Are you put off sailing in the EU?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

I'm guessing the customs officials in Porto are familiar with Portuguese and EU laws concerning VAT.

This is going to be interesting. Keep us posted. When are you headed to Portugal?

No unfortunately , you would be surprised how many are not aware of the rules or have an incorrect interpretation of them .

Ave

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I think 90 days moves folks beyond "Tourist".

90 days is not long to cruise an area the size of Europe. Not nearly long enough. We spent 4 1/2 months in Vanuatu!

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

90 days is not long to cruise an area the size of Europe. Not nearly long enough. We spent 4 1/2 months in Vanuatu!

Agreed , but unfortunately non EU cruising tourists are a tiny minority and simply not catered for in the rules.

Dave

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Agreed , but unfortunately non EU cruising tourists are a tiny minority and simply not catered for in the rules.

Dave

You have to remember, the rules are made for the millions of visitors to the EU every year, with common borders.

The same could be said of the U.S. 90 days and 50 states?

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by cahlgren

The local Portuguese Embassy's Consulate General is thinking that the customs official was confused because the Portuguese know the Channel Islands as "nas Ilhas Anglo-Normandas". It's a stretch , but worth a try.

Once this is all over, I am sure we will post it everywhere, including all of the documentation needed to prove the VAT regulations so this doesn't happen to anyone else - ever.

I don't want to give out dates yet, but there may be plans to go to Portugal sooner than originally anticipated.

Are you in Portugal?

I'm guessing you're making some kind of arrangements before their May 24 deadline.

Update us when it makes sense to do so. Like from Spain.

[orlando]

if you are put off sailing in the EU, do not come...simple like that

personally, I am a lot more happier with less boats around Dubrovnik area.

[letsgetsailing3]

I think that's why the question was posed -- to determine if the cruising was worth the red tape.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

I think that's why the question was posed -- to determine if the cruising was worth the red tape.

oh it most undeniably is, the cradle of civilization , the food, art , culture, history, you cant find it any where else.

dave

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

oh it most undeniably is, the cradle of civilization , the food, art , culture, history, you cant find it any where else.

dave

Except for China, South America, Central America, Egypt etc.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Except for China, South America, Central America, Egypt etc.

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

oh it most undeniably is, the cradle of civilization , the food, art , culture, history, you cant find it any where else.

dave

Maybe, but you can fly to those places, and sail in the islands where there is less hassle.

[monte]

currently moored in Port-Cros under a Roman Fort, yes its worth the red tape!

[letsgetsailing3]

It will be interesting to hear from Cahlgren.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by monte

currently moored in Port-Cros under a Roman Fort, yes its worth the red tape!

Here in Panama, I am moored inside Fort Sherman and surrounded by dozens of forts, with Fort San Lorenzo right here, which was the Spanish fort conquered by Henry Morgan himself. Like I said, there is a lot of history everywhere in the world. Europe cradle of European civilization but the Chinese considered them barbarians nonetheless. Just like Romans considered the Gauls and Kelts barbarians who were only just able to communicate amongst themselves. It all depends who wrote the history book you're reading...

[cahlgren]

Originally Posted by letsgetsailing3

Are you in Portugal?

I'm guessing you're making some kind of arrangements before their May 24 deadline.

Update us when it makes sense to do so. Like from Spain.

Still no ruling from the Customs Agent. My husband flew to Portugal and the agent will not meet with him (plus today was a holiday). He has gotten the EC Commission involved and she says that she is awaiting their ruling and won't meet with him until then. He will go to the customs office tomorrow and personally bring her the ruling from the Commission that the boat, in fact has been out of the EU territorial waters (12 miles out). Plan B (Spain) may still be an option, as there is still no definition for the 'deadline'.

Just to add to all of the confusion, Jersey states that they are out of the VAT zone and count for resetting the VAT clock for non EU boats, the UK states that the Channel Islands are out of the VAT zone and count for resetting the VAT clock, the EU Commission states that the Channel Islands are out of the VAT zone, but DO NOT reset the clock for the Temporary Importation. They state that going 12 miles out of territorial waters is enough (which we have done). We are getting clarification and getting this in writing. I can't imagine any customs agent agreeing to this - how do I prove this to a French Customs agent? Pinky swear?