Bonjour

I spoke about Jan's prame with my contact. In fact they refused because it was to small for the flotilla and some parts of the programm in case of bad weather (responsibility issue). I told him that you would come with it and that it would be a tinder for a bigger boat. He agreed.

He also told me that the size of the N°5 flotilla was not yet an issue as they know by experience that there are about 15% of the pre-registration boat that can't attend.

I already told him that I was still waiting for a few boats to register.

Since then, two other junks have been accepted.

Amicalement

Eric

The link to register isn't easy to find!

Click the little person icon, top right of the Golfe du Morbihan website - I think that will let you register.

You need to register by 15 March, I think.

That's very helpful Eric, thanks, but causes even more confusion! (Not your problem).  There have been forms almost the same as that appearing on the internet for the last two seasons for some of the North Brittany/Normandy ports which you could even use for minor non-custom ports.  Supposedly.  I gather nobody really knows what is going on. When you try to find a form like this from the website of La Douane or a particular port it is impossible. I'm not particularly concerned, my main concern is to leave to make the trip, arriving is another adventure. By the way, if anyone else is considering this, it looks very much easier to stroll to the customs from the marina in Roscoff or Brest rather than Lorient where it is quite a distance away from the main marina. 

I'm going to the Irish Sailing cruising conference on Saturday and hope to pick the brains of some Irish cruising people. 

As for rules and ethnic traits... I'm not an expert on history but I thought that the anglo-saxons have always been an unruly bunch and only had rules imposed on them when the Normans invaded!

Anonymous wrote:

Bonsoir

France has a foot in the Anglo-saxon world and the other in the latin world. So we have the latin bureaucratie associated with the tolerance to the respect of the rule but we also have the blaming culture of the non-appliance of the rule of the Anglo-saxon. It creates an interresting mix where the limits are always shifting between was should be done and what is acceptable.

I always thought the Anglo-Saxon were naturally inclined to respectfully go "by the book" and comply to rules.
As the Latins (including French), on the contrary, considered laws as mere guide-lines to more or less follow, depending on circumstances.
But this was poorly based on my own experience: speed limits, tax, alcohol, customs...
Thank you Eric for re-establishing a correct balance!

Bonsoir

France has a foot in the Anglo-saxon world and the other in the latin world. So we have the latin bureaucratie associated with the toterance to the respect of the rule but we also have the blaming culture of the non-appliance of the rule of the Anglo-saxon. It creates an interresting mix where the limits are always shifting between was should be done and what is acceptable.

Just as a reminder, at Roscoff a British crew never entered France and of couse, by conformance, nether left ! (I can't remerber....)

I'm certain that, in the spirit of the French administrations around the Semaine du Golfe, they coudn't care less about the Brexit visas and still consider the Brit's as at least half Europeans.So they are not in a hurry to answer...(They probalby would prefer the question not to be asked !)

So I'm almost certain that a boat or a crew joining the Semaine du Golfe du Morbihan without the proper visa or stamp on the passport wouldn't have any problem.

But on the other hand if a bureaucratic guy "stand on the law" and wants to apply the rule "Le petit doigt sur la couture du pantalon" it would be a fuss ! And the first issue would open the door to the control of all the other Brits ( hundreds of them) around!

So, my job is to prevent myself from unconfortable situation and to try and find the way to follow the rules in the most intelilgent way. A way would be to have a temporary emigration service at Le Crouesty on the first and last day of the show.

Anyway we'll find and I already have a not to contraignant answer with a stop in Lorient which is on the way.

It's much easier to pass through the rules when you are alone than when there are about ten boats with a crew of three each ! The risk is different.

Amicalement

Eric