Hi Steve and Judy. Thanks for much for covering Schengen. Judy you said you would cover the subject if you could stop your teeth from grinding and I just want to say you did a good job! I didn’t hear any grinding!! Thanks so much to covering this topic and talking to some other cruisers at the marina. Intrepid Bear didn’t mention Turkey as a non-Schengen country but I think they didn’t want to go that far east. It’s interesting about Malta. I hope in one or two years time there will be a cruisers visa available to make Med cruising less of a muddle. Loved your winter films of sailing and skiing - what a perfect place to spend the winter in the Med in a boat. Great to hear how easy Montenegro make it for 6 months winter stays. Wishing you a great shuffle season of sailing🤞 xx
Rob, our mistake in missing Turkey and some others I daresay! The ole grey cells are not that good when put on the spot! Turkey is a great Schengen escape which many enjoy. You’re right that we changed our minds for various reasons (detailed in a recent video) and are heading back north but it was an oversight if we didn’t mention Turkey. Thanks for picking it up 😊
Thanks guys, I think we will test it as it is, we already have a someone who can change the luff tape if need be but actually I think it will be fine. Thanks for the support.
Schengen defines a very small minority of countries in the world out of approximately 195. The vast majority of sailors are non member countrymen so visas are really the most ordinary thing in the world. Great episode, thanks !
A Schengen visa would be nice. Maybe one day as the zone becomes larger they will implement such a thing and extend the time allowed, that would make all us third party nationals happy
My solution to the Schengen issue was to change flag. I re-registered my boat from Swiss flag (= non-EU) to Dutch flag via a NL- based company. The process is carried out online and takes about a week. It solved all problems in the Med. To my knowledge you can do the same by applying for a Belgian or a Polish flag.
@@silvanocometta9760 yes that’s a completely separate issue. You can have 18 months in any one country without being liable for VAT ( it’s extremely rare to find anyone who has been charged even after this time, my father had his British flagged boat in Mallorca for 35years and was never asked to pay it!) if you are worried though it can be very easily reset by just sailing to another country for a day to give you another 18 months
@svfairisle Yes, I did that, sailing from Northern Italy to Tunisia. I was inspected twice by the authorities in Italy. My papers were OK, so no consequences. I know of (German flag) people, which got their boat conficated in Kroatia, though. In any case, I stopped sailing for health reasons 3 years ago. All the best to you two.
Schengen is not a "sad and sorry tale" it's fantastic for those fortunate enough to be part of it. Troublesome for those who've never been a part of it and a cautionary tale of the hubris of the British.
Know it’s not a political channel but seemed to skirt around elephant in the room fact that we chose to leave in full knowledge this would happen. Made our bed so to speak.
Butyl tape is on my list for when I get my boat - I’ve seen various people in real life and YT raving about it. Including the Wynns fixing broken windows relatively successfully (and their missing life raft locker slightly less successfully) going from Fiji to New Zealand during covid.
Passage options. Bit late but hope you read this. Plan C: Jordan, Egypt, Israel, might be a detour. But worth a try. As well, said Tunis is an option. Egypt, Jordan has some farily decent marinas built, recently, As seen in Sailing Zatara and another UA-cam channel. Its about 5-6 days sail from Turkey. If you opt for the first two, you can spend some time in both countries and indulge the past history, which is quite rich. And recover for a new season in the med, without rushing thru. As far Malta goes, you ought have preplanned booking for digital nomad visa before entering Schengen/EU, and certain reasons for it. Plan D: would be cut through directly to Gibraltar and anchor on the UK side, since Gibraltar is divided between UK/Spain, as previously noted. But as said, you missing alot of sights on the way back. And you need to rush to get there in time, I dont think you want to put pressure. Other option noted in the episode is to head back to montegro/croatia again. Maybe hook up with another YT channel that residing there. Zatara and Sailing Aquarius is in Turkey at the moment. You might want to chat between them, and maybe hook up between, if there is time for it. But heading back to the UK is an alternative, as you could take a break for 6 weeks, and catch up with family & friends, join and chat with other YT channels. Such as SV Cadoha, SV Melody etc etc. I rather wouldn't want to rush if I were you. As you said, you got plenty of time until the passage over to the canaries before the atlantic crossing, Who knows, should never plan in detail which I have learned by owning sailboat, things can change quickly. Same principles goes by the weather, as we sailors live by. So if six weeks in the UK is a good option or those I mention, then its a choice between these. I know its a hassle due to the Brexit, which ofc is sad. Would have rather seen UK within EU, due to I seen alot of UK resident having alot of issues. Just my opinion. /fair winds. SV BB / Capt. Magnus.
Yes we considered going further East to Israel last year when we were in Turkey, Cyprus is non Schengen too, even the Greek side so there are options. To be honest though it just makes the job of getting out even harder going East, the Western med had few options. I’m confident we can get through without it being too much of a rush though and if we end up in the Canaries quite early then that’s okay, word is they are much like Malta in not trying to implement Schengen on sailors
SELL Fair Isle to your daughter, she will want it delivered to the Canaries, so you are employed by her to sail it there, get a ‘Seaman’s Card’ and you’re allowed to stop at Marina’s along the way where you’re allowed to carry out maintenance work on Fair Isle.
Iv found people dont wash the furler out with fresh lightly soapy warm water once in a while , It gets the salt crystals out of the bearings & acts like a lightly oiled lube but mainly keeps things from wearing out , Top bearings rain does the job but the bottom ones needs a rinse, Sail looks great , Nice shape . .
That’s true of the furlers with Delrin type balls they just need a rinse & maybe some ‘one drop’ but I prefer the metal bearings that are open and take an occasional grease.
Looks like you 2 are going to take us on another awesome journey. Got to thank you for that. One question, what are the fluffy strip's or tubes on your rigging? Wind saliencers? Yours is the third yacht I have seen with them. Safe journeys you 2.
Sounds like we might meet again somewhere along the way? BTW: The golden ticket out would be to get yourself a seamansbook! As such you could be "employee" on your boat and have unlimited shengen time
I was trying to work out what that tape was - I must have watched and rewatched that bit of the video about 6 times, trying to catch what it was called! That looks like useful stuff!!
it's this stuff... www.amazon.co.uk/LLPT-Repair-Sealing-Patching-BST343/dp/B08HSY9N76/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=ET27Q181MVP3&keywords=butyl+tape&qid=1679002416&sprefix=butyle+tape%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
I could not do as you do, I feel that the oceans are free passage and I would go where I wished for as long as I wished and only give attention to countries rules if I was to go to land other that than I would be like well come and catch me. I have never been good with obstructive regulations. Sailing is freedom and should be exactly that.
@@jansurlykkeschack7955 Ah, now I said freedom while at sea, and those small boats can stay free while at sea but when those in them decide to land they must expect to respect the laws of the land or return to the sea.🙂
Nice video! Congrats on getting a new furler. What a difference! A personal note: I always control the unfurling of the yankee/genoa rather than let the wind take out quickly. That way I don't slam the furler and shorten the time between it being new and being thrown in a dumpster. I'm not saying you don't control it, I'm just saying I've seen people abuse their furlers and it hurts to watch--like watching a parent yell at a child in a grocery store. :) I liked the racing sequences--great footage, editing, and music. Good thing The Nutcracker is in the public domain! So what is the best time to cross the Atlantic in a small boat? Are you planning a winter crossing?
I agree re controlling the furler, in fact I’m trying to get a ratchet block at the moment to make sure it always pays out in a controlled way, it’s sometimes difficult to pay out while doing everything else. We plan the cross in January. A lot of people go before Xmas, the ARC traditionally has, but there is now a later one as well. The trade winds for that trip are usually better after Xmas as well.
Great video as always. it's about time the RYA or some other organisation lobbies the EU for a better visa for cruisers to be able to spend more time in the EU.
