Zarpe !

Budgieboy

Budgieboy

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Hi All

I am heading from Las Palmas Gran Canaria straight across to Barbados in a months time , question is what do I need to do to check out and have acceptable papers for the authorities in Barbados ? Do I need to get an International Zarpe ? And if so how ? Or do I just need to get some sort of clearance from the Spanish Customs or immigration ? Boat is a UK registered and VAT paid with 2 EU citizens on board .... Many thanks .
 
When we left Tenerife for Barbados I think we simply sailed away. On arrival in Barbados, all the customs and immigration people were interested in were the normal boat documents and passports. However, I was only crew on that crossing not the Skipper, so perhaps there was something he did but if so it was only with the marina office as he didn't have to leave the marina before we left to visit customs or immigration offices. Check with the marina where you're staying as they should know the form.
 
Our experience shows that complete documentation is absolutely necessary especially in zealous, bureaucratic countries where the final result for those at odds with their procedures might be nasty. Aruba is bad as is Columbia, which requires a complete out/in for every port in their country. (Port captains will not talk to cruisers and you need an expensive agent to take you through the process)

NEVER assume an easy in/out.

Go to noonsite and read up. You'll be surprized at how many countries are nasty to cruisers.
 
Please make sure that you have a clearance out from the Canaries, otherwise the authorities here in Barbados will probably get a bit upset.
As macd notes, the authorities in Martinique are much less fussy, and they do not require a clearance from the last port.
But if you sail straight to Martinique, then you miss out on visiting our lovely island, which has a lot to offer!
OK, facilities for visiting yachts are still pretty dire here, but there is a lot for the average visitor to see and do.
I shall send you a PM with my contact details, if you would like to meet up for a beer at some stage after you arrive here.

Re clearing in here, there is a new Customs clearing office in the shallow draft harbour, by a new concrete dock - this replace having to go alongside the crossberth in the main (big ship) harbour to clear. However this new dock in the shallow draft is too high for mooring alongside. All of the vessels moored there are stern to, often alongside pontoons that have gangways to the dock.
The better alternative would be to clear in at Port St Charles on the northwest side of the island, just north of Speightstown. The disadvantage here though is that they only have two berths for yachts clearing, and at peak arrival time it can get rather busy. Although the main peak time is just before Christmas, so if you arrive in January you should be ok.

There are a few alongside berths available on the breakwater at Port St Charles for visiting yachts, but these are designed for large yachts (they are not really interested in anything less than about 60', and can take up to 180') and the daily fees are designed to dissuade small yachts from using these berths.
However there is no charge for anchoring off PSC, and they have a dinghy dock next to a very nice little bar and restaurant, and visiting yachts are welcome to use this dock.

Re shopping, there is a supermarket on the beach in Speightstown about 1 km to the south - you can pull your dinghy up on the beach just outside the supermarket. And there is a good selection of restaurants and bars in Speightstown, along with an excellent fish fry at Braddie's Bar in Six Mens (just north of PSC) on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
 
Hi Bajansailor

Thanks for the info , is the new place to check in up the Carnege ? I sailed there years back and got into the dock at the end and they lifted the bridge for us , I will contact you when I get there , I also have a Lady friend who runs a stall in the bit by the bridge who I must see ... Not that sort of Lady friend you lot :)
 
The 'new' place to check in is in the shallow draft harbour, not the Careenage - if you look at the (rather small scale) map of Barbados in the Chris Doyle link in my signature, it is the wee indent on the northeast side of the main deep water harbour. Instead of turning into the main harbour, you just carry on eastwards and you see a concrete dock ahead aligned north-south. The Customs building is at the entrance to this dock. There is a locked gate going on to the dock, with a combination to open it.
Berths are available for rent in the Inner basin of the Careenage (beyond the lifting bridge) where you were before, and there seems to be a lot of empty berths there at the moment.
 
You can certainly get a clearance certificate at La Gomera marina, which for many is the final point of departure.

I found that officials in Barbados were reasonably understanding that some people had not done this, though in most Caribbean islands they do insist (mainly, I suspect, to ensure you've paid at the previous island).

But you can, for the time being at least, go into Martinique or Guadaloupe without paperwork and acquire exit papers there for the next island.
 
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