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goeasy123 · 01-04-2021, 15:07

Message from the UK, how would we go about working with N. American cruising organizations to make a case to the EU for longer cruising time in the EU?

As a consequence of Brexit 10's of thousands of UK owned boats will now be displaced from EU waters. This will cause a significant downturn in the business prospects of EU business that serve the sailing community... marinas, boatyards and equipment suppliers.

In turn this creates an opportunity to coordinate effort and make a business case to the EU authorities to allow non-EU nationals (including N. Americans) to cruise throughout the EU. Currently the limit is 90 days in 180 days.

psk125 · 02-04-2021, 00:41

Many forums mention long waiting lists for slips and moorings in the EU. Will pushing the UK-owned boats out of the EU open up slips for EU citizens? It might be hard to argue against that. Or will the UK owners end up registering in the EU, which will add revenue to EU countries and avoid the problem that way? Pushing for longer stays for visitors from the UK or USA may therefore be an uphill climb. If the slips are all full (and they seem to be) the marine industry doesn't care where their customers are from. On top of that, fitting out UK boats for a required return to the UK may be a gold mine for chandlers in the EU. Suddenly all the UK boats need offshore equipment updates and stores for a three-week trip from Italy, France, or Spain back to Portsmouth? Maybe the UK should rethink Brexit instead.

250224 · 02-04-2021, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by psk125

Maybe the UK should rethink Brexit instead.

Maybe the EU should rethink some reforms instead?

Some more no-nonsense and scale back bureaucracy and hubris, perhaps?

goeasy123 · 02-04-2021, 01:46

What would be the right N. American organizations to work with?

arsenelupiga · 02-04-2021, 02:49

in top spots they turned tourists away long ago in med. what they want you to bring money, give to them all of it on border and then turn back home. little chance getting longer stays, based on economic reasons. Maybe in 2nd or 3rd tier places.

Franziska · 02-04-2021, 03:18

That's a funny thought. The UK left, partially because they thought the EU was nonsense, it was not the EU asking them to leave.
The UK did decided they did not want to participate anymore, so now they realise thar comes with consequences, such as that EU policies are decided without them.
So why should the EU continue to listen to complaints about a perceived bureaucracy and hubris in London. That's close to ridiculous.

If the UK would agree to play fully by the common rules in the future, the EU would perhaps even offer to revoke Brexit.
Scotland is surely welcome to re-enter if they want to.

Still, I am not at all against allowing longer cruising times for foreign yachts, if that is on a reciprocal base.
Maybe trade it for EU Vat renewal when entering UK overseas ports (even though that's highly unlikely to happen).

Quote:

Originally Posted by blu3534

Maybe the EU should rethink some reforms instead?

Some more no-nonsense and scale back bureaucracy and hubris, perhaps?

Anders · 02-04-2021, 04:11

It's not going to happen
A long term Schengen tourist visa was considered years ago but was not popular and it's not coming back.
The locals really don't want long term cruisers anyway but what they want is two week charter boats the spends a lot of money.

valhalla360 · 02-04-2021, 04:39

American cruisers who would stay longer than 3 months, are incredibly rare in the big picture. US boating organizations won't have much interest. Expat groups have different visa options, so they won't care much.

The EU is busy throwing a temper tantrum over vaccines, so there will be zero interest at least for a couple years in anything that could be seen as positive towards the UK, which represents a much bigger number of boats cruising the EU.

Tupaia · 02-04-2021, 04:48

Just arrive with no passport and be prepared to cruise on a rubber dinghy.

goeasy123 · 02-04-2021, 06:59

I'm not asking for comments on the state of European politics. Please just answer the question. Who can we contact in N.America to make the business case?

That said...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franziska

Still, I am not at all against allowing longer cruising times for foreign yachts, if that is on a reciprocal base.
Maybe trade it for EU Vat renewal when entering UK overseas ports (even though that's highly unlikely to happen).

...you do realize any non-UK boat can enter UK waters on Temporary Admission for 18 months. Then leave for a day and come back for another 18 months... indefinitely.

Also, a non-UK person can have multiple consecutive 180 day visas to the UK Vs the EU's 90 in 180 days.

This makes the UK a great place for non-Europeans to do the Schengen shuffle.

valhalla360 · 02-04-2021, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by goeasy123

I'm not asking for comments on the state of European politics. Please just answer the question. Who can we contact in N.America to make the business case?

You asked about changing a political process driven by European politics...there is no separating the discussion.

You can ask anyone you like but no one with the pull to have an impact will likely be interested in putting their political capital behind it. They have other higher priorities.

I don't say this to be harsh, I would love to be able to stay longer than 90 day. I actually have a calculator built into my planning calendar to track Schengen days (not that it got any use this past year).

Joh.Ghurt · 02-04-2021, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders

It's not going to happen
A long term Schengen tourist visa was considered years ago but was not popular and it's not coming back.
The locals really don't want long term cruisers anyway but what they want is two week charter boats the spends a lot of money.

Indeed. Here in Spain, where you have many UK retirees owning boats and flats, they don't really want long term tourists. They want those pensioners to become residents and pay taxes in Spain instead of the UK.

goeasy123 · 02-04-2021, 08:59

Is anyone going to answer the question? Go on have a go. You know you can do it.

sepharad · 02-04-2021, 09:11

GoEasy,

You are making good business sense (given my American business sensibilities).

Unfortunately, most EU countries have very DIFFERENT sensibilities. They don't care. Anyone not a schengen member, is only a guest at the clubhouse and not welcome to the privileges of membership. They actively punish EU members who are also not Schengen signatories. LOOOOONG lines at the border from Romania INTO Hungary, short ones the other direction.

We saw this with NON-Schengen Irish airline flights in the Algarve, when check in personnel walked away from the lines and publicly stated, "you should be Schengen".

Americans and now UK members, will have to play the shell game of moving in and out of the zone. Turkey is nice. The UK is nice. And yes, it is a hassle and abuses the freedom of the seas.