I love your sail with the logo 🥰 Great info on all the visas, we have researched all these whilst been back in the UK with no luck ! The Schengen has given us such a headache and just so confused on what to when we come back to the boat April 2023 but your plan is helping with throwing about ideas! Great episode ⛵️
I recommend Port Bara in Roda de Bera, west of of Barcelona. We took our boat out and we were able to work on her. You couldn’t sleep on her but there is a really close air BnB. Which worked out perfect for us
@@DaleNewnham the French one we couldn’t get it as we have 2children and to get a French visa we need to have proof that they will attend school as it’s illegal to home educate in france. This is why we couldn’t make Montenegro as to get the 6months residency we would have had to pay for a scholarship for girls to attend school
@@sailingrhumor5707 that make sense, thanks for the explanation! Stopping in North Africa and perhaps Gibraltar seems to be a good way to cruise the western Med so that will be our plan if we can’t get a visa.
Because it's a great idea for the member states, it means easier travel and trade. We travelled through the Med on the way in as part of Schengen (before the UK stopped being a member a year after Brexit) and it was excellent. No checking in anywhere within the zone, made sailing easy and safe as you weren't tied to getting to ports of entry. Now it's just a massive PITA
@@braddobson2060 The Schengen Agreement are the rules that govern the free movement of people within the EU/Schengen Region. It is not much different than the visas that individual countries require for visitors. Many countries are offered a visa free access which allows 90 days within every 180 day period.
OMG...them J70's, what a rapid learning lesson. Fresh Rigging...wow, love to know if Fair Isle likes it. Does assistance to clean your bottom allow invites for a learning passage for arm chair wannabe-sailors...LOL I'm far more senior than you beaut couple, and I'm disappointed I have left I left my retirement dreams to idle away and wasted...so I applaud your lifestyle.👍
Let's put it this way, if you are from a Schengen country there is nothing better and easier then travel through Europe. But getting a long stay visa in the Netherlands or France should be possible, if people from the US (World of Towning) and even someone from Haiti (Kika from sailing Uma) is able to get one.
That's a handy episode for us, we're trying to figure out a plan for this year. Was it straightforward for visitors or yourselves flying from the UK to Montenegro?
Yes you can fly to Podgorica very easily and cheaply from lots of UK airports. It about a 90 min drive though. In summer you can get flights th Tivat which is 10 mins from the marina
Steve you talk about the 90 day in 180 days challenge but how do you cope with the VAT on your boat she has been in the med now for several years, we are lucky to have Irish passports and are planning to move our yacht from plymouth to the algarve in June leaving her there for a couple of seasons how do you manage your VAT risk ?
The Schengen zone is just about people. Each country still has its own tax laws so as long as you don't stay in one country for more than 18 months you are not liable for VAT. Even if you do stay longer you would be very unlucky to be pulled up. Also going out of a country for 1 day resets the 18 month limit.
This is not only in the Schengen area. Rather say the worldwide visa disaster: US = 90d, MT = 90d, NO = 90d, BS =90d, AU = 90d, CR = 90d, PA = 90d and so on. Everywhere 90d are not enough.
Angle grinders come with guards for a reason. Opposable thumbs are a considerable benefit, not least to cruisers. A cavalier attitude to health and safety comes at a potentially high price which is worth bearing in mind.
Grinder disks aren't glass, they don't shatter. If you hit one with a hammer you will see there are fibers running through it. That's not to say the wise (safe) thing is to always have a guard as a splinter may come off. I always wear glasses but I'm too old and ugly to bother further than that. You can sit there for half an hour with a hack saw if you wish, I will cut it in 5 seconds with an angle grinder!
@@svfairisle one of the main causes of angle grinder accidents is a shattered disc, it happened to me but thankfully with the guard on, still a bit too exciting for me. Maybe the hammer test needs a bigger hammer.
@@svfairisle What I love about cruising is that we're all free to make our own personal risk assessments and then act accordingly. Anyone who really did have a "cavalier attitude to health and safety" would not have managed to navigate so far or achieved so much as you guys. 'Single-Interest Fanatics' who insist that everybody shares their tick-box approach to safety probably wouldn't be my choice of sailing companion... I thought you did a thoroughly good job; more than I would have attempted myself and I look forward to the tech video.
I have a plan to retire in two years and hopefully buy a boat in the Mediterranean and sail for 3-5 years if my body holds up. I know starting this adventure at 67 is not ideal. But to make it financially viable I need two more years of work. The “visa” issue is something I’ve Been researching, I’ve thought about long term visa’s from say Greece because I have no issues meeting their income requirements and total assets on hand. Does anyone know if I have a visa for Greece does that apply for all of the Schengen area or just to Greece? Best way I have to explain Schengen is that in my youth each European country had its own visa requirements so you could spend a year in Europe as an American by just moving from country to country. Under Schengen all of Europe is essentially one country for visa purposes. And they apply the same rule on us as we do on them which is a visa free entry for 90 days in 180. I have spent my life travelling the world for work and pleasure and have spent 5 years living and working in Australia 🇦🇺. So somewhat familiar with the red tape of visa requirements.
From sailors we know that have been there recently, they say the Maltese authorities will not stamp you in if you dont want to use Schengen time. As we are sailing direct from Montenegro, if we don't get stamped into Malta then we can stay there for a month or so and not use Schengen time because that wont start until we check into Italy. The Maltese have cleverly taken the stance that if sailors don't have a ticking schengen clock while they are there they will probably stay longer and spend more money on the island. We will have to see if this actually works for us!
Nice video. I love following your story and also the more technical parts that you are covering. I can't hear the "Schengen Issue" any more. With Brexit, UK left the EU and all the citizen proudly became third country nationals. You got what you have choosen. That your nice Mediterranean sail boat life does not work like this any more, I personally feel sorry for you, but this is a good lesson "in political decisions have consequences". You can hopefully stay in Commonwealth countries longer than 3 months... Bermudas and Behamas to come.
You'ld have to join the queue! there are strangely a lot of people who want to come (we didn't get any offers for Biscay!) We will probably go on our own though.
Schengen was always tied to the freedom of movement rules in the E.U. and the U.K. never signed up to the scheme. Where were you based when "Brexit Day" happened? I was already registered in Spain, to continued with Spanish residency, and now have the TIE bio-metric card for travel. Plus I know the Wilding Sailing couple were in France so he obtained French residency. I wondering if you could retrospectively apply in the country you were in before leaving the E.U.?
It wouldn’t help us, residency comes with all sorts of restrictions and isn’t suitable for cruisers travelling from country to country and not having marina contracts
Even though Gibraltar is British I understand they are in the shengen agreement due to the amount of Spanish that work there . I was told you could not reset your visa time there. It would be nice if you can let the viewers know.
Gibraltar is a very grey area. As a British citizen of course you have every right to go there and stay as long as you like. But as they have had to de facto be in Schengen for the thousands of Spanish workers that go in and out every day it's not working as a way to decrease your Schengen days. i.e. if you sail into Gib with one Schengen day left and you then stay there for a couple of months you don't get those days back because the clock stops. So on leaving you will still only have 1 day left! Thats in theory. I think in practice I think I cant see immigration working out the days with a hole in the middle to account for Gib! I may be wrong!!
I'm hearing lots of conflicting views on Gib. Apparently officially it is not in Schengen at the moment, also there are conflicting reports on whether as a Brit you have to be stamped in and out. Now if you dont get stamped in Gib but you did stamp out of the last Schengen country then it doesn't matter if Gib is considered In or out. As far as any subsequent immigration officer can see you were never there, so the time you spent there is effectively out of Schengen so will count as non Schengen days. Clear as mud!
Hi to you both , we sailed from Uk to La Linea then checked out of Spain and entered Gibraltar ; the marina took our docs to customs and we are out of Schengen and EU . Gib is not in Schengen and as long as you check out of Schengen you will stop your clock. Not totally easy to get a berth but Ocean Village let us in and we stayed 3 months , about to leave this week coming.
