Star-Lord
Well-Known Member
I am reminded of my first solo channel crossing from Brighton to Fecamp in 2007. Someone on the breakwater had painted 'Fecamp 65 miles away' with an arrow pointing the direction and so one summers day I just decided to go to Fecamp. One neighbour in his small boat was horrified!
I had a Day Skipper licence and a new Botnia Targa. No problem I thought. When I got to Fecamp there was a massive battle ship waiting outside. I checked in at the marina and asked about the battle ship and told it was Customs (not the Navy). And I asked what they were there for. My question was met with a shrug. I knew something was not quite right - a single engine plane had flown over me a few times mid channel... So I hoisted my Yellow Q Flag just in case ? And watched as a Rib came to see me with the Chief Engineer of the customs boat (it looked like a battle ship) and a whole bunch of Underlings. They came on board and introduced themselves.
The Chief Engineer loved my Botnia! And started showing everyone how good it was! Opening up this and that and poking around. Eventually he asked me where I had come from. I said I had bought the boat in Poole and then went to Cowes and then Brighton and then here. He asked me again and I gave the same answer. He then told me that I had come from Brighton... He asked me again where I had come from and I said I had come from Brighton. Satisfied that I knew where I had come from... he then asked for my registration documents so I handed him my passport.
He then asked to see my VHF licence and I said I did not have one. One of the Underlings then said to me, "So you buy this boat and just decide to come to France?" And I agreed that it was so. I was very very politely informed that I was officially a pirate. I was told, "Monsieur, you are a Pirate. And we can fine you two thousand Euros."
They saw the shock on my face and asked me a few more questions and asked what I did... And then they asked me if I knew Patrick Bruel. I said I did and all of a sudden the mood lightened. They said, "Monsieur you know Patrick Bruel! Oh well then we will not fine you anything! Welcome to France!" I now started smiling... And was then told, "But seriously we could fine you a lot of money. You need to go home and get your papers in order and then you will be welcome back." They said I should go immediately but I managed to get a few days in Fecamp because of 'bad weather' coming. It was agreed I could stay for a long weekend. And then the Chief Engineer shook my hand and they all got back tinto their RIB and went back to the biggest customs boat I have ever seen.
As this was my first encounter with French officialdom I was mightily impressed. Extremely polite and humorous. And they absolutely loved my Botnia Targa. And their judge of character was flawless
They could obviously tell I was an upstanding citizen and no threat to the their magnificent country.
I returned to London and dined out on this story for a while "Monsieur you are a Pirate!" When people asked if I was at all frightened by myself mid channel I said that when I could no longer see land behind me or in front of me and when I was truly all alone - not even another boat in sight - I realised how relaxed and happy I was. I had never been happier.
You have to love an empty horizon ?
I had a Day Skipper licence and a new Botnia Targa. No problem I thought. When I got to Fecamp there was a massive battle ship waiting outside. I checked in at the marina and asked about the battle ship and told it was Customs (not the Navy). And I asked what they were there for. My question was met with a shrug. I knew something was not quite right - a single engine plane had flown over me a few times mid channel... So I hoisted my Yellow Q Flag just in case ? And watched as a Rib came to see me with the Chief Engineer of the customs boat (it looked like a battle ship) and a whole bunch of Underlings. They came on board and introduced themselves.
The Chief Engineer loved my Botnia! And started showing everyone how good it was! Opening up this and that and poking around. Eventually he asked me where I had come from. I said I had bought the boat in Poole and then went to Cowes and then Brighton and then here. He asked me again and I gave the same answer. He then told me that I had come from Brighton... He asked me again where I had come from and I said I had come from Brighton. Satisfied that I knew where I had come from... he then asked for my registration documents so I handed him my passport.
He then asked to see my VHF licence and I said I did not have one. One of the Underlings then said to me, "So you buy this boat and just decide to come to France?" And I agreed that it was so. I was very very politely informed that I was officially a pirate. I was told, "Monsieur, you are a Pirate. And we can fine you two thousand Euros."
They saw the shock on my face and asked me a few more questions and asked what I did... And then they asked me if I knew Patrick Bruel. I said I did and all of a sudden the mood lightened. They said, "Monsieur you know Patrick Bruel! Oh well then we will not fine you anything! Welcome to France!" I now started smiling... And was then told, "But seriously we could fine you a lot of money. You need to go home and get your papers in order and then you will be welcome back." They said I should go immediately but I managed to get a few days in Fecamp because of 'bad weather' coming. It was agreed I could stay for a long weekend. And then the Chief Engineer shook my hand and they all got back tinto their RIB and went back to the biggest customs boat I have ever seen.
As this was my first encounter with French officialdom I was mightily impressed. Extremely polite and humorous. And they absolutely loved my Botnia Targa. And their judge of character was flawless
They could obviously tell I was an upstanding citizen and no threat to the their magnificent country.I returned to London and dined out on this story for a while "Monsieur you are a Pirate!" When people asked if I was at all frightened by myself mid channel I said that when I could no longer see land behind me or in front of me and when I was truly all alone - not even another boat in sight - I realised how relaxed and happy I was. I had never been happier.
You have to love an empty horizon ?
