Morocco trip

codprawn · 09 October 2005, 19:16

I am hoping to take my baby boat to Spain/Gib with us on holiday Christmas time. Plenty of places I want to explore - should be fun IF the weather is good enough!!!

One trip I REALLY want to do is across to North Africa - it is only about 8 or 9 miles across.

What worries me is the legallity of such a trip - for a start how is my "vessel" classified - is it a vessel??? If they can rule a jetski is then I suppose so???

Or shouldn't I worry - do they really care about 2 blokes in a dinghy? No room to smuggle much of anything - just want to land on the African continent and then back again.

gavin · 09 October 2005, 19:31

Arnt ribs banned in Gibraltar

That is if you arnt police, doesnt all the Hashis come across that short sea route from North Africa

What will you do if you land there and a few illegals take the sib off you, and buzz over to Europe on your boat leaving you to make your own way back

codprawn · 09 October 2005, 19:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavin

Arnt ribs banned in Gibraltar

That is if you arnt police, doesnt all the Hashis come across that short sea route from North Africa

What will you do if you land there and a few illegals take the sib off you, and buzz over to Europe on your boat leaving you to make your own way back

It is not a RIB - they banned the big fast powerfull ones - don't think my 3.1m with a 15hp will qualify for that!!!

The Gib government tolerated that sort of thing for years - didn't effect them but they bowed to foreign pressure in the end - the spanish hate them as it is!!!

Good last point though - didn't think of that one - will have to be carefull - any one comes near us we are off!!!

The Jackeens · 09 October 2005, 20:36

Bejaysus Codprawn, you're a gas man altogether.

Us

jwalker · 09 October 2005, 21:59

I'd have thought there'd be a fair current running through that gap, Cod!

Nutter.

codprawn · 09 October 2005, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

I'd have thought there'd be a fair current running through that gap, Cod!

Nutter.

Pah that's nothing!!! If you can cope with the Bristol Channel you can cope with anything!!!

Just looked it up - 3kts they reckon - pretty tame!!!

MikeCC · 09 October 2005, 23:06

Morocco 'trip' . . . sounds about right.

codprawn · 09 October 2005, 23:28

What is the normal procedure if you don't actually land - just cruising past for example???

If you DO land on a foreign shore and there are no officials around what do you? It is all very well having a passport if there is nobody to show it to!!!

What happens in the Uk with a yachtsman from abroad? Obviously if he lands in Southampton or similar all sorts of officials around but what about one of the remote Cornish or Welsh harbours???

jwalker · 09 October 2005, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Just looked it up - 3kts they reckon - pretty tame!!!

Really?

codprawn · 09 October 2005, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker

Really?

Apparently so!!!

http://www.irbs.com/bowditch/pdf/glossary/gloss-n.pdf

Richard B · 10 October 2005, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

If you DO land on a foreign shore and there are no officials around what do you? It is all very well having a passport if there is nobody to show it to!!!

I believe that officially you're supposed to go to the nearest entry point, ie Immigration Office. This role is sometimes done by Customs or Harbourmaster.

codprawn · 10 October 2005, 00:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

I believe that officially you're supposed to go to the nearest entry point, ie Immigration Office. This role is sometimes done by Customs or Harbourmaster.

Yes but what happens in practice I wonder??? Maybhe a question for the Yachties.

Just thinking of a world cruising yacht turning up at Burry Port or even Swansea for that matter - they would have a hard time finding someone to show their passport to.

From what I have heard it is much the same at Scotish and Welsh airports - all C+ E are interested in is catching people bringing tobacco back from France - no money in anything else!!!

Richard B · 10 October 2005, 00:31

I don't think it matters if the yacht is crewed by EU citizens and the last port of departure was in the EU. However, for non-EU citizens I think that you would technically become an Illegal Imigrant. Also, if you don't have your entry and exit formalised you may have problems at your next foreign port.

UK regional airports have different security and Customs focus depending on the flight destinations and local conditions. One of the strictest security controls I've been through was at Sumburgh on Shetland.

codprawn · 10 October 2005, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

UK regional airports have different security and Customs focus depending on the flight destinations and local conditions. One of the strictest security controls I've been through was at Sumburgh on Shetland.

God knows why - Sumburgh's most exotic international flight is to Brussels - maybe they heard Eupa was coming????

Richard B · 10 October 2005, 00:39

Brussels? Are you sure?

The reason for their tight security is the desire to control the drugs problem on the island.

codprawn · 10 October 2005, 02:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard B

Brussels? Are you sure?

The reason for their tight security is the desire to control the drugs problem on the island.

Well unless you call Stockholm or Bergen exotic??? They are the only "international" flights!!!

Richard B · 10 October 2005, 07:08

I'm fairly sure that's not direct - via Aberdeen only. So the world's your oyster really!

danny · 10 October 2005, 09:00

Richard.

I've been to Seouta, Marocco for two times now and I can tell you that that part of Marocco isn't so great.

Both times fot refueling only and one time it took us one night extra because customs wanted us to. They wanted to check the boat next morning and where to busy that evening.

Stay on the european side.

Pete7 · 10 October 2005, 09:06

Codders, nasty stretch of water often with wind over tide, oh and one or two "occasional" ships transiting in and out of the med to cope with (feck you think the M25 is busy

) forget it. Instead why not cruise around the huge bay north of Gib and over to Spain on the far side, much safer. As Danny says stay on the european side, you have seen "Midnight Express" what would we do with your 8m rib if you were locked up in Morocco

Pete

codprawn · 10 October 2005, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete7

Codders, nasty stretch of water often with wind over tide, oh and one or two "occasional" ships transiting in and out of the med to cope with (feck you think the M25 is busy

) forget it. Instead why not cruise around the huge bay north of Gib and over to Spain on the far side, much safer. As Danny says stay on the european side, you have seen "Midnight Express" what would we do with your 8m rib if you were locked up in Morocco

Pete

No not taking my 8m - taking my 3.1m Quicksilver with Suzuki 15hp - rolls up into car no problem!!! Already done Swansea/Ilfracombe in it - and that's about 30 miles each way!!!

Don't know about crusing from Gib to Spain being any safer - the Spanish HATE Gib - so much so the Spanish police fired at a Jetski that came too close to their shore from Gib!!!

Really justv want to set foot on the African Continent again - bee a long time since we were there last!!!