I am afraid that is all incorrect , Gibraltar has a very loose agreement in place but are still negotiating a long term plan. We are here now and we talk to custom officers every day , they call into the marina every day just to fuel up and are very helpful ,great place to escape Schengen and reset your clock .
Somewhere in the video it was mentioned Schengen stay is 3 months in and 9 months out. That is incorrect. Allowed stay is 90 days in every 180 day period. 6 month stay per year would have been much more convenient for travellers, I believe, without changing the total yearly duration of allowed stay. But, having said that, these things should be reciprocal...
Hi…that was us that said that. What we were saying is that, in effect, in a sailing season/year you end up with 3 months in schengen and 9 months out. This is because by the time you’ve been in for 3 months and out for 3 months the sailing season is done so that you then spend the rest of the winter out. We know it is actually 90 in 90 out, or more precisely 90 days in a rolling 180 day period, but the effect is 90 in the schengen zone during the season then the rest of the year out. Of course you can come back in in the winter once you’ve done 90 out but not many work it that way. Well spotted but we weren’t actually saying that schengen is 3 months in and 9 months out. Hope that clarifies what we were saying? 😊⛵️
In theory yes, but what Kate was saying there is true, it's how it pans out in practice. What happens is you leave whatever non Schengen country you have been overwintering in, say Turkey as we did last year. Then you have 3 months cruising inside the Schengen zone (Greece) and have to get out. Now by the time 90 days are up & you could go back in its nearly winter again so there's no point. So in practice because in the Med you tend to have at least a 5 month marina contract to winter you only get half the summer to cruise!
@@FollowIntrepidBear Ok, you have made clear what you were saying. Many, non liveaboards who choose to leave their boats in Schengen marinas or yards, take advantage of the 90/180 rule to do some boat work during the off season. The definitive solution to all of this for liveaboards is to take up residency in a Schengen/EU country. Different countries have different requirements for this.
@@svfairisle Indeed that is the case. Although if you start cruising in April you can cruise say in Greece until end of June, then avoid the meltemi and head for say Turkey and be back in the islands for October and half of November when sailing is good again. That will give you 4.5 months to overwinter in Turkey again. That works a treat for the Aegean. For the Ionian, as you well know, just replace Turkey with Montenegro. Best solution for someone who wants to stay in the Med unhindered is to take up residency in a Schengen / EU country. Not too hard if you can prove a reasonable income from outside the EU although different countries have different requirements.
@@razisn that’s why we did the whole section with the map. Judy did the research, there is no easy option that we could find. All involved investing in the country you want to use as a base, or at a minimum paying tax there. France has a 6 month tourist extension for Brits but you have to apply in London within 3 months of needing. Basically if you just have your boat in the Med then you could find something workable, probably. For a live aboard cruiser passing through basically it’s such a pain many will just pass through quickly as we are now doing on the way out.
Its fairly easy to get a long term residency in Greece for 16 euros you need to be married have a bank account in Greece and a permeant residential address i.e. a marina a friend of ours in Kos marina has done this but only applies to Greece not the EU
Actually the right of inocent passage requires you to make "expeditious passage" through territorial waters so anchoring is technically violating this. Brexit has screwed up alot of things. Going East might be an option (Egypt, Israel but again likely to be politically difficult!)
Tom, it was us who mentioned the right of innocent passage and we used it, admittedly it was not tested by us being intercepted but it does state “Passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress” It may be a complex legal point but I would argue that (and I am ex law enforcement and Kate has a law degree) if we cannot proceed due to unsafe weather or even if we are exhausted making it unsafe to continue then anchoring in a sheltered bay could be considered “incidental to ordinary navigation” Now, I’m not stating this as a fact as I can find no case law but I would suggest that it could be argued that way. I do accept that if you met a particularly harsh border guard you may end up explaining it in court and that was our worry crossing the Med last year with no Schengen time. I’ve also heard many Anecdotal tales of sailors who have been anchored and, on being checked by the authorities, stated they were in transit and were left alone. The key thing is you can’t go ashore but my point here is that there is an anchoring caveat that I’d argue is applicable. We were actually boarded by armed customs officers in Spain but they were only interested in smuggling items or people and didn’t even check our schengen time.
@@FollowIntrepidBear This is super helpful, thank you. Last year Cat Great Circle asked to anchor in Aruba? due to weather and exhaustion, and they were not permitted to stop even though they had no plans to go ashore. While generally it's better to ask permission rather than forgiveness when dealing with legal authorities, is this something you just do, or do you have a conversation with port control every place you anchor for a safety stop.
@@marklong8608 I can only say what we did rather than comment on what’s legal or best. We didn’t ask permission to stop in remote anchorages but were ready to try and explain our position but equally ready to move on if told to move on. As we were not 100% that the authorities would agree with our interpretation of the rules we felt it best not to draw attention to ourselves so we anchored off the beaten track and didn’t call anyone. Please do be aware though that this is just our interpretation of the rules and I do know that it doesn’t work in some of the Balkan states like Croatia and Montenegro where, if you anchor off without checking in they will fine you. I feel they are in breach of the rules doing that but I’d prefer not to find myself in a foreign court to test the theory! Everyone takes their own risk after weighing up the information that they have. We have done a little video on schengen and the right of innocent passage as well as a series of 4, starting from Gibraltar, about our trip across the Med without schengen time. You’d get a bit more flavour of what we did from them 😊 Cheers
Great video as always. Nobody appears to have mentioned that the UK was never part of the Schengen agreement prior to Brexit and the 90-day rule was already in place.
My understanding is that the Canaries are part of the Schengen area as well. Although I've been wrong before. 😁 You don't happen to have a Grandfather that was born in Ireland ideally before partition (1920) if you can prove it with a birth certificate you can apply for an EU passport from the Irish government if you do.
Unfortunately my English heritage goes back as far as records began. And you are right about the Canaries which is why we are looking at Morocco as a possible break. It will work out. Usually does
@@judyaslett6209 I have an Irish Grandfather. Born in Belfast but because he was born before 1920 it counts but we can't find his original Birth Certificate which is what you need, they won't accept copies. So near yet so far.
Yes the Canaries are Spanish and are part of Schengen. Word is though (amongst sailors) that similar to Malta they do not go through your passport and add up Schengen days. Doing so would somewhat shoot themselves in the foot as a lot of sailors go there to cross and might be short of Schengen time. It's far from an ideal situation as no one really knows where they stand but as we are liable to end up in the Canaries with not much Schengen time left we just have to hope the word on the street is right!
Don't forget Cabo Verde is south of the Canaries and Mindelo seems to be a popular destination. Winded Voyage Sailing ua-cam.com/video/2DQGfa3UF6I/v-deo.html has been there for at least two years. The authority's attitude seems to be if you can support yourself and you're spending money here you're welcome.
Yes as we mentioned Tunisia is an option we might try. Libya is a no go, Algeria is not recommended and by the time you've got to Morocco you're as good as out (and the main ports are Spanish weirdly!)
Taking out residency in an EU country is the answer to these problems. This will allow unlimited travel to all of Schengen and EU zone. Different countries have different requirements for residency. It was easy for Brits during the period before the UK formally left the EU. I know of at least 3 sailing channels in youtube run by liveaboard Brits who have picked up Greek residency.
Not true, applying and being granted residency within any single Schengen member country only gives you unlimited access to that country, without a EC citizen passport you still have only 90 day access in every 180 days covering all of the other member states.
@@teddyboysdontknit810 I have been told what you're saying is not true by a person who already has residency but I may have the wrong info since I have no personal experience (neither do I need it..). But even if that is true it still solves much of the problem if the residency is in a Med country. What is EC btw lol
@@razisn I am an EU citizen and the issue is clear from a legal perspective. Only EU or EFTA citizens may travel freely throughout Schengen without time restriction. If you have obtained a longer term visa for, say, the Netherlands then Schengen rules apply to you if you leave the Netherlands as they would apply if you entered Schengen from outside Schengen.
