Officer in Salcombe, he always welcomed me back from Guernsey with a drinks check. I also fly the Q flag. I reckon it saved me being boarded a couple of years ago. They were definitely heading towards me as I was the only boat around. As soon as they were in range to see the Q flag, they veered off up the Channel. I treat their powers in the same way as VAT officers at the office. It is not worth breaking the rules as the penalties are too great.

 

[LadyInBed]

Nonsense? You betcha! Bureaucracy Rules OK?

It would be a real pain, but I think we should test them by bombarding them with c1331's, then sending Pt2 "Voyage Abandoned".

 

[wizard]

We always go via Cherbourg specifically to avoid the paperwork.

It seems ludicrous that you need paperwork to go direct but not if you stop in France enroute

 

[RobbieW]

Ignorance?

I'm curious about this as the respondents so far imply this requirement is common knowledge.

I guess I've been crossing the Channel for 20 years or so now, I vaguely recall a change some years ago that changed the reporting requirement - perhaps that was just for EU countries? The net of that change, I would suggest, is that most yachties now believe there is no requirement to report whatever the destination.

In essence I dont see that this is a widely known regulation else I think I'd have heard it discussed around the Club bar or with my peers.

Is this requirement also true for trips to the Isle of Man ? Or is that logically part of the EU

 

[chuzzlewit]

I just phone customs (number in Reeds) as I approach

England, having posted my forms in the Channel Islands. Seems to keep them happy.

 

[nonitoo]

Playing devil's advocate, how are members of the UKBA going to know whether you went to/from the CI directly or via Cherbourg, or another French port ? My only experience of French ports is Calais and Boulogne and I am pretty sure no-one there gives a toss one way or another about you being there. I have never seen a policeman or douanier in either port.

Like many others, if I were contemplating such a trip, I would not deliberately take on the UKBA just to prove a point, but the fact remains, would they ever really know ?

Tom

 

[wotayottie]

I'm curious about this as the respondents so far imply this requirement is common knowledge.

I guess I've been crossing the Channel for 20 years or so now, I vaguely recall a change some years ago that changed the reporting requirement - perhaps that was just for EU countries? The net of that change, I would suggest, is that most yachties now believe there is no requirement to report whatever the destination.

Absolutely correct. I've just been and didnt fill in any forms because I didn't know I had to do and no one gave me any. I was a bit surprised to be asked to fill one in in Guernsey ( what on earth could we bring in from the UK that isn't available there at much the same cost?) but I did that only once in two visits.

Truth is, it's all a lot of bureaucratic *******s - why dont they concentrate on chasing the Chines / Indian / African illegals rather that their own citizens?

 

[Robin]

Absolutely correct. I've just been and didnt fill in any forms because I didn't know I had to do and no one gave me any. I was a bit surprised to be asked to fill one in in Guernsey ( what on earth could we bring in from the UK that isn't available there at much the same cost?) but I did that only once in two visits.

Truth is, it's all a lot of bureaucratic *******s - why dont they concentrate on chasing the Chines / Indian / African illegals rather that their own citizens?

The Guernsey Customs Form is for them only and nothing to do with the UK one. Guernsey are interested in stuff being landed rather than kept on board and booze and ciggies are cheaper in France. They are also very keen to intercept drug smugglers taking stuff to the good rich local residents.

C1331 is available to download on line in pdf format, I don't have the link handy though.

Playing devil's advocate, how are members of the UKBA going to know whether you went to/from the CI directly or via Cherbourg, or another French port ? My only experience of French ports is Calais and Boulogne and I am pretty sure no-one there gives a toss one way or another about you being there. I have never seen a policeman or douanier in either port.

Like many others, if I were contemplating such a trip, I would not deliberately take on the UKBA just to prove a point, but the fact remains, would they ever really know ?

You haven't met the good folk from the UKBA cutters yet then? They sit offshore awaiting and awatching, then next thing you know is a very noisy black RIB load of Men in Black arrive and climb over the rails. They don't need to 'know', because they will simply ask you where you came from and there are usually plenty of giveaways on board. Your GPS or Plotter track is a dead giveaway as is your log or chart entries, even if you don't still have the marina receipt stuck in the window. UKBA may be a PITA but they aren't stupid!

 

[nonitoo]

Thanks, I take your point regarding the UKBA. We have the cutters regularly in Dover and I see them thrashing about outside but have never been bothered by them to date.

The C1331 link you mention can be found here:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...Forms&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000428

I wonder just how much in the way of contraband/the ungodly is discovered on Yachts/Mobos.

I know that they have a job to do and a valuable one it is too but I suppose it is the methods they use and the pointless form filling that grates.

