Should A Non Eu Boat Sail Across The Atlantic To Sail The Med

[chuckr]

This may cause a bit of controversy but so be it -- we are a usa boat that sailed acrossed the atlantic last year to see and sail the med -- what a mistake -- do not get me wrong the crossing was incredible and the people we have met along the way could not have been nicer -- it is really an experience painting your boat name on the wall in horta or sailing into gibraltar or cartagena or tunisia or how can you descirbe sailing into bonifacio harbor for the 1st time --

But if i had to do it again i would not have sailed across -- the schengren agreement is just to limiting - you get a whooping 90 days to do any sailing and sight seeing -- by the time you get into the med you have to start worrying about getting out which we did by wintering over in tunisia - and it was simply wonderful -- what a great country

Then you start the next summer sailing seasson after spending the spring planning on how to make the best out of 90 days -- we decided to go to the east side of sardinia, 2 quick stops in corisca, then to rome and a very fast run down the italian coast and over to albania and croatia for the summer - we have to be mindful to keep at least 2-3 weeks available to return to italy and sicily for the run back to tunisia for a second winter --

One of the problems you have deal with is the weather -- we are currently sitting in corisca waiting on a weather window to sail to rome and each day we sit we have to adjust our schedule to make fewer stops along the way --
So far we have lost probably 5-6 days due to weather and we know we will lose a few more along the way -- we have also just had a valve failure and will have to haul out for a couple of days for a repair - more lost days -

If i had to do it again i would have flown over rented a camper van and seen the sights by road - no weather issues

So our advise to non eu boats - don't sail across - the schengren agreement is just to restrictive --

We are already here and trying to make the best out of a very bad situtation

Oh by the way with the high unemployment, lack of jobs and a stagnat economy it would seem there would be thought to increase tourism and with it dollars from outside the eu -- but that concept seems to be lost on the ruling eu body - we spend money on everything from marinas, to boat parts, to food, restaurants, bars, doctors, denists, bus, trains, hotels, you name it but most of it will be spent in non eu countries as our travel is very restricted in the eu and most of our summer sailing season will be outside the eu along with the entire winter -- and i can tell you the tunisia love our spending money there

Some may disagree but this is our opinion
__________________
Just our thoughts and opinions
Chuck patty and svsoulmates
Sailing italy this summer (14)

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by chuckr

some may disagree but this is our opinion

I've never been, but I would agree based on all the threads. It has always seemed the only real answer is to hope no one notices you, which of course is just kind of a setup.

[Zanshin]

The Schengen agreement restricts the time that people can stay in the area, but the foreign flagged boat can remain longer. I'm confused as to why you included a non-eu boat in this? And remember, foreigners visiting the USA by boat get 90 days as well.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

The Schengen agreement restricts the time that people can stay in the area, but the foreign flagged boat can remain longer. I'm confused as to why you included a non-eu boat in this? And remember, foreigners visiting the USA by boat get 90 days as well.

Worse - according to the laws, a non usa boat must report to the coast guard whenever the boat moves - some coasties interpert this to mean moving from one slip to another within the same marina.

Sorry - while I have a lot of sympathy for foreign boats that find EU rules restrictive - no way are they as restrictive as the us ones.

[goboatingnow]

Unfortunately boaters are an unintended consequence of a EU wide relaxation of internal borders and the consequent need to strengthen external borders.

Because non EU boats are a fraction of a fraction of a pin in terms of economic impact, they have no clout in that regards. sorry that's just the reality. The EU is the wealthiest economic area on the planet, a couple of hundred non EU visiting boaters arnt going to influence that.

There is a plan before the European Parliament to look at long term holiday visas. Unfortunately given the speed of EU decisions and the general negative attitude to immigration relaxation and other freedoms , it may take many years to resolve.


