Peter Hendra wrote:
On Sat, 14 Apr 2007 14:11:25 -0500, Vic Smith
wrote:


After reading of the troubles in those waters, that plan is now on
hold. Perhaps sailing to NZ and flying to Sydney from there would
be a better approach, but to be blunt, I am now sorely disappointed
with Australia and have no desire to visit there at all.

--Vic


Vic,
The verse from the Bible comes to mind about taking the beam from
one's own eye before taking the mote from another's.

In Spain our family went through the lengthy and expensive process of
applying for US Visas as we had intended sailing up the eastern
seaboard of the US. If we had flown there we would have been part of
the Visa waver system.

After talking with several non-American yachts(persons) who had
visited the US, and in investigating the requirements of officialdom
with regard to a foreign yacht visiting your country, we, with much
regret, decided against it. You probably know nothing of these
restrictions as they do not affect you.

I, who hold Australian citizenship as well as my other two, have not
seen fit to date to burst into a tirade of criticism against US
officialdom and its seemingly pathetic pettiness with its rules of
entry and travel within America by foreign yacht that are far more
restictive and onerous that Australia has in place. I merely accept it
and change my plans. Railing against the rules will not change them.
Perhaps that is why I do not have high blood pressure.

Dissappointed as we are, we have decided that if we wish to visit the
places we have always wanted to go, such as the Smithsonian Museums
etc, then we will have to arrive by air and travel by car even though
we will have to suffer the indignities of your immigration and
airtravel processes where ordinary people are treated as potential
criminals and verbally abused at your airports (I have flown through
the States twice in the past year). Incidentally, to see an elderly
American lady yelled at by some uncouth thug of a security person at
LA airport "I said - take off your jacket" when going through
security, frankly made my blood boil. To my shame, being a long time
coward, I did not object.

I can burst into print on my annoyance at radio broadcasts on VHF when
sailing up the Red Sea in international waters - "This is US task
force xxx. Any vessel approaching within two miles is likely to be
fired upon:" and having to alter course under a difficult sail into
the wind - bloody cheek. Or about a helicopter gunship hovering over
my masthead for two full minutes and not responding to my VHF. Have
you any idea just how intimidating that is, especially to a child?

Where were they in the piracy zone further east when a British yacht
got stripped two weeks before we went through and a group of five were
chased and fired upon? The only response was from a French warship.

I could get angry at the right the US Coastguard claim of being able
to board and search, without any financial recompence for damage, my
New Zealand flagged yacht anywhere in the Caribbean. I can't prevent
it so I don't. I just stay away.

That's life. If we wish to visit somewhere, we put up with the
processes if we feel that it is worth it. If not, we don't go. If it
was easy, everybody would be doing it which in many people's minds has
ruined the Med and the Caribbean. That's cruising, which is what this
newsgroup is all about.

cheers
Peter Hendra
what is the law here.
i was under the usumption that the US had no jusidiction out side there
waters on any boat other than a US boat.
you are saying that if i was in international waters or british water
then i can be boarded by a US boat?
I thought that amounted to piracy its self.
Shaun