Mail delivery in UK without local address?

[Franziska]

Hi,

we cruise to the UK the next few days and need some stuff sent to us by mail.
Are there other options than Marinas?
We definitely want to anchor and not put into port if we can avoid it.
We are German and have no UK passports.

Thanks so much for possibilities.

Franziska

Welcome to the Woods Mira 35 - Catamaran Lady Rovers Website!

[conachair]

The post office is probably your best bet.

Poste Restante | Post Office

Good luck anchoring, not many good anchorages left..

Enjoy.

[Amnesia II]

Think about the Bude Canal Basin, North Cornwall. You need a calm sea and high tide to enter via the sea lock which is organised by the local council.....brilliant!


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[kas_1611]

You will still need to "Clear In" through Immigration and Customs when you initially arrive in the UK so you'll have to tie up in port initially. This would be the best place to use to get urgent items shipped to and the local Post Office would be the best place or the local Harbour Master may be willing to accept parcels if you contact them in advance.

After that you should be able to get items delivered to most places especially if you ask first. Local Post Offices should accept deliveries but some retailers will refuse to despatch to a C/O (care of) address or to anywhere but the address registered to your bank cards. Tough but sadly card fraud and other financial crimes have resulted in this kind of thing becoming more common.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

You will still need to "Clear In" through Immigration and Customs when you initially arrive in the UK so you'll have to tie up in port initially.

It's different in Europe, come and go as you please on a boat without so much as saying hello to anyone in a uniform.

[kas_1611]

Originally Posted by conachair

It's different in Europe, come and go as you please on a boat without so much as saying hello to anyone in a uniform.

Are you sure about that? If that were the case we'd not need to go through Immigration at the Tunnel, Ferries and Airports.

UK is not part of Schengen so not part of the "passport free" travel area. The only part of the EU that has a "free travel" agreement with the UK is Republic of Ireland who are also not part of Schengen.

[kas_1611]

From UK Immigration on the Gov.uk website

https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/overview

Your passport or identity card will be checked when you arrive at a UK port or airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.

You may also need a visa to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality.

There has been no change to the rights and status of EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU, as a result of the referendum.

What you can bring with you depends on where you’re travelling from. You must declare to customs:

• anything over your duty-free allowance
• banned or restricted goods in the UK, eg meat and dairy products from most non-EU countries
• goods that you plan to sell
• more than €10,000 (or its equivalent) in cash, if you’re coming from outside the EU
• You and your baggage may be checked for anything you must declare.

I read that as it is your obligation as the skipper of a private vessel to ensure you and your crew clear in through Immigration and Customs on arrival in UK regardless of where you departed from, where you are resident or what passport you are travelling on.

As EU Citizens the process would be straightforward and simple but still needs to be undertaken or you may be considered Illegal Immigrants.

Even Sir Robin Knox Johnson cleared back in at Falmouth after his successful solo round the world sail. When asked by Falmouth Immigration "where from?" he replied "Falmouth" having cleared out from there months previously but never having landed anywhere else in the trip.

[conachair]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

Are you sure about that?

Absolutely positive.
Sail across with EU crew , no need to check in.
Boats do weekend trips both ways across the channel all the time.
Coming from the UK there are boxes in Ostend to put schegin forms but no one really bothers much.

Customs Formalities | Boating Abroad | Information & Advice | RYA
Arriving in the UK
If you are arriving into the UK directly from another EU country there is no need to fly your Q flag or notify customs of your arrival unless you have goods to declare or non-EU nationals onboard.

[kas_1611]

Originally Posted by conachair

Absolutely positive.
Sail across with EU crew , no need to check in.
Boats do weekend trips both ways across the channel all the time.
Coming from the UK there are boxes in Ostend to put schegin forms but no one really bothers much.

Customs Formalities | Boating Abroad | Information & Advice | RYA
Arriving in the UK
If you are arriving into the UK directly from another EU country there is no need to fly your Q flag or notify customs of your arrival unless you have goods to declare or non-EU nationals onboard.

Well that makes a whole lot of sense given all the talk about "Controlling Immigration" spouted by the Leave campaign. And totally crazy given if you come in by plane, a ferry or train you have to go through full immigration and customs. No wonder the south coast is worried about illegal immigrants in small boats.

I stand corrected

[Franziska]

Thanks to all.

Our Scillies are spelled B-R-I-T-T-A-N-Y at the moment. The wetherforecast had us change plans.

By the boat boat, crew and owner are German, so we can travel freely in Schengen. Big horray on that fact :-)

I know that we would have to check in at the UK, so the Brexit will not change a lot on that.

Thanks again,

Franziska

www.ladyrover.com

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