It’s intresting ,,I and my wife have lived in Spain many years but don’t have residencia so are now doing the shengen shuffle,,yes brexit is rubbish ,,,anyway I’m suprised you’re so dismissive of Morocco in such a blasé way,,we sailed to melilla from almeria south of Spain ,,,we stayed in Melilla Spanish territory in Morocco but of of the shengen zone ,for 6 weeks and then we sailed to Marchica / Nador Morocco,,,fantastic marina in a massive lagoon ferries airports ,,we where given 6 months visa with a yacht and another 6 months will be given if we require it ,we are going to be leaving the boat here until July then again for a quick visit to see family in freinds in the uk ,then return again take the boat out of the water in melilla to do the bottom and zincs,we are currently here and it’s only about 4.50 euros a day. For our 30footer
@@judyaslett6209 it just seems strange if people are looking for shenghen strategies then north Morocco is a great idea ....you only mentioned it as being to close to the Atlantic to bother with when for some it would make a great place to visit ....I'm only saying this as I just feel if you're going to talk about shenghen it would of been great to mention the plus sides to possibly staying in Morocco rather than pretty much ignoring ING it ..sorry don't want to sound like I am having a go .just shenghen as you know is a nightmare .and it would of been useful for others to see ,all the other options.
@@nigelwhybrow9257 Thank you, when we get that far west it is certainly a good option. What we are looking at this summer is how to travel to that part of the med from here in 3 months and what we can see on the way. No doubt we will look at Morocco when the time comes.
The truth is that no-one will really know for many years to come. I voted to remain as I have Cypriot residency - but choose to keep my boat in the UK because its too chuffin' 'ot out here in the summer months, plus UK, Irish and northern European waters hold more attraction for my type of cruising. However, constantly complaining about the Brexit result is futile and rather boring; there were far more factors involved than personal convenience.
@@Itsmeagain- I remember London from the 90s and everyone knows what London in the current year looks like. "Av you got loicence for that noife, bruv?" is not something I would have ever heard 30 years ago. In fact, you're lucky if you hear English in London at all these days. Diversity is not a strength.
I love your channel very much. But what make me sad is the constant teeth grinding about the EU and Schengen and it’s Visa rules. It was the democratic choice of Great Britain to vote for Brexit, and nobody can say that the result came by surprise. Any decision has its cost and consequences, and Great Britain thought to have all advantages to leave the EU. During the Brexit Great Britain expected a special smooth treatment for the future with no extra costs, what not happened (again, what a surprise ). To be honest: a lot of reasonable people predicted the problems that now Brits have to face actually being out of the Schengen party. But again, it was the free will expressed by election, and the consequences have now to be taken without any sorrows. It is not the EU that now has to figure out free travel passages for British people. This is now a common problem for British travelers to be foreigners in the Schengen area, and like any other foreign visitor has to deal with it like in the rest of the world. No reason for British to demand AGAIN exceptions and a VIP Schengen Visa treatment. Sometimes it really looks like the British have still the Empire behavior expecting open doors worldwide to all times. These times are definitely over now. Sorry to speak out loud the Brexit headache, and believe me, I am not happy about the Brexit either. The EU had to pay in any meaning as well! Hope to cross your path to invite you to a cool brew on bord of my boat. Mitch
You are right about Brexit of course. 😢. Our view now is that it would help international cruisers like us if we could get a travel visa for the Schengen area. That would mean the Schengen countries working together for the purpose of granting travel visas. It’s just a thought. In any event we just point out how it is not just for us but all those nationals outside Schengen. I am sure we will find other challenges and delights in other countries we visit in future! We try to show the good and the bad and this is only a vlog. A video diary. And it relates to sailing which is a particular way of life. For most people on holiday for instance, a three month visa is plenty. We travel a bit slower than that so if we are asking for”special” treatment at all it is not because we are british but rather because we are sailors. Thank you for your kind words about the channel. We do our best to make it fun to watch 😊❤
Thank you Judy for your kind answer. Please forgive me that I had a moment of unleashing myself about the Brexit and it’s consequences for all of us. Yes I am a sailor myself too, with exactly the same problems when it comes to a visit to Great Britain by boat. Of course Great Britain has not the size of the Schengen area, but you mentioned it: we sailors travel slowly, and we take our time to visit the countries. We sailors from the continent do as well not have the freedom of travel in England any more, what is very often forgotten. But enough of Brexit (one last word: yes it was a bad decision from the British people 😅). Anyway, I feel with you and this huge problems to head direction West and where to stay on this passage. I wish you all the best and hope you will find safe harbors on your way. Do not forget: this is a chance to visit harbors you never would have taken in consideration if you would not have been in the „Schengen-Shuffle“ (I hate that term). Mitch
Butyl tape... this stuff: www.amazon.co.uk/LLPT-Repair-Sealing-Patching-BST343/dp/B08HSY9N76/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=ET27Q181MVP3&keywords=butyl+tape&qid=1679002416&sprefix=butyle+tape%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Please stop calling it a Schengen issue! Call it by its real name: BREXIT! Nobody in Europe forced this on Great Britain, and the laws have been around and Britain wanted those laws too!
It’s only a brexit issue for Brits but schengen is an issue for any 3rd country nationals (like the various people, other than us, that Steve and Judy spoke to in this video) Yes schengen was “self inflicted” on U.K. nationals and our awareness of it has been raised as a result however the schengen struggles are not a Brexit issue for every other nationality that struggles with it. Nothing in this video by FairIsle is complaining about the treatment of Brits by schengen it is simply an issue that is new to Brits but is a problem for many cruisers and has been for years. People’s views on Brexit vary and I suspect there are very few cruisers who voted for it but it has happened and is not likely to change for many years but there are moves afoot among various countries to introduce visa’s that will help 3rd country nationals. Schengen is an issue way beyond brexit I think it’s not useful to narrow it down to a Brexit issue because there are many more nationals than just Brits struggling with it.
@Follow Intrepid Bear It's not a Schengen problem, it's a visa (or visiting) problem. The US has the same 90 day rule. We don't call it "the USA problem" but you have to go to Canada, or Mexico after 90 days. It is a VISA problem. I think all cruisers want more flexible visa rules. If your (or my) government don't arrange flexible travel agreements with other countries, then we should call them out on it. Don't distance you from the problem by calling it their problem. Schengen solves the visa problems for the people within (but only for them). But most important - another nice video thanks
@@andersk1854 fair enough…no offence was intended to Schengen countries…it is what it is and countries or groups of countries can do as they see fit. Indeed let’s call it a visa problem wherever it may occur in the world. For us the Schengen Agreement makes cruising the Med difficult but it’s the choice of the appointed governments, I respect that and I choose to leave the area for now. I will still cruise in Schengen countries but I’ll do so closer to our home country as it suits us better. No offence intended to countries within schengen my main point was that it’s not a Brexit issue unless you’re British, it’s a visa issue for anyone outside schengen and for any 3rd country nationals other than the U.K. the issue was not caused by Brexit. I kind of think we’re agreeing on all but the finer points of terminology 😊⛵️
Hmmm!!! Didn't realize you can apply for a BREXIT visa to extend cruising days in the Schengin area. Lol. Sorry Brits, you are out of it. Brexit and Schengen are mutually exclusive and never the twain to meet. Sorry, you Brits resigned from the club.
