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From FOGOF Organiser 13th March 2021
I sent a note to Guernsey Harbours to enquire when they anticipate being be able to accept visiting yachts from the UK without restrictions and whether visitor berths could be booked in advance and have received the response below. I appreciate that many of you will have dates for FOGOF firmly nailed down in your diaries around other commitments – but it may be useful to know if you have any flexibility on dates. If it were possible to change dates then, hypothetically…. If the 1st of July holds good for accepting visiting yachts without restrictions, HW St Peter Port on Friday 2nd July is at 1309 BST, close to neaps, with entry over the sill theoretically possible at HW +/- 1.5 hours for boats with a draught of 2.0m or less. There are also 5 visitor pontoons in The Pool which are connected to the shore by a walkway during the season. With favourable winds, the passage time Fowey to St Peter Port is in the region of 22 hours at a passage speed of 5 knots. As an alternative destination, and assuming that Jersey works to a similar time table in lifting restrictions, HW St Helier on Friday 2nd July is 12:56 BST. Entry over the sill approx. HW +/- 3hrs. Passage time Fowey to St Helier with favourable wind etc is approx. 25 hours. A further option would be to take in both Guernsey and Jersey. If berthed on the outer pontoons in The Pool at St Peter Port, and therefore not tidally restricted, the tidal streams would be generally be favourable for a departure at LW St Peter Port, 08:04 BST Saturday 3rd July, for an onward leg to St Helier, arriving St Helier five and a bit hours later, around 13:30 BST, just about the time of HW St Helier for direct access to the marina. The Covid situation is still very fluid and I will continue to keep all options under review but would welcome your thoughts on the above. |
Message from Guernsey Harbours - Asst Harbour Master 13th March 2021
Thanks for your email. Guernsey’s Civil Contingency Authority yesterday issued a blueprint for getting our borders reopened. Whilst the dates are not set in stone and not all of detail is yet known, it is looking unlikely that we will be in a position to accept visiting yachts without restrictions (e.g. tests on arrival, mandatory self-isolation etc.) until 1st July. From 30th April there may be some relaxations that would allow you to visit from the UK with reduced restrictions but that will largely depend on the infection rate in the UK at that time. In normal times, we generally allocated moorings on arrival dependant on capacity however, if we know in advance a rally is due, we will do our best to clear space to accommodate you together. Apologies I have not been able to provide better information. My advice would be to review the situation after 30th April. In the meantime, please keep an eye on www.harbours.gg and www.covid19.gov.gg (travel section) for updates. I hope you have a safe and successful season on the water. |
From FOGOF Organiser 12th March 2021
I hope that you are all keeping safe and well.
I have been contemplating the options for FOGOF 2021 and the crystal ball is somewhat opaque!
The first complication is obviously the ongoing pandemic restrictions both in this country and any potential destination and the lack of any clarity as to how far these restrictions may be eased between now and 17th June. As far as I can ascertain, there is no equivalent of the UK’s indicative ‘roadmap’ for the easing of restrictions available for France. Jersey has a ‘reconnection roadmap’ that would see nightclubs opening in June but no clarity, as yet, on when the current 10-day isolation and testing regime for incoming visitors will be eased.
This is exacerbated by being a third party country in respect of the EU post Brexit. The UK Border Force requires the completion and posting of a paper declaration form (C1331) for clearing / in and out when going foreign, supplemented by a requirement to call the National Yachtline when arriving from outside of the UK or from the Channel Islands. Clunky but workable. Owners will also need to be able to provide documentary evidence of their boat’s UK VAT status.
More of a challenge is the requirement to clear customs and immigration on arrival in France. There are a limited number of ‘Ports of Entry’ with the necessary immigration and customs facilities. The nearest is Roscoff where, as far as I can determine, the Customs manage both customs and immigration formalities. I am not sure of the extent of the formalities for visiting yacht crews but it is important that any passport stamped for entry into the EU is matched by a stamp on leaving to avoid possible breach of the Schengen visitor visa rules that restrict entry to a maximum of 90 days in the previous 180 days. The French are generally pragmatic and a system may evolve where, for instance, the Capitainerie or marina office at smaller ports manage the immigration/customs formalities on behalf of the relevant agency – but I am not aware that any such system currently exists.
