Preparing to Cruise

When 'Going Foreign', ie, leaving your home country (be it America, Canada or a European country) for longer than a typical holiday, or when travelling to another country in your own boat, you'll be faced with unfamiliar situations.  Communications become important for staying in touch and obtaining weather information. Boating regulations will be different, while civic or immigration rules will determine how long people may stay before their 'visitor' status changes. Beware!

We confine our advice to those visiting waters around Europe in privately owned craft under 24m, used only for leisure, by owners whose names appears on the registration document.

You must obtain further advice if:

  • your situation is different
  • you or your crew plan to stay in any one country for more than 182 days in a year, or 90 days consecutively
  • you have a taxable business in a country you visit

Things to Consider when 'Going Foreign'

  • Weather. Longer passages and different places call for a wider range of sources for weather information. 
  • Communications. How to keep in touch using mobiles, dongles, internet, Wi-fi, whatever . . .
  • Chart and Pilot Book sources
  • Time abroad. Being away from home for more than 90 days, or continously in another country for 90 days, or in another country for more than 182 days in 365, has surprising implications.
  • Documentation. For trouble free cruising, carry the right documents for yourself and the boat.
  • Leaving Home. Not a teen age Odyssey, but check lists to consider if you're spending more than 2 weeks away. Includes notes on insurance, money management and more.
  •  Countries, Rules & Regulations   EU? Schengen? Facts and regulations for some more unusual European countries

'Preparing' pages can also be found on Mediterranean and Baltic area pages. These deal with matters special to those areas - preparing for hotter/colder climates, strange mooring systems, waste disposal etc. 

 

 

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