At least it's not as restrictive as visiting the US

Dave

[Blue Crab]

Funny how the danged gubermints are the same ol same ol everywhere: High dollar spender/visitors are regulated while deadbeats can clog the waterways for decades.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Blue Crab

Funny how the danged gubermints are the same ol same ol everywhere: High dollar spender/visitors are regulated while deadbeats can clog the waterways for decades.

Just how does that apply to the non US visitor to the EU ?????, your comment is actually a political view in ( thin ) disguise

Dave

[steve77]

I completely understand and sympathize. Our plan was to cross the Atlantic in May 2015, spend 2 years or so in the Med with winters in Turkey, then cross back to Barbados. If the 90 day restriction is not changed, we will revise our plans.

What we'll do is still undecided. But cruising and visiting the EU for 90 days and then leaving for 90 days is not something I'm willing to comply with, so I won't go.

Hopefully this will be changed soon so we cruisers can visit some beautiful countries without overly restrictive legislation forcing us to leave every 3 months.

[goboatingnow]

It will not be changed soon as changing the Schengen Acquis requires all member state consent. The issue also has very low priority as the numbers affected are small.

Hence plan accordingly, if it bugs you then I wouldn't visit the EU med countries.

We have a number of nice 2 week package holidays you could avail off instead !!!

Dave

[colemj]

What you describe is also common in the Caribe. For example, the C4 Central American countries immigrations also require you to leave the conglomerated area after 90 days. The boat is good for a year (and renewable), but you must make arrangements for your persons to regain immigration status every 90 days. A bit of a pain, but only a (relatively) inexpensive airplane ride away.

Mark

[robert sailor]

Yes ChuckR we are in the same shape, although Canadians, we did a winter in Turkey and certainly you can easily get a visa extension as well but while it was wonderful we really don't want to stay there on a long term basis and 3 months is just too short of a time to spend here. We are heading west and over to the Caribbean as we are not interested in getting caught for extending our stay. Like you we would recommend that a Canadian boat is not the best way to see the Med. beautiful as it is.

[steve77]

For all of you posting that other countries also limit stays to 90 days, do these countries also require you leave for 90 days before returning? I'm not acquainted with immigration laws, so that's an honest question.

If the EU only required we left for a day or two every 90 days, no problem. Inconvenient, but not enough to keep me from complying with the law.

The deal killer is 90 days in, 90 days out. It is simply too restrictive for me, and I won't cross the Atlantic as long as that is the situation.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Yes ChuckR we are in the same shape, although Canadians, we did a winter in Turkey and certainly you can easily get a visa extension as well but while it was wonderful we really don't want to stay there on a long term basis and 3 months is just too short of a time to spend here. We are heading west and over to the Caribbean as we are not interested in getting caught for extending our stay. Like you we would recommend that a Canadian boat is not the best way to see the Med. beautiful as it is.

Its not the boat in the EU.. its the people.. even if you had a 12mth charter on an EU boat you'd have to get out after 90 days..

[colemj]

Originally Posted by steve77

For all of you posting that other countries also limit stays to 90 days, do these countries also require you leave for 90 days before returning? I'm not acquainted with immigration laws, so that's an honest question.

If the EU only required we left for a day or two every 90 days, no problem. Inconvenient, but not enough to keep me from complying with the law.

The deal killer is 90 days in, 90 days out. It is simply too restrictive for me, and I won't cross the Atlantic as long as that is the situation.

For our experience in the Caribe, you do not have to leave for 90 days. The typical out of country period is 72hrs, but we have never had anyone question that time. They simply look at the stamp in our passport and we are good to go. In Guatemala, for example, that meant just catching a launcha to Belize, check in/out and come back on the return launcha. In Panama, immigration gives you 6 months if you ask (and pay) for it.

Also, in Panama it is possible to get a "tripulante", which ties your visa to the ship's status - which is one year.

In the Eastern Caribe, it is just too simple to visit other countries by boat to worry about.

Mark

[Kenomac]

Come to Spain and base yourself here. The Spanish authorities are much more accommodating.