Uk borders agency - is this a record?

03.00 Inbound from Flushing, about 10m inside the Sunk LV, large searchlight from vessel on beam, and Rib bouncing towards us, as they came alongside, tuned hard to to port, and called Thames Coastguard on 16, Some prat is trying to board & I can't see who cos' they have a f--k--g light in my eyes, Light goes out! and VHF call made asking permission to come aboard....said if they must! otherwise wait until we get into Brightlingsea....One guy came aboard, had a look @ passports et al & went.....

With the examples of piracy around the world would it have been reasonable for you to assume this to be an act of piracy and therefore consider your life in danger? If so a 'Mayday' call would be in order.
 
They took a surprisingly long - and illegal - time (funded by us taxpayers) to come up with the fact that they can do as they damn well please, but we don't need to carry ID unless leaving UK.

I don't think it is unreasonable that they have these powers - just imagine having to get a magistrate to sign a search warrant while in pursuit of a supected felon! But the excessive use of their powers is clearly counter-productive, err, isn't it? Well, it is to me anyway.
 
With the examples of piracy around the world would it have been reasonable for you to assume this to be an act of piracy and therefore consider your life in danger? If so a 'Mayday' call would be in order.

Or maybe a "Securite" - all vessels to advised to avoid the area.........risk of gunfire................
 
I don't think it is unreasonable that they have these powers
Indeed, which is why this thread is wasted hot air.

Yachtsmen, the yachting press and the RYA should focus on holding the e-Borders agency to account by assessing its performance and practices. The objective should be to highlight cases of lazy practice such as stopping the same easy target 7 times a year in pursuit annual performance targets and bonuses.
 
Last edited:
And besides, Blue Iguana is a very distinctive vessel - very different in appearance to a standard Benjenbav type AWB.
A policeman might not necessarily remember stopping every bog standard Mondeo (or whatever the most popular car is now in Britain), but probably would remember stopping a car that stands out from the crowd (Rolls Royce? A Van de Stadt 40 is probably less common than a Roller).
And surely their first move would be to tap in details into their wee lap top (assuming they have one on board?) and seeing if / when this vessel had been stopped before?

"Oh, we have already visited these folk 7 times so far this year, come on boys, lets go and chalk up our 8th visit now. Beware of the weapons of mass destruction that you will find on board in the young lad's cabin....... Good luck!" :D

Or maybe they have had a look at the construction photos of Blue Iguana on the Iguana's website, and they want to go and find out more - she certainly is a very fine vessel indeed, and a credit to her Builders. :)

i went aboard an Ali Caribbean 40 that was for sale in Holland. she was 14 yrs old & spotless.she is certainly a "Sailors" cruiser. the price tag out of my reach
 
If it is a legal requirement for them to respond to these requests in a given time frame, who is responsible for starting the prosecution proceedings if / when they fail to meet their legal requirements?
Let's not get carried away here, the FOIA worked in a reasonable timeframe. If we abuse the system the end result will be higher taxes due to extra staff.
 
03.00 Inbound from Flushing, . . . . large searchlight from vessel on beam, and Rib bouncing towards us, . . . . I can't see who cos' they have a f--k--g light in my eyes, . . . .

This is a very worrying state of affairs! You are on a night passage in a busy seaway (Sunk TSS area), possibly tired and your night-vision has just been totally destroyed by the UKBA. What right do they have to act in such a reckless manner?

Anyone with any common sense knows that it takes at least 45 minutes to completely regain night vision after having a white light shone in your face! Coming alongside, inspecting your 'papers', boarding and making sure you are not smugglers or worse is one thing but what they did with that light is plain dangerous and merits a question to the UKBA as to their actions.

That is tantamount to total stupidity.
 
WOW! Just noticed that both 'Skents' and 'Mudplugger' have the same type of yacht "Van de Stadt"

Obviously, the UKBA consider this type of yacht to be really, really suspect hence the boarding parties! :p

The UKBA must have silhouettes like the ones used during WW2 for identifying enemy aircraft.

For "Van de Stadt" silhouette read DRUG SMUGGLER!!
 
Last edited:
They are such a sexy looking yacht, definitely designed as form follows function - and beauty flows behind.

So, Ferrari = dug dealer; ergo, Van de Stadt = drug smuggler. Not that they rely on such simple stereo types, I'm sure . . . .:confused:

Yet the last big drug haul I read about was from an old fishing boat. There seem to be plenty of career opportunities for redundant fishermen - Piracy, Drug smuggling, people trafficking . . . . :cool:
 
I think SEARUSH may have hit upon the reason for all the checks - simple bias against the boat/owners who may look - what shall we say? - "alternative" in their dress or manner. It strikes me that this is a form of selective policing that is absolutely forbidden by the land police; so why would it be acceptable at sea, especially when used on a boat flying a British ensign?

Sadly, it is still endemic on land so what chance of changing it at sea?
 
sent to UKBApublicenquiries@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

well we are wasting our time here best thing we all need to do is every time that action in a way that may endanger life or yacht is ..make a complain , and here is where you do it
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/contact/makingacomplaint/

Dear Sirs
there is a discussion relating to the boarding of UK yachts by your Department & the powers you have to do so.
A real problem is night time boarding with the use of high power lights
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219802

I would be pleased to hear your comments

Best Regards
 
Auto Answer

Dear Sirs
there is a discussion relating to the boarding of UK yachts by your Department & the powers you have to do so.
A real problem is night time boarding with the use of high power lights
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219802

I would be pleased to hear your comments

Best Regards

Thank you for contacting the UK Border Agency.



The information in this message answers the most frequently asked questions. It includes links to the relevant parts of our website, where more detailed information can be found. If we have not included information or a link to the website for the subject you are enquiring about, please enter key words into the "search" facility on the website.



If you have sent us information about an immigration offence, or a complaint, please be assured that it will be forwarded to the appropriate team. You do not need to send the information again.



If your enquiry is about one of the following, please re-send it to the address shown:
 
This is a very worrying state of affairs! You are on a night passage in a busy seaway (Sunk TSS area), possibly tired and your night-vision has just been totally destroyed by the UKBA. What right do they have to act in such a reckless manner?

Anyone with any common sense knows that it takes at least 45 minutes to completely regain night vision after having a white light shone in your face! Coming alongside, inspecting your 'papers', boarding and making sure you are not smugglers or worse is one thing but what they did with that light is plain dangerous and merits a question to the UKBA as to their actions.

That is tantamount to total stupidity.


ColRegs No. 36:
If necessary to attract the attention of another vessel any vessel may make light or sound signals that cannot be mistaken for any signal authorized elsewhere in these Rules, or may direct the beam of her searchlight in the direction of the danger, in such a way as not to embarrass any vessel.


Who prosecutes?
 
ColRegs No. 36:
Who prosecutes?
The MCA. At least, they would if it was a private pleasure craft shining searchlights on a UKBA vessel.

But they won't, because civil servants don''t prosecute other civil servants.

Another interesting question is who would pay the fine -- the idiot responsible? or the taxpayers?
 
Top