Please excuse my ignorance about Schengen, but it appears that UK citizens are being deliberately hampered by this stupid policy. Hope it works out for you. 👍
Oh please! No difference between UK citizens and citizens of any other non-EU country. Do you feel exceptional enough that there should be a difference? Let me know how long I as an EU citizen can stay in the UK on a tourist visa. Yeah, I thought so..
yes thats why we interviewed someone from New Zealand and someone from South Africa. There are many Canadians, Americans and Australians here as well. All suffer from the Schengen rules. What makes us exceptional is we were the only ones stupid enough to inflict it on ourselves when we could see how things were panning out with an ever increasing Schengen zone!
@@svfairisle You should have taken advantage of the relaxed way many EU countries were offering residencies for UK citizens in the period before formal Brexit. Quite a few British liveaboards did it in Greece and, I guess, in other EU countries. It is still doable though.
Thinking about your Schengen complaints, EU citizens encounter similar restrictions for staying in countries like the UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Politics never do a favor to any of us
They should come down for a regatta with the J70's then. Should be interesting, apparently the Meleges have the advantage downwind and the J70's upwind
It's easy just don't visit any place in the med. They start losing enough money offers superyachts and small yachts and all kinds of yacht they'll change this crap.
It would be nice if only people who voted for Brexit were affected by it ... unfortunately, that's not the case. 😞 But it's a self-inflicted wound ... sorry for you guys 😞
Schengen 90-180 rule is insane! My wife and I struggle with this using our house in Portugal. It boggles my mind how both EU and US are so tough on law-abiding people meanwhile illegal immigrants pour across southern boarders.
But if you look at it from the Portuguese perspective you have no family there. You have used a higher income to buy a property in their country raising the local prices. Britain is not paying into the EU anymore. Before 2016 your health costs, pension or even the dole was reciprocal for 5 years. You were of no cost to Portuguese tax payers because Britain paid for you. That was the point. You were going to spend that on the NHS remember? So being a non Dom you pay as much tax as Richi's wife in Portugal. Your quip about Immigrants pouring across your southern borders. Well this would be solved if Steve could apply outside of Britain for this stuff too. You need to go to Britain to do this instead of doing it online like other countries. There is no record of Steve leaving Britain that the UK that British customs cross references, so that is why everyone needs to go in person to Britain at the moment. Including someone seeking asylum
@@fraserwright9482 , Several points to clarify: 1. The issue of no family in Portugal and driving up property prices....yes, that may be an issue; however, it has nothing to do with the "Schengen Shuffle". Property laws and Schengen Rules are two different things and completely independent. No sense conflating the two issues. 2. I am American, not British. So, all the issues regard health costs, pension, etc...don't apply in this situation. I have private health insurance and use private healthcare providers in Portugal. 3. I only mention the issue about illegal immigrants pouring across the southern borders (US and EU) because it seems odd that the 90-180 Rule doesn't apply to them. As a US (or UK) citizen, when I come to Portugal (or anywhere in the Schengen) I must got thru an immigration check point, as it should be. And despite the fact I am contributing taxes by purchasing goods and services, the Schengen Zone is concerned about me staying longer than 90 in 180 days but the same doesn't seem to apply to illegals. It would seem the Portuguese GOV would want me to stay so I'll spend my money and pay 23% VAT. This was my point about Steve's (and other's) "Schengen Shuffle" issue.
@@thepigwillfly5869 But Steve and Judy can't spend more than 90 days in the US either? Fundamentally both the US and Britain have bureaucratic systems for immigration and those living there. Ever try opening a company or registering a car at the DMV in America its crazy. Britain you arrive and they give you a temporary NI number and tell you to come back in 3 Weeks. Their current problem is with getting people processed. Britain opted out of sharing Police details with Europe and that is why they need to go back to Britain. Not because there is a person stepping ashore in Brighton jumping the queue.
This debate seems to have gone off at somewhat of a tangent! Just to make it clear where we stand, I don't think the immigration problem of asylum seekers and economic migrants has anything to do with this. That's not to take away from the fact that it is a massive problem that Europe needs to tackle as a whole. The fact they aren't even trying to do that is probably the most damning thing about Europe as a political entity. It proves the EU is not fit for purpose, I spent years, no decades, covering the migration problem in Calais for the BBC and have seen first hand the contemp Europe has shown for human beings that for whatever reason find themselves there. This should not have been a reason to leave Europe however. The UK can do nothing from outside, we have made ourselves irrelevant. The issue we are facing hear is trivial by comparison, but again if authorities had any sense none of this should be happening. It's nonsense that people of independent means who won't be a burden to a country they visit (only a plus as they will spend money there) are limited in the ways we are at the moment. That problem becomes bigger as the area becomes bigger, which is why the Med is now killing itself. The same would happen to the Caribbean if all the islands formed a union and imposed a 90 day visit rule. So although the two things are very different I do think the fact Europe has completely failed to deal with migration in a unified and dignified way has led to this ridiculous nonsense where countries have become scared, introspective and overly bureaucratic. It's a very dangerous trait in my opinion.
Steve and Judy, you must have been born as the British say, "with your bum in the butter" or you have very deep pockets from some other source. You speak so casually about replacing your entire rigging system, needed or not, as if you bought a new kettle. Are you willing to reveal the total cost, hired labour included?
I would have though going by your name on here that you would understand the costs of sailing a yacht. Rigging is something that needs to be changed every 10 years. Fair Isles rigging is if unknown age (possibly 20 years) and we are crossing an ocean this year so it’s not a debate, it needs changing, we wouldn’t get insurance without doing it for a start. Yes is expensive, it’s wiped out our whole contingency of £10,000 but that’s what it’s there for. We did our best to cut costs by getting a good deal at the Annapolis boat show for the furler. Jade has good connections for rigging to get good prices and of course will make sure you don’t end up with sun standard Chinese wire or something so key to doing this job right. So his costs are very reasonable, he’s actually coming out again next month to do two more boats ( when sailors find someone of Jades standard they want him in their boat!) So no it’s got nothing to do with being rich it’s just something that has to be in the budget, like a haul out every couple of years or diesel for the engine, if you don’t budget for these things as a cruiser you won’t get far!
@@svfairisle Yes I do understand these costs. My boat is 60' LOA, a traditionally rigged schooner. I asked for the benefit of the armchair sailors who think living on, cruising and maintaining a vessel is an inexpensive way of life. Own a vessel long enough and we may actually pay for them twice. Travel safely.
But at least you have your sovereignty, and blue passports. Cant see the small boats coming across the English Channel getting much sympathy under the right of innocent passage. Politics aside, you'll love the Carribbean. Don't waste a whole season in the windward isles, it's all a bit samey, and spendy. Spend your time north of Antigua or West of Grenada, and get over to Colombia and Panama. Heaven. You'll kick yourselves for not having come sooner.
Tony & Susan here, WOW that was a lot in one video. Regards
We like to film a variety of things! Don’t want anyone to get bored….😂
Hi Steve and Judy. Thanks for much for covering Schengen. Judy you said you would cover the subject if you could stop your teeth from grinding and I just want to say you did a good job! I didn’t hear any grinding!! Thanks so much to covering this topic and talking to some other cruisers at the marina. Intrepid Bear didn’t mention Turkey as a non-Schengen country but I think they didn’t want to go that far east. It’s interesting about Malta. I hope in one or two years time there will be a cruisers visa available to make Med cruising less of a muddle. Loved your winter films of sailing and skiing - what a perfect place to spend the winter in the Med in a boat. Great to hear how easy Montenegro make it for 6 months winter stays. Wishing you a great shuffle season of sailing🤞 xx
Rob, our mistake in missing Turkey and some others I daresay! The ole grey cells are not that good when put on the spot! Turkey is a great Schengen escape which many enjoy. You’re right that we changed our minds for various reasons (detailed in a recent video) and are heading back north but it was an oversight if we didn’t mention Turkey. Thanks for picking it up 😊
The new sail looks great. The alterations to the luff tape is a simple fix let us know if you need a hand finding loft close to you.
Thanks guys, I think we will test it as it is, we already have a someone who can change the luff tape if need be but actually I think it will be fine. Thanks for the support.
