Mooring in U.S. Waters

[redraven]

Hi ALL,



I am considering yachting from Vancouver to Mexico. Assuming I have everything I need for the voyage WITHOUT having to get off of my boat. Do I need to clear US customs or acquire a cruising license in order to anchor for rest periods? Thanks in advance!

[cal40john]

If your boat has anchored or tied up, you are considered to have entered the United States.

From - https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...%20in%20charge.

[redraven]

Thank you. We are looking to bypass the US, But still be able to get some shut eye along the way. Any suggestions?


**We'd love to not have to bypass the US.. But we don't all meet the Vaccine requirements..

[JPA Cate]

Well, sir,

The short answer is yes. If you want to stop anywhere, you must enter the country formally, and check out of it it when you leave.

I respectfully submit that you should just keep sailing, outside the territorial waters, and that when you enter some other country, you be prepared to follow their laws, just as your own nation requires of you. In the short term, unvaccinated, you will find many places do not want you, although this should ease over the next 3 years or so, and perhaps sooner.

If your watch schedule gives you and your crew adequate sleep, you will be comfortable continuing. A lot of people have this idea of stopping to "break the trip", and all it does is make them have to re-accustom themselves to their watch schedule. Many of them would be better off to discard the "break the trip" idea, and work on creating a better watch schedule in harmnony with their own physiology.

If there is a medical [rather than ideological] reason for not being vaccinated, other nations may have a difficult time fitting you into their visa programs, and each will set their own requirements for both verification and admission to the country. For the foreseeable future, those will be moving targets, too.

Time for straight talk. Should you choose to try to sneak in, you do risk both jail time and the confiscation of your boat, a high price, so to speak. Once you leave your country of origin, you become a representative of it to the world. You are a guest where you are visiting, and politeness and friendliness are some of your most important tools, imo.

Ann, VERY long term cruiser

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by redraven

I am considering yachting from Vancouver to Mexico. Assuming I have everything I need for the voyage WITHOUT having to get off of my boat. Do I need to clear US customs or acquire a cruising license in order to anchor for rest periods? Thanks in advance!

That depends on whether you will be anchoring within 3 miles of shore.

[boatpoker]

Originally Posted by Jammer

That depends on whether you will be anchoring within 3 miles of shore.

How many thousand feet of anchor rode are required to anchor 3 miles off the west coat ?

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Jammer

That depends on whether you will be anchoring within 3 miles of shore.

https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/data...al-information


Territorial Sea
The territorial sea is a maritime zone over which the United States exercises sovereignty. Sovereignty extends to the airspace above and to the seabed below the territorial sea. The U.S. territorial sea extends 12 nautical miles from the baseline

[valhalla360]

There are some technicalities but just to get some sleep, don't expect to sneak into a port and anchor up for the night without someone official stopping by and then things can get messy. Being unvaccinated will only add to the messiness if you sneak in.

Either take sufficient crew so you can get rest underway or figure out how to get legal access to the USA (this may include waiting 6-12months...or more... until vaccine restrictions are eased).

[LeeV]

What Ann said….checking in vs being escorted by the C. Guard is much simpler, albeit less exciting.

[boat driver]

what does it take to get vaccinated? Then issue goes away.
what makes you think Mexico will allow you in?

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by redraven

Hi ALL,



I am considering yachting from Vancouver to Mexico. Assuming I have everything I need for the voyage WITHOUT having to get off of my boat. Do I need to clear US customs or acquire a cruising license in order to anchor for rest periods? Thanks in advance!

Yes, customs clearance AND immigration clearance if you set anchor.

Leaving from Vancouver, assuming that is Canada.

Are you Canadian? If so that makes immigration easy.

Reference link: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/pleasure-...-boat-overview

Bon voyage.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Jammer

That depends on whether you will be anchoring within 3 miles of shore.

Been hiding under a rock, eh?

As Stu says - 12 mile territorial sea - pretty much standard for the last quarter century.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by redraven

Hi ALL,



I am considering yachting from Vancouver to Mexico. Assuming I have everything I need for the voyage WITHOUT having to get off of my boat. Do I need to clear US customs or acquire a cruising license in order to anchor for rest periods? Thanks in advance!

Seriously? If you're going to roll the dice by (1) going to Mexico; (2) going to a country with loose COVID protocols; (3) during an active wave of a global pandemic, while (4) eschewing the vaccine that can prevent serious illness or death, then WTF are you worried about at sea? - keep on trucking, set your AIS alarm and get a good sleep.

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by redraven

Thank you. We are looking to bypass the US, But still be able to get some shut eye along the way. Any suggestions?


**We'd love to not have to bypass the US.. But we don't all meet the Vaccine requirements..

FYI:

Reference the customs & immigration requirements posted previously.

As to vaccination status:

The Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Order regarding requiring vaccination against Covid-19 only apply to air travel into the United States and only to noncitizens, nonimmigrants.

The orders do NOT apply to entry by land or sea port.

U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents
The Presidential Proclamation and CDC’s Order do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders).

Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...ccination.html

Whereas, the rules for entry by air are:

Noncitizens, Nonimmigrants (Covered Individuals)
Noncitizens who are nonimmigrants and seeking to enter the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country.

If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will NOT be allowed to board a flight to the United States, unless you meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC’s Order.

Categories of noncitizen nonimmigrants that meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC’s Order include:

Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
Children under 18 years of age
Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)
If you travel by air to the United States under one of these exceptions, you will be required to attest that you are excepted from the requirement to present Proof of Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 based on one of the exceptions listed above. Based on the category of the exception, you may further be required to attest that:

You will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3–5 days after arrival in the United States, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
You will self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if the test result to the post-arrival viral test is negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; and
You will self-isolate if the result of the post-arrival test is positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Based on the category of the exception, if you intend to stay in the United States for longer than 60 days you may additionally be required to attest that

You agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and
You have arranged to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States, or as soon thereafter as is medically appropriate.
A parent or other authorized person should attest on behalf of a passenger under 18 years old. An authorized person may attest on behalf of any passenger who is unable sign their own attestation (e.g., because they are too young, or because of physical or mental impairment). As required by United States federal law, all airlines or other aircraft operators will provide and collect the passenger attestation on behalf of the U.S. Government.

If you are a noncitizen nonimmigrant and are fully vaccinated, make sure your vaccine and proof of vaccination are acceptable to board a flight to the United States.

That being said, most Americans would welcome you being vaccinated to protect yourself and to aid in protecting others.

[davefromoregon]

Originally Posted by redraven

Thank you. We are looking to bypass the US, But still be able to get some shut eye along the way. Any suggestions?


**We'd love to not have to bypass the US.. But we don't all meet the Vaccine requirements..

I suppose that it would be impolite to suggest getting the shots so you meet the requirements. When I visited Canada this passed summer, I had to show may proof of vaccination plus a PCR test. It wasn’t a big issue.

The U.S. is a relatively high risk place right now. Just get vaccinated and be done with it. That way, you can take shelter as you need to.