Tom

 

[Cookee]

In Salcombe as well - Here's the link .............. http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...Forms&propertyType=document&id=HMCE_CL_000428

Dammit too slow!

 

[sailor211]

Playing devil's advocate, how are members of the UKBA going to know whether you went to/from the CI directly or via Cherbourg, or another French port ? My only experience of French ports is Calais and Boulogne and I am pretty sure no-one there gives a toss one way or another about you being there. I have never seen a policeman or douanier in either port.

Like many others, if I were contemplating such a trip, I would not deliberately take on the UKBA just to prove a point, but the fact remains, would they ever really know ?

Tom

They would know by looking at your log and solas passage plan

 

[peterb]

They would know by looking at your log and solas passage plan

Under the Merchant Shipping Acts, UK registered pleasure craft are not required to keep logs. And SOLAS V requires you to make a passage plan (covering things like weather forecasts, tides and havens of refuge) but doesn't require you to record it. It may be a good thing to keep written passage plans and logs, but they are not legal requirements.

 

[wizard]

Playing devil's advocate, how are members of the UKBA going to know whether you went to/from the CI directly or via Cherbourg, or another French port ? My only experience of French ports is Calais and Boulogne and I am pretty sure no-one there gives a toss one way or another about you being there. I have never seen a policeman or douanier in either port.

Like many others, if I were contemplating such a trip, I would not deliberately take on the UKBA just to prove a point, but the fact remains, would they ever really know ?

Tom

Because you would show them your marina receipts -thats why we stop off at Cherbourg enroute to and from the CI

 

[nonitoo]

I've had a look at http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/solas.pdf and I cannot see any requirement to write down a passage plan.

As regards a log, I only keep the briefest of logs to record fuel taken and hours used and a brief description of the passage to keep any douanier happy if he queries my use of red diesel.

If I anchor close off the French coast for the night and row ashore does that qualify as calling at a EU port ? I'm mainly being mischievous here but would be interested to discover what qualifies as calling at a EU port.

Tom

 

[DJE]

I'm mainly being mischievous here but would be interested to discover what qualifies as calling at a EU port.

I asked that last time this came up and there was no reply. Maybe we should ask HMRC for clarification. Or ask the RYA to ask them for us.

 

[DAKA]

sorry to drag up an old post but just in case anyone is interested -my report

July / August 2010

Going abroad used to be easy, fill in a form, and post it in your dedicated marina post box as you cast off.
( C1331 http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsP...HMCE_CL_000428 )
Return and post the other half in the same box .

But not any more........

similar form but has to be completed 10 days before you depart to allow for postage delays,

How do you know when you are going (weather forecasts are not that good) and how do you know how much wine/gin/champagne swmbo is going to load on.

Alright, I managed it by giving swmbo a shopping list that matched the daft questions but how often does swmbo take in such important issues

Next issue
on return you have to phone the border agency, alright questions not too complicated but at the end I am told to take down my Q flag and immediately post the form back to them to an address he is about to pass onto me..........have I got a pen and paper ready, no.
have I got an envelope, no
have I got a stamp, no

where the L do I find a post box, no car to drive round, we are anchored off a remote beach.

Drop the tender in and go for a walk to look for a post office, find a pub instead, have a meal which puts things into prospective

Reason for posting....

you might want to keep a few envelopes and stamps on board and wait until you are close to a post box before you phone them

 

[duncan]

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/492253/customs-notification-process-changed

Have I misunderstood or have I been breaking the law all these years?

almost certainly the latter, and you certainly aren't alone!

whilst ignorance of the law isn't a defense, I work on the principle that impossibility of performance is a reasonable defense - and, just to make things a little better if we do get 'picked up', we never purchase any quantity of duty free goods at all and all other purchases are written down for that trip.

my impossibility of performance is that most of my trips are to fish mid-channel and around Alderney. I seriously don't know if I am going to overnight in Lulworth Cove, Weymouth, Braye or 'that little spot just off the Swinge'...

at under 25ft conditions and forecasts are obviously huge factors, but then so are the fishing conditions at the time

I actually have pre-completed and printed copies of the forms, with only the date and additional person details blank, but have never used them. If we do land (and often we don't) I also have pre printed Balliwick forms that I do use.

I do fly the yellow duster on the way back in - but I think everyone believes we don't know what it means (or that it's a pennant!). Unsurprisingly the boatyard we are based at has no forms or facilities at all.

I hope that in the worst case we can only get prosecuted for going somewhere without posting off a form - but that's probably a hanging offense

 

[Duffer]

Well the customs chap in Guernsey was very understanding when I had described the contents of my fridge and drinks locker on his form but had forgotten to fill in some of the more important sections.