Schengen defines a very small minority of countries in the world out of approximately 195. The vast majority of sailors are non member countrymen so visas are really the most ordinary thing in the world. Great episode, thanks !
A Schengen visa would be nice. Maybe one day as the zone becomes larger they will implement such a thing and extend the time allowed, that would make all us third party nationals happy
You can’t go wrong with Jade awesome rigger and person to know.
Yes I only hope we don’t wear him out, he’s already been collared by two other boats out here for a full re-rig!
Now I now why I was struggling to get him out to my little boat in Conwy!@@svfairisle
looking forward for the proces of precision sails, but also the rerigging special!
Love the logo on the sail looks great.
My solution to the Schengen issue was to change flag. I re-registered my boat from Swiss flag (= non-EU) to Dutch flag via a NL- based company. The process is carried out online and takes about a week. It solved all problems in the Med. To my knowledge you can do the same by applying for a Belgian or a Polish flag.
Doesn’t solve the issue I’m afraid. Schengen is pertinent to people & has nothing to do with the boat.
@@svfairisle Yes, but VAT has! Especially if your boat has UK flag.
@@silvanocometta9760 yes that’s a completely separate issue. You can have 18 months in any one country without being liable for VAT ( it’s extremely rare to find anyone who has been charged even after this time, my father had his British flagged boat in Mallorca for 35years and was never asked to pay it!) if you are worried though it can be very easily reset by just sailing to another country for a day to give you another 18 months
@svfairisle Yes, I did that, sailing from Northern Italy to Tunisia. I was inspected twice by the authorities in Italy. My papers were OK, so no consequences. I know of (German flag) people, which got their boat conficated in Kroatia, though. In any case, I stopped sailing for health reasons 3 years ago. All the best to you two.
Schengen is not a "sad and sorry tale" it's fantastic for those fortunate enough to be part of it. Troublesome for those who've never been a part of it and a cautionary tale of the hubris of the British.
Know it’s not a political channel but seemed to skirt around elephant in the room fact that we chose to leave in full knowledge this would happen. Made our bed so to speak.
Butyl tape is on my list for when I get my boat - I’ve seen various people in real life and YT raving about it. Including the Wynns fixing broken windows relatively successfully (and their missing life raft locker slightly less successfully) going from Fiji to New Zealand during covid.
Passage options. Bit late but hope you read this.
Plan C:
Jordan, Egypt, Israel, might be a detour. But worth a try. As well, said Tunis is an option. Egypt, Jordan has some farily decent marinas built, recently, As seen in Sailing Zatara and another UA-cam channel. Its about 5-6 days sail from Turkey.
If you opt for the first two, you can spend some time in both countries and indulge the past history, which is quite rich. And recover for a new season in the med, without rushing thru.
As far Malta goes, you ought have preplanned booking for digital nomad visa before entering Schengen/EU, and certain reasons for it.
Plan D: would be cut through directly to Gibraltar and anchor on the UK side, since Gibraltar is divided between UK/Spain, as previously noted. But as said, you missing alot of sights on the way back. And you need to rush to get there in time, I dont think you want to put pressure.
Other option noted in the episode is to head back to montegro/croatia again. Maybe hook up with another YT channel that residing there. Zatara and Sailing Aquarius is in Turkey at the moment. You might want to chat between them, and maybe hook up between, if there is time for it.
But heading back to the UK is an alternative, as you could take a break for 6 weeks, and catch up with family & friends, join and chat with other YT channels. Such as SV Cadoha, SV Melody etc etc.
I rather wouldn't want to rush if I were you. As you said, you got plenty of time until the passage over to the canaries before the atlantic crossing, Who knows, should never plan in detail which I have learned by owning sailboat, things can change quickly. Same principles goes by the weather, as we sailors live by.
So if six weeks in the UK is a good option or those I mention, then its a choice between these.
I know its a hassle due to the Brexit, which ofc is sad. Would have rather seen UK within EU, due to I seen alot of UK resident having alot of issues. Just my opinion.
/fair winds. SV BB / Capt. Magnus.
Yes we considered going further East to Israel last year when we were in Turkey, Cyprus is non Schengen too, even the Greek side so there are options. To be honest though it just makes the job of getting out even harder going East, the Western med had few options. I’m confident we can get through without it being too much of a rush though and if we end up in the Canaries quite early then that’s okay, word is they are much like Malta in not trying to implement Schengen on sailors
Ah that will be great to see you around Sardinia or Balearics!!
Look forward to it. We're relying on you to scout out a good Asian restaurant!
SELL Fair Isle to your daughter, she will want it delivered to the Canaries, so you are employed by her to sail it there, get a ‘Seaman’s Card’ and you’re allowed to stop at Marina’s along the way where you’re allowed to carry out maintenance work on Fair Isle.
Iv found people dont wash the furler out with fresh lightly soapy warm water once in a while , It gets the salt crystals out of the bearings & acts like a lightly oiled lube but mainly keeps things from wearing out , Top bearings rain does the job but the bottom ones needs a rinse, Sail looks great , Nice shape . .
That’s true of the furlers with Delrin type balls they just need a rinse & maybe some ‘one drop’ but I prefer the metal bearings that are open and take an occasional grease.
Looks like you 2 are going to take us on another awesome journey. Got to thank you for that. One question, what are the fluffy strip's or tubes on your rigging? Wind saliencers? Yours is the third yacht I have seen with them. Safe journeys you 2.
They are called Baggy Wrinkles, they stop sail chafe
@@svfairisle thank you. Personally I think they give your boat some elegance. Not that a Hans doesn't have any elegance.
Gulf of Orosei is a must see in Sardinia... It's absolutely amazing so put it in your plans! 😊
Btw, can't wait to see technical video about rigging...
Sounds like we might meet again somewhere along the way? BTW: The golden ticket out would be to get yourself a seamansbook! As such you could be "employee" on your boat and have unlimited shengen time
Yes we are looking into that
See you in the summer
I use butyl tape too - great stuff. I also put some around the threads of the screws
I was trying to work out what that tape was - I must have watched and rewatched that bit of the video about 6 times, trying to catch what it was called! That looks like useful stuff!!
it's this stuff... www.amazon.co.uk/LLPT-Repair-Sealing-Patching-BST343/dp/B08HSY9N76/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=ET27Q181MVP3&keywords=butyl+tape&qid=1679002416&sprefix=butyle+tape%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
I could not do as you do, I feel that the oceans are free passage and I would go where I wished for as long as I wished and only give attention to countries rules if I was to go to land other that than I would be like well come and catch me. I have never been good with obstructive regulations. Sailing is freedom and should be exactly that.
Interesting point. Perhaps Robert Jenrick would be interested in your view on small boats rights to go to land on Britain's south coast. ;-)
@@jansurlykkeschack7955 Ah, now I said freedom while at sea, and those small boats can stay free while at sea but when those in them decide to land they must expect to respect the laws of the land or return to the sea.🙂
Nice video! Congrats on getting a new furler. What a difference! A personal note: I always control the unfurling of the yankee/genoa rather than let the wind take out quickly. That way I don't slam the furler and shorten the time between it being new and being thrown in a dumpster. I'm not saying you don't control it, I'm just saying I've seen people abuse their furlers and it hurts to watch--like watching a parent yell at a child in a grocery store. :)
I liked the racing sequences--great footage, editing, and music. Good thing The Nutcracker is in the public domain!
So what is the best time to cross the Atlantic in a small boat? Are you planning a winter crossing?
I agree re controlling the furler, in fact I’m trying to get a ratchet block at the moment to make sure it always pays out in a controlled way, it’s sometimes difficult to pay out while doing everything else.
We plan the cross in January. A lot of people go before Xmas, the ARC traditionally has, but there is now a later one as well. The trade winds for that trip are usually better after Xmas as well.
