oldgit
Well-Known Member
Is there now a legal requirement to keep a Log or Not. ?
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Not seen or heard anything about a legal requirement. Good practice only. What prompted you to ask?Is there now a legal requirement to keep a Log or Not. ?
He is now that age where ,he does not know whether he was going the loo or drop the anchor, if mixed up is very messy.Not seen or heard anything about a legal requirement. Good practice only. What prompted you to ask?
Surely we all have a spare genoa halyard to haul us out of the anchor locker when our bum is wedged in there?He is now that age where ,he does not know whether he was going the loo or drop the anchor, if mixed up is very messy.

RYA said:Voyage Log
Although there is no legal requirement for a UK flagged pleasure craft to keep a log of its voyages, it is good practice to do so, especially when on longer trips. It is not unknown for foreign officials to request to see the log. An old log may also be useful if it is necessary to demonstrate a boat's historical location for example when demonstrating eligibility for returned goods relief.
That is an experience indeed, get it wrong and you could be literally on the rocks, as many have been before when they got it wrong there.As Alicatt points out so well, big difference between pottering about in UK coastal waters and “going foreign” - where it is just possible (though unlikely) that some official could ask for evidence of route and whether this is actual point of entry, vs been in their waters previously without completing formalities (which does happen).
Also some confusion about a few things after RYA recently published a reminder about SOLAS rules, under which a passage plan is a legal requirement (and has been for many years). But the passage plan just needs to be fit for purpose, and not necessarily written down (though clearly written would be better if something goes wrong and end up having to explain things).
My passage plan for a day sail from our local marina (check weather forecast, check tide time) tends to be rather less detailed, and less documented, than a trip through the Pentland Firth (with lots of double checks of tide times from multiple sources, wave heights, etc).
Enjoy your trip - but don’t forget your UK and French border processes as they are a legal requirement. As is a passage plan for the crossing.
Going across to Dunkerque next week .
RTYC the organisers, have stated there is no legal requirement, however rumour is that recently a log was made a legal requirement.
Am aware that details of the trip and those aboard on exit and re entry must be sent to Border Force,
Makes no odds as we always keep a log on all trips anyway.