IN ACTION
Cruising over to a pretty French marina, such as Dieppe, is an exciting possibility – just ensure you have everything in order before you leave.
Cruising abroad
Bon voyage! F
rance is a popular cruising destination for UK boat owners, with its varied coastline,
comfortable marinas and pretty ports. If you’re planning a trip to French waters, here’s a guide to paperwork and procedures to help your trip go smoothly.
Documents Make sure you have the required papers for the boat and for the crew onboard. You’ll need your boat’s registration document. In the past, people who have been unable to present this have been Ѓ˘˗ʡ If your boat is registered on the
UK Small Ship’s Register (Part III of the UK Ship Register), the ˖˘˥˧˜Ѓ˖˔˧˘ ˙ ˥˘˚˜˦˧˥ ˠ˔ ˛˔˩˘ been issued digitally. In the UK, this or a printed copy of it is considered the ‘original’ copy. There is also a QR code on the ˗˜˚˜˧˔ ˖˘˥˧˜Ѓ˖˔˧˘ ˧˛˔˧ ˔˨˧˛˥˜˧˜˘˦ can scan to check registration.
Sail through paperwork before boating to France
Boat • Registration document • Ship’s radio licence • Insurance documents • Evidence of eligibility for relief from import VAT and duty (for return to UK) • Voyage log
Skipper and/or crew • Evidence of competence • Authority to operate a maritime radio
• Passport or other recognised travel document
• GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card)
• Travel/repatriation insurance paperwork
Regulations When you’re in a different country’s waters, you must comply with that country’s regulations as ˧˛˘ ˔ˣˣ ˧ ˙˥˘˜˚ʠЄ˔˚˚˘˗ boats as well as with the boat’s Є˔˚ ˦˧˔˧˘ ˥˘ˤ˨˜˥˘ˠ˘˧˦ʡ ˇ˛˘ ˅ˌʴ has previously sought legal advice
on how French domestic equipment and manning rules apply to UK-registered boats visiting France. The outcome, which was inconclusive, is on the RYA website for members. We suggest the following
approach to evidence of competence and equipment.
Evidence of competence French regulations require skippers ˙ ˩˜˦˜˧˜˚ ˙˥˘˜˚ʠЄ˔˚˚˘˗ ˕˔˧˦ ˧ ˛˗ ˧˛˘ ˕˔˧˜˚ ˤ˨˔˜Ѓ˖˔˧˜˦ ˥ ˖˘˥˧˜Ѓ˖˔˧˘˦ ˥˘ˤ˨˜˥˘˗ ˕ ˧˛˘˜˥ Є˔˚ state. However, for French coastal waters, particularly if cruising in the Mediterranean, we recommend taking any current ˖˘˥˧˜Ѓ˖˔˧˘˦ ˜˧˛ ˨ʡ On inland waterways, evidence
of competence is necessary. If your boat is less than 20m in length, we recommend carrying ˔ ʼ˧˘˥˔˧˜˔ ʶ˘˥˧˜Ѓ˖˔˧˘ ˙˥ Operators of Pleasure Craft (ICC) validated for inland, as this shows ˧˛˔˧ ˨ ˛˔˩˘ ˞˘˗˚˘ ˙ ˧˥˔˙Ѓ˖ regulations, buoyage, signage and signals used on European inland waterways (CEVNI).
Equipment We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the French domestic
rya.org.uk SUMMER 2025 37
.org.uk SUMM
Photo: Getty
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