Great video as always. it's about time the RYA or some other organisation lobbies the EU for a better visa for cruisers to be able to spend more time in the EU.
The cruising association (with the backing of Sir Robin Knox Johnson) have been lobbying from the start, but don't seem to have got anywhere yet.
I think Gibraltar is part of Schengen.
@@svfairisle, sadly id say, needs a bigger organisation to lobby in conjunction with them. the current arrangement is an unacceptable system.
It is and it isn't. I explain it in the answer to Paul Dickenson
I think we should join the EU.
I love your sail with the logo 🥰
Great info on all the visas, we have researched all these whilst been back in the UK with no luck !
The Schengen has given us such a headache and just so confused on what to when we come back to the boat April 2023 but your plan is helping with throwing about ideas! Great episode ⛵️
I recommend Port Bara in Roda de Bera, west of of Barcelona. We took our boat out and we were able to work on her. You couldn’t sleep on her but there is a really close air BnB. Which worked out perfect for us
Why no luck with the visas? We hope to get a French tourist visa for 12 months which seems a viable option.
@@DaleNewnham the French one we couldn’t get it as we have 2children and to get a French visa we need to have proof that they will attend school as it’s illegal to home educate in france. This is why we couldn’t make Montenegro as to get the 6months residency we would have had to pay for a scholarship for girls to attend school
@@sailingrhumor5707 that make sense, thanks for the explanation! Stopping in North Africa and perhaps Gibraltar seems to be a good way to cruise the western Med so that will be our plan if we can’t get a visa.
You may have problems getting insurance for the boat in Africa, we have.
I would be interested if you could explain more about the Schengen. Have a great season
I think we've gone through every possible permutation in these comments!
My main question is why it exists
Because it's a great idea for the member states, it means easier travel and trade. We travelled through the Med on the way in as part of Schengen (before the UK stopped being a member a year after Brexit) and it was excellent. No checking in anywhere within the zone, made sailing easy and safe as you weren't tied to getting to ports of entry. Now it's just a massive PITA
@@braddobson2060 The Schengen Agreement are the rules that govern the free movement of people within the EU/Schengen Region. It is not much different than the visas that individual countries require for visitors. Many countries are offered a visa free access which allows 90 days within every 180 day period.
@@svfairisle Brexit kinda spoiled it, pity...
OMG...them J70's, what a rapid learning lesson. Fresh Rigging...wow, love to know if Fair Isle likes it. Does assistance to clean your bottom allow invites for a learning passage for arm chair wannabe-sailors...LOL I'm far more senior than you beaut couple, and I'm disappointed I have left I left my retirement dreams to idle away and wasted...so I applaud your lifestyle.👍
Sailing Project Atticus are From USA. They are staying on there yacht in Malta after negotiating a digital monad visa. Worth a try.
We look forward to meeting them!
Ceuta Spain across from Gibraltar is a wonderful place to stop. Specially if you have been to Gibraltar already.
NA not me, i knew there was a catch to the beginning of the episode but still love them.
Let's put it this way, if you are from a Schengen country there is nothing better and easier then travel through Europe. But getting a long stay visa in the Netherlands or France should be possible, if people from the US (World of Towning) and even someone from Haiti (Kika from sailing Uma) is able to get one.
That's a handy episode for us, we're trying to figure out a plan for this year. Was it straightforward for visitors or yourselves flying from the UK to Montenegro?
Yes you can fly to Podgorica very easily and cheaply from lots of UK airports. It about a 90 min drive though. In summer you can get flights th Tivat which is 10 mins from the marina
Steve you talk about the 90 day in 180 days challenge but how do you cope with the VAT on your boat she has been in the med now for several years, we are lucky to have Irish passports and are planning to move our yacht from plymouth to the algarve in June leaving her there for a couple of seasons how do you manage your VAT risk ?
The Schengen zone is just about people. Each country still has its own tax laws so as long as you don't stay in one country for more than 18 months you are not liable for VAT. Even if you do stay longer you would be very unlucky to be pulled up. Also going out of a country for 1 day resets the 18 month limit.
This is not only in the Schengen area. Rather say the worldwide visa disaster: US = 90d, MT = 90d, NO = 90d, BS =90d, AU = 90d, CR = 90d, PA = 90d and so on. Everywhere 90d are not enough.
It'd be nice of the UK was pat of the Schengen area, huh?
Thank God it's not, it would be impossible to cruise the north of Europe without Britain as a safe haven from Schengen.
Just a thought, register your boat in Northern Ireland.. Reg
Schengen has nothing to do with where the boat is flagged it’s just about people. Now if we had some sort of Southern Irish ancestry we might be fine
Angle grinders come with guards for a reason. Opposable thumbs are a considerable benefit, not least to cruisers. A cavalier attitude to health and safety comes at a potentially high price which is worth bearing in mind.
You can't see where you're cutting with the guard on, I've never used a guard for this sort of work.
@@svfairisle and if the blade shatters you'll be wearing it in your face, if you can't make the cut without the guard use a different tool.
Grinder disks aren't glass, they don't shatter. If you hit one with a hammer you will see there are fibers running through it. That's not to say the wise (safe) thing is to always have a guard as a splinter may come off. I always wear glasses but I'm too old and ugly to bother further than that. You can sit there for half an hour with a hack saw if you wish, I will cut it in 5 seconds with an angle grinder!
@@svfairisle one of the main causes of angle grinder accidents is a shattered disc, it happened to me but thankfully with the guard on, still a bit too exciting for me. Maybe the hammer test needs a bigger hammer.
@@svfairisle What I love about cruising is that we're all free to make our own personal risk assessments and then act accordingly. Anyone who really did have a "cavalier attitude to health and safety" would not have managed to navigate so far or achieved so much as you guys. 'Single-Interest Fanatics' who insist that everybody shares their tick-box approach to safety probably wouldn't be my choice of sailing companion... I thought you did a thoroughly good job; more than I would have attempted myself and I look forward to the tech video.
I have a plan to retire in two years and hopefully buy a boat in the Mediterranean and sail for 3-5 years if my body holds up. I know starting this adventure at 67 is not ideal. But to make it financially viable I need two more years of work. The “visa” issue is something I’ve Been researching, I’ve thought about long term visa’s from say Greece because I have no issues meeting their income requirements and total assets on hand. Does anyone know if I have a visa for Greece does that apply for all of the Schengen area or just to Greece?
Best way I have to explain Schengen is that in my youth each European country had its own visa requirements so you could spend a year in Europe as an American by just moving from country to country. Under Schengen all of Europe is essentially one country for visa purposes. And they apply the same rule on us as we do on them which is a visa free entry for 90 days in 180. I have spent my life travelling the world for work and pleasure and have spent 5 years living and working in Australia 🇦🇺. So somewhat familiar with the red tape of visa requirements.
malta start the clock later? how does that work?
From sailors we know that have been there recently, they say the Maltese authorities will not stamp you in if you dont want to use Schengen time. As we are sailing direct from Montenegro, if we don't get stamped into Malta then we can stay there for a month or so and not use Schengen time because that wont start until we check into Italy. The Maltese have cleverly taken the stance that if sailors don't have a ticking schengen clock while they are there they will probably stay longer and spend more money on the island. We will have to see if this actually works for us!
Nice video. I love following your story and also the more technical parts that you are covering.
I can't hear the "Schengen Issue" any more.
With Brexit, UK left the EU and all the citizen proudly became third country nationals. You got what you have choosen.
That your nice Mediterranean sail boat life does not work like this any more, I personally feel sorry for you, but this is a good lesson "in political decisions have consequences". You can hopefully stay in Commonwealth countries longer than 3 months... Bermudas and Behamas to come.
Ooh!! Can we join you on the crossing?
You'ld have to join the queue! there are strangely a lot of people who want to come (we didn't get any offers for Biscay!) We will probably go on our own though.
