White Smoke Flares in France?

SLJ · 02 May 2017, 07:42

HI

Am taking my RIB to the Med (by road).

Someone mentioned to me that the French require boats/RIBs to carry white smoke flares.

Does anyone know if this is correct?. Also any other advice most welcome.

Thanks

Simon

Kumasi · 02 May 2017, 10:34

Hi Simon

The RYA have a country by country section describing what you need. I think though to access it you need to be a member.

Mark

Pikey Dave · 02 May 2017, 11:57

I've had a look in the RYA website in the members section & cant find any mention of white flares, that doesn't mean however you don't need them. I've been ribbing in France for over 20 years & in my experience all they are interested in is paperwork & I have it in spades[emoji57] we've been searched a few times, at sea, at the ferry port & actually had the Douane visit the campsite & search the tent[emoji57](they didn't find owt, it was next door[emoji23])
HOWEVER if you do carry flares, they must be in date, fines have been issued to U.K. Boats for carrying out of date flares on board. Ergo, I no longer have any pyrotechnics aboard, I rely on PLB, DSC, AIS & laser flare. Technically there is no legal requirement for U.K. Citizens to have an ICC in France, but it doesn't hurt. Your boat must be registered (SSR) & you must carry the original registration document onboard, not a copy. That said, I don't [emoji57]