‘COUNTRY’ PAGE – The UK

1. Formal requirements for yachts entering from abroad:

Guidance is in Customs Notices; Sailing your pleasurecraft to and from the United Kingdom, and Temporary importation - means of transport. Neither of these Notices has the force of law but they do convey HM Customs’ current understanding of the law. You are strongly advised to view the two original documents and if in any doubt, contact the National Yachtline on arrival in the UK 0845 723 1110 or the National Advice Service 0845 010 9000.

When arriving direct from, or departing from the UK to, a country outside the EU (the Channel Islands are regarded as outside the EU for this purpose), you must telephone the National Yachtline on 0845 723 1110. Use this number to report a vessel’s arrival and departure. You should fly the Q flag on arrival and it should remain up until the Customs give you permission to lower it.

If VAT has been paid on your vessel and you are arriving directly from an EU Member State, you need only contact Customs if you have goods to declare. However, there will be immigration requirements that need to be met for non EU citizens. If you have arrived from another EU Member State, you must declare the following goods:

• any animals or birds;
• any prohibited and restricted goods;
• any duty free stores; and
• the boat itself, if it is liable to VAT

Anyone on board who is not an EU national must get an Immigration officer’s permission to enter the UK from a place other than the Isle of Man, the Irish Republic or the Channel Islands. As the person responsible, the skipper must make sure that they do. The Customs officer to whom you report your arrival to will be able to advise on this.

If you need to contact the Customs, use the National ‘Yachtline’: 0845 723 1110 or the National Advice Service 0845 010 9000

2. Visa requirements:

Details of the visa requirements for entry into the United Kingdom are laid out in the immigration publication which lists of the countries or territorial entities where nationals or citizens require a visa.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/immigrationrules/appendix1

3. Cruising permits and restrictions:

There are no cruising permits required

4. Formal procedures when departing from one port and entering another:

There are no such procedures. In busy times you are advised to phone ahead to book space in popular marinas. Phone numbers are available in Reeds Nautical Almanac or the directory of marinas at paragraph 6 below.

5. Recommended cruising guides:

Reeds Nautical Almanacs, available from nautical bookshops

A full listing of guides published by the Conference of Yacht Cruising Clubs is at http://www.cycc.org.uk/sail_dir/sdtab1.html

Bristol Channel http://www.bristolchannel.co.uk/

Scotland, Scottish Islands, NE Irish Coast, Isle of Man http://www.clyde.org/

Cruising Association, The Cruising Almanac http://www.cruising.org.uk/

East Coast of Scotland inc. Forth and Clyde Canal http://www.fyca.org.uk/

Isle of Man http://www.cycc.org.uk/sail_dir/sdtab1.html

East coast of England and Scotland. http://www.rnyc.org.uk/saildir/saildir.html

Liverpool to Pwllheli, inc Anglesey http://www.cycc.org.uk/sail_dir/nwvyc.html

RCC, Pilotage Foundation: Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands, http://www.rccpf.org.uk/

Loch Ryan to Ravenglass incl. Solway Firth

http://www.cycc.org.uk/sail_dir/sdtab1.html

For Northern Ireland sailing directions http://www.irishcruisingclub.com/

Source of Pilotage Books and Updated Pilotage Information. Hit "corrections" on the relevant page of their site Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson http://www.imray.com/

6. Web links providing local cruising information:

Marine Coastguard Agency Channel Navigation Information Service covers the Dover Strait traffic separation system. 

Ports and marinas see: 333 Marinas and 100 harbours around the UK

Cruising Directory Blue Moment - UK Cruising Directory

for UK east coast -  Sail East Coast UK at www.saileastcoastuk.co.uk.  It has links to Eyemouth, Amble, Royal Quays, Hartlepool Marinas.

For Scottish west coast see   http://www.westcoastboating.org/

Scotland: Crinan and Caledonian Canals  http://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/

Orkney sailing at   http://www.orkneymarinas.co.uk/

More Shetland information for yachts at  http://www.shetlandtourism.com/pages/boating_and_yachting.htm.
 

7. Some of the Ports of entry:

Not specified. Phone the National Yachtline on arrival in the UK 0845 723 1110

8. Recommended sources of weather and climate information and reliability:

All Coastguard Coordination Centres provide Maritime Safety information broadcasts, including met, at four hourly intervals. Detailed information about weather and other Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts on VHF radio and from other sources is found in Reeds and The Cruising Almanac.

The Very Useful UK Weather Page gives UK Met Office and HIRLAM synoptic charts from 12 hours to 132 hours (84 for HIRLAM) for Europe and the North Atlantic. There are many sources of such charts - see Frank Singleton's Weather Chart List. See Metvuw (a new Zealand based site) for 180 hour weather charts. WindGuru, a Czechoslovakian site provides good coastal met aimed at wind surfers.

See also  http://expert.weatheronline.co.uk/daten/profi/en/ukmo/ukmo.html

For marine weather on the Internet see  http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/marine/
 
9. Where to obtain tidal information:

Tidal information for a particular year is available in Reeds and The Cruising Almanac for that year.

Tidal Prediction http://www.ukho.gov.uk/easytide.html

10: How to contact the search and rescue organisation:

VHF DSC Channel 70 and VHF Channel 16 are monitored by HM Coastguard. By telephone dial 999 and ask for Coastguard (only do this if VHF is not available to you). The Coastguard use Channel 67 as the Small Craft Safety channel for much of the UK. World wide coordination centre, Falmouth Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre 01803 882704

11: Any comments on radio and communications:

Radio operator’s licences and station liceneces required.

12. Any comments on emergency and health services:

Dial 999 or Pan Pan Medico on VHF Ch 16.

13. Any comments on importing spares:

Use recognised courier companies.

14: General advice, places to go, warnings:

Tourist information offices in or near many harbours offer excellent local information about shoreside facilities and excursions.

Each summer special maritime events, including major races and club cruises, occur around the UK, which may  crowd the waters or affect the availability of moorings or marina space in various areas.Don’t try to come up the West Solent on Round the Island Race morning, a Saturday in late June, or you will find the whole word coming the other way!

See http://www.bluemoment.com/calendar/calendar.html   for a calendar of some marine events and http://www.worldcruising.com/classicmaltscruise/ as the Harbours visited by the Classic Malt Cruise may well be full

15: Any comments on safety and security:

Most marinas seem pretty secure.