Vince LoRusso wrote in message
om...
I intend on sailing from the British Virgin Islands to Brest,
France
June 1st. How long the boat stays over there will depend in
part on
how long the EU allows forign vessels to stay in their waters.
Any
one know how long a boat can stay before one gets booted out or
charged some fee?

The general rule in the EU is that a non-EU boat may stay for up
to 6 months without having to pay a tax or formally import the
boat. Additionally, most EU countries allow a vessel to lay up
for an additional six months without the tax becoming due. The
typical wording is 'the vessel may be sailed in EU waters for not
more than 6 months in 12', but the way this is applied does vary
from country to country. The tax in question is value added tax -
(VAT, TVA, many different initials in different states) - charged
at 12 to 20% (depending which country you're in) of what customs
think your boat is worth. They know the market.

It is easy to remain in European waters for extended periods
without becoming liable to this tax if you sail the boat to a
non-EU country for a period, have this documented, then re-enter
the EU at some later date. Stay for longer than a year, and
they'll deem your boat as 'imported' , and the tax becomes due.
Exceptional extensions are possible when the boat is laid up
ashore 'in bond' in some countries.

The system is policed in most (not all) countries by issuing
'cruise permits', which can be checked from time to time by
relevant authorities. As you move from country to country in the
EU, as a non-EU boat you should check out/check in to each
country by visiting the port authorities and immigration at a
'port of entry' with all your yacht papers and crew lists, flying
the 'Q' flag on arrival. This is easy to handle, usually a lot
less bother than sailing through the various Caribbean islands!

If you're caught breaking these rules, some countries can levy
pretty heavy fines. Whatever you do, don't be caught with paying
guests aboard, and don't charter, since either would immediately
make you liable to tax, fines etc. Many EU countries police this
by only allowing the boat to be sailed when the owner (as on the
registration certificate) is aboard.

Individual countries may charge non-EU boats a 'circulation' tax.
This is usually a small amount, well below mooring fees.

I don't know the size of your boat, but assuming 12 metres,
typical dock fees vary widely. Expensive spots are S England, S
France, S Spain and Italy, at around $6,000 a year or $30-$40 a
night for a berth in a leisure marina. N France, N Spain and
Scotland and Ireland are about half this. In commercial harbours,
fishing harbours, alongside old quays and anchoring (away from S
England) the fees are small or nothing. I'm currently paying
$2000 a year in Kalamata, Greece, which is a very cheap cruising
ground.

Nowhere in Europe is as dangerous or as liable to theft as some
of the Caribbean islands (St Vincent & St Lucia come to mind) but
within Europe, some of the crowded Italian, S France and S Spain
ports have a bit of a bad name for opportunity theft from empty,
open boats. Occupied boats are safe. Except around Athens, Greece
is exceptionally safe, with few people bothering to lock their
empty boats (or even houses!).

Hope this helps! I'm off to Greece in a couple of days and away
from the net, so I may not be able to follow up further
enquiries.

JimB, Yacht Rapaz.

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