Schengen was always tied to the freedom of movement rules in the E.U. and the U.K. never signed up to the scheme. Where were you based when "Brexit Day" happened? I was already registered in Spain, to continued with Spanish residency, and now have the TIE bio-metric card for travel. Plus I know the Wilding Sailing couple were in France so he obtained French residency. I wondering if you could retrospectively apply in the country you were in before leaving the E.U.?
It wouldn’t help us, residency comes with all sorts of restrictions and isn’t suitable for cruisers travelling from country to country and not having marina contracts
I have uk and swiss passport and i'm not sure where i stand ,but at 63 years of age, i will do as i please,and the authorities can take a running jump
Even though Gibraltar is British I understand they are in the shengen agreement due to the amount of Spanish that work there .
I was told you could not reset your visa time there.
It would be nice if you can let the viewers know.
Gibraltar is a very grey area. As a British citizen of course you have every right to go there and stay as long as you like. But as they have had to de facto be in Schengen for the thousands of Spanish workers that go in and out every day it's not working as a way to decrease your Schengen days. i.e. if you sail into Gib with one Schengen day left and you then stay there for a couple of months you don't get those days back because the clock stops. So on leaving you will still only have 1 day left! Thats in theory. I think in practice I think I cant see immigration working out the days with a hole in the middle to account for Gib! I may be wrong!!
I'm hearing lots of conflicting views on Gib. Apparently officially it is not in Schengen at the moment, also there are conflicting reports on whether as a Brit you have to be stamped in and out. Now if you dont get stamped in Gib but you did stamp out of the last Schengen country then it doesn't matter if Gib is considered In or out. As far as any subsequent immigration officer can see you were never there, so the time you spent there is effectively out of Schengen so will count as non Schengen days. Clear as mud!
Hi to you both , we sailed from Uk to La Linea then checked out of Spain and entered Gibraltar ; the marina took our docs to customs and we are out of Schengen and EU . Gib is not in Schengen and as long as you check out of Schengen you will stop your clock.
Not totally easy to get a berth but Ocean Village let us in and we stayed 3 months , about to leave this week coming.
I am afraid that is all incorrect , Gibraltar has a very loose agreement in place but are still negotiating a long term plan. We are here now and we talk to custom officers every day , they call into the marina every day just to fuel up and are very helpful ,great place to escape Schengen and reset your clock .
What exactly are you saying is incorrect?
You might not have to sell Fair Isle to your daughter in order for you to sail ! Simply obtain a ‘Seaman’s Card’ !
And the award for the most double entendres in a You Tube episode goes to .......................Sailing Fair Isle.
And we weren't even trying!
Somewhere in the video it was mentioned Schengen stay is 3 months in and 9 months out. That is incorrect. Allowed stay is 90 days in every 180 day period. 6 month stay per year would have been much more convenient for travellers, I believe, without changing the total yearly duration of allowed stay. But, having said that, these things should be reciprocal...
Hi…that was us that said that. What we were saying is that, in effect, in a sailing season/year you end up with 3 months in schengen and 9 months out. This is because by the time you’ve been in for 3 months and out for 3 months the sailing season is done so that you then spend the rest of the winter out. We know it is actually 90 in 90 out, or more precisely 90 days in a rolling 180 day period, but the effect is 90 in the schengen zone during the season then the rest of the year out. Of course you can come back in in the winter once you’ve done 90 out but not many work it that way. Well spotted but we weren’t actually saying that schengen is 3 months in and 9 months out. Hope that clarifies what we were saying? 😊⛵️
In theory yes, but what Kate was saying there is true, it's how it pans out in practice. What happens is you leave whatever non Schengen country you have been overwintering in, say Turkey as we did last year. Then you have 3 months cruising inside the Schengen zone (Greece) and have to get out. Now by the time 90 days are up & you could go back in its nearly winter again so there's no point. So in practice because in the Med you tend to have at least a 5 month marina contract to winter you only get half the summer to cruise!
@@FollowIntrepidBear Ok, you have made clear what you were saying. Many, non liveaboards who choose to leave their boats in Schengen marinas or yards, take advantage of the 90/180 rule to do some boat work during the off season. The definitive solution to all of this for liveaboards is to take up residency in a Schengen/EU country. Different countries have different requirements for this.
@@svfairisle Indeed that is the case. Although if you start cruising in April you can cruise say in Greece until end of June, then avoid the meltemi and head for say Turkey and be back in the islands for October and half of November when sailing is good again. That will give you 4.5 months to overwinter in Turkey again. That works a treat for the Aegean. For the Ionian, as you well know, just replace Turkey with Montenegro. Best solution for someone who wants to stay in the Med unhindered is to take up residency in a Schengen / EU country. Not too hard if you can prove a reasonable income from outside the EU although different countries have different requirements.
@@razisn that’s why we did the whole section with the map. Judy did the research, there is no easy option that we could find. All involved investing in the country you want to use as a base, or at a minimum paying tax there. France has a 6 month tourist extension for Brits but you have to apply in London within 3 months of needing. Basically if you just have your boat in the Med then you could find something workable, probably. For a live aboard cruiser passing through basically it’s such a pain many will just pass through quickly as we are now doing on the way out.
Its fairly easy to get a long term residency in Greece for 16 euros you need to be married have a bank account in Greece and a permeant residential address i.e. a marina a friend of ours in Kos marina has done this but only applies to Greece not the EU
Yes it's the marina contract thats usually the killer. Okay for people keeping a boat there but not for cruisers
Actually the right of inocent passage requires you to make "expeditious passage" through territorial waters so anchoring is technically violating this. Brexit has screwed up alot of things. Going East might be an option (Egypt, Israel but again likely to be politically difficult!)
Tom, it was us who mentioned the right of innocent passage and we used it, admittedly it was not tested by us being intercepted but it does state “Passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or distress or for the purpose of rendering assistance to persons, ships or aircraft in danger or distress”
It may be a complex legal point but I would argue that (and I am ex law enforcement and Kate has a law degree) if we cannot proceed due to unsafe weather or even if we are exhausted making it unsafe to continue then anchoring in a sheltered bay could be considered “incidental to ordinary navigation” Now, I’m not stating this as a fact as I can find no case law but I would suggest that it could be argued that way. I do accept that if you met a particularly harsh border guard you may end up explaining it in court and that was our worry crossing the Med last year with no Schengen time. I’ve also heard many Anecdotal tales of sailors who have been anchored and, on being checked by the authorities, stated they were in transit and were left alone. The key thing is you can’t go ashore but my point here is that there is an anchoring caveat that I’d argue is applicable. We were actually boarded by armed customs officers in Spain but they were only interested in smuggling items or people and didn’t even check our schengen time.
@@FollowIntrepidBear This is super helpful, thank you. Last year Cat Great Circle asked to anchor in Aruba? due to weather and exhaustion, and they were not permitted to stop even though they had no plans to go ashore. While generally it's better to ask permission rather than forgiveness when dealing with legal authorities, is this something you just do, or do you have a conversation with port control every place you anchor for a safety stop.
@@marklong8608 I can only say what we did rather than comment on what’s legal or best. We didn’t ask permission to stop in remote anchorages but were ready to try and explain our position but equally ready to move on if told to move on. As we were not 100% that the authorities would agree with our interpretation of the rules we felt it best not to draw attention to ourselves so we anchored off the beaten track and didn’t call anyone. Please do be aware though that this is just our interpretation of the rules and I do know that it doesn’t work in some of the Balkan states like Croatia and Montenegro where, if you anchor off without checking in they will fine you. I feel they are in breach of the rules doing that but I’d prefer not to find myself in a foreign court to test the theory! Everyone takes their own risk after weighing up the information that they have. We have done a little video on schengen and the right of innocent passage as well as a series of 4, starting from Gibraltar, about our trip across the Med without schengen time. You’d get a bit more flavour of what we did