In light of the uncertainties around arrangements for clearing customs and immigration in France, I think that outline plans for FOGOF 2021 i.e. L’Aber Ildut and then onwards to Cameret, may be unworkable bureaucratically even if COVID restrictions have been lifted on both sides of the Channel.
That leaves as possible options for a FOGOF destination this year:
i)Roscoff – given that this is a registered ‘Port of Entry’
ii)Channel Islands
iii)Scillies
iv)Anything coastal
Always providing that Covid restrictions have been lifted sufficiently to allow unfettered travel.
In my (timid?) view there is a requirement to consider a larger weather window when planning a trip to the Scillies as it is not the most sheltered of locations if a blow comes through whilst you are there.
It is also highly likely that every cruising yacht owner on the south coast of the UK will be eyeing up the Channel Islands as an attractive location until the post Brexit dust has settled on cruising to France!
FOGOF 2021 would be an excellent tonic after the constraints of the last 12 months and I would very much welcome your thoughts, and probably greater knowledge, as to how this may best be achieved.
I hope that you are all keeping safe and well.
I have been contemplating the options for FOGOF 2021 and the crystal ball is somewhat opaque!
The first complication is obviously the ongoing pandemic restrictions both in this country and any potential destination and the lack of any clarity as to how far these restrictions may be eased between now and 17th June. As far as I can ascertain, there is no equivalent of the UK’s indicative ‘roadmap’ for the easing of restrictions available for France. Jersey has a ‘reconnection roadmap’ that would see nightclubs opening in June but no clarity, as yet, on when the current 10-day isolation and testing regime for incoming visitors will be eased.
This is exacerbated by being a third party country in respect of the EU post Brexit. The UK Border Force requires the completion and posting of a paper declaration form (C1331) for clearing / in and out when going foreign, supplemented by a requirement to call the National Yachtline when arriving from outside of the UK or from the Channel Islands. Clunky but workable. Owners will also need to be able to provide documentary evidence of their boat’s UK VAT status.
More of a challenge is the requirement to clear customs and immigration on arrival in France. There are a limited number of ‘Ports of Entry’ with the necessary immigration and customs facilities. The nearest is Roscoff where, as far as I can determine, the Customs manage both customs and immigration formalities. I am not sure of the extent of the formalities for visiting yacht crews but it is important that any passport stamped for entry into the EU is matched by a stamp on leaving to avoid possible breach of the Schengen visitor visa rules that restrict entry to a maximum of 90 days in the previous 180 days. The French are generally pragmatic and a system may evolve where, for instance, the Capitainerie or marina office at smaller ports manage the immigration/customs formalities on behalf of the relevant agency – but I am not aware that any such system currently exists.
In light of the uncertainties around arrangements for clearing customs and immigration in France, I think that outline plans for FOGOF 2021 i.e. L’Aber Ildut and then onwards to Cameret, may be unworkable bureaucratically even if COVID restrictions have been lifted on both sides of the Channel.
That leaves as possible options for a FOGOF destination this year:
i)Roscoff – given that this is a registered ‘Port of Entry’
ii)Channel Islands
iii)Scillies
iv)Anything coastal
Always providing that Covid restrictions have been lifted sufficiently to allow unfettered travel.
In my (timid?) view there is a requirement to consider a larger weather window when planning a trip to the Scillies as it is not the most sheltered of locations if a blow comes through whilst you are there.
It is also highly likely that every cruising yacht owner on the south coast of the UK will be eyeing up the Channel Islands as an attractive location until the post Brexit dust has settled on cruising to France!
FOGOF 2021 would be an excellent tonic after the constraints of the last 12 months and I would very much welcome your thoughts, and probably greater knowledge, as to how this may best be achieved.
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