French Med Cruising

[Geraldine]

You may remember me from earlier this year - the sportscruiser owners invading your forum asking for information on Cornish cruising. The information given was very helpful and four sportscruisers were towed to Mylor and launched, but recovered at Queen Annes Battery, Plymouth, three days before the scheduled end of our holiday. I'm saying nuthin, apart from does anyone have any info on launching and cruising the French Mediterranean! We need a bit of sun and a little less wind next year!!! We have all bought Rod Heikells Pilot, but can find no information on slipways where we could launch the boats ourselves, and secure storage space for 4 4x4s and trailers for two weeks.

While at Mayflower Marina (stormbound for three days.....) we saw a book about launching in France but made the mistake of walking past it. When we decided to try France for next years holiday we rang the Chandlery at Mayflower only to be told the one and only copy had been sold, they didnt know who published it and couldnt tell us where we could buy another copy.

I even plucked up courage and rang one of the marinas in Menton, only to be told I had rang the Banc de'Antibes! They were very helpful, and said that although they didnt know of any slipways they would open an account for us to start saving for our holiday!

We have already booked our ferry crossing so are all searching whichever forums we can for any information.

Hope you can help.

Geraldine

[John Kennett]

Funnily enough we were just talking about this on another thread:
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6266



John

[Simon Hawkins]

Hello. I dont know anything about lauching in france. However more importantly have you all got you International Certificate of Competance as if you have not you wont be able to launch anyway.

Simon

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by Geraldine

recovered at Queen Annes Battery, Plymouth, three days before the scheduled end of our holiday. I'm saying nuthin

go on go on Geraldine.

I like scary stories

missus

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Simon Hawkins

I dont know anything about lauching in france. However more importantly have you all got you International Certificate of Competance as if you have not you wont be able to launch anyway.

Are you sure about that Simon? A user here who runs a powerboat training school in Nice says you don't need one:
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6241&page=2

It's probably not a bad idea to have one though . . .

John

[Louise]

Geraldine, this might have some useful info for you: http://www.cruising.org.uk/reviews/r50heikell.htm

[Geraldine]

Rod Heikells Pilot is very good and on first sight it seems there are 100s of slipways everywhere, but we have been told that most are for lifting in and out by crane and are too short and steep to launch with 4x4s. Also there is no information on trailer/car parking or storage.

All the blokes are booked in for Powerboat I and II next month, so hopefully by next July they will all have ICCs!

No scary stories - unless you count the near madness inducing slap slap slap slap slap slap of water against the hull when moored on mid stream pontoons........ Chinese water torture has nothin on it!!!

Geraldine

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by Geraldine

- unless you count the near madness inducing slap slap slap slap slap slap of water against the hull when moored on mid stream pontoons........Geraldine

Music to me ears

(You should do the training too...)

missus

[Simon Hawkins]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Are you sure about that Simon? A user here who runs a powerboat training school in Nice says you don't need one:
http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6241&page=2

It's probably not a bad idea to have one though . . .

John

John was emphasizing this point as no doubt they will venrure into the inland waterways.

Simon

[Louise]

Originally Posted by Simon Hawkins

John was emphasizing this point as no doubt they will venrure into the inland waterways.

Simon

In which case they'll need the CEVNI endorsement too...

[Simon Hawkins]

That is correct Louise.

[Brian]

Geraldine,
You might try posting your question Here:
http://www.pneuboat.com/
This is France's (pale shadow of) Rib.net and some people there even speak English!

[Roy Smith]

I went to Cherbourg last year and was asked for just about every thing. vat invoice for the boat ICC, radio, and insurace docs for the boat, I was told by BIBOA that it might happened so i stuffed it all into a dry bottle, thank god.
Roy

[Nick Hearne]

What if you bought it second hand privately & have no invoice?
Is it a case that if your boat dose not look new they will not ask?
Nick

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

What if you bought it second hand privately & have no invoice?

Type up the invoice yourself using the valid VAT number of the original seller

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Type up the invoice yourself using the valid VAT number of the original seller

Cunning plan
Nick

[Brian]

And almost definately illegal!

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Brian

And almost definately illegal!

So whats the answer Brian?
Nick

[Brian]

The answer is to be honest!
Tell them the truth.
You bought it second hand from Mr. X.

It would help if you are SSR and it would be "essential" to have already filed your CG66 (these are things "they" can check, and the more of your story that is both documented and checkable, the better off you are).
When, and if they check your story, you are in the clear.
With a dodgy invoice, (and imagine just how shifty you will look and feel as you hand it over!) and one phone call the their UK equivalent and you will find yourself in The Bastille and the key's gone rusty!

For completeness, I ALWAYS go through the Red Channel at airports and declare everything. You will be amazed at the positiveness that this engenders, surprised at the things HM C $ E tell you about what you have bought, and stagerred at the minute amount of duty they then ask you to pay!

Just do it-you know it makes sense.

[Louise]

Nick - ignore Richard B and stick with Brian's advice!!

(Just going to check our paperwork now - make sure there are no dodgy invoices! )