Operating a boat in the French waterways (think inland) requires an International Certificate of Competency.
Unless you rent the boat, which obviously has something to do with not interfering with business!
Getting caught without one results in a heavy fine, and people will tell you stories of Brits being ticketed just past the lock to St Malo (kind of like a speed trap).
Anyway, no problem, a simple test (administered in the UK by the RYA), a small fee and that's that.
Sorry, the RYA only issues the certificate to UK residents...what?
OK, I'll get it in France, what...you must be a French citizen?
How about the good old US of A....oops, forgot that they don't participate in anything with the word “International” in it.
So, let's get this straight, a US citizen cannot legally operate their boat in France....doesn't that seem odd to any of you?!
No Monsieur, it is not odd to us, we're French (there seems to be a theme here)!
Next, the VNF (Voies navigables de France) sticker.
VNF controls all the locks and river systems. You must have a sticker good for the period you are in the system.
I found it could be obtained by mail, all you needed to do was send some money and provide certain information, including a copy of your International Certificate of Competency!
If they asked for that via mail, I figured it had to be part of the application, so I could be headed to La Havre just to find out I couldn't enter the canal system!
At least Le Havre had a VNF office, so if worse came to worse I could backtrack down the coast of France and go back to the original plan of sailing to the Med.
And, I did have an Ace up my sleeve, Jean-Yves, whose motto is “If there is a problem, there is a solution”....more to come on that one!
-- Scott
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2 comments:
Scott and the gang,
The wife and I are watching you closely and silently supporting the whole adventure. We have a contract on a 1986 Tartan 34-2 which is why the great interest.
Please point out anything that has been worth it's weight in gold, and also the things you would like to change. We have another boat that we currently prefer offshore as our Tartan has the deep fin keel, but the Tartan is certainly a performer and we may desire to cruise it at a later date.
Fair winds,
David & Brenda
Hi Scott -
All I can say is AMAZING!!! After hearing you talk about this trip for so long, it is hard to believe you have been at this already for nearly six months. Best wishes as you continue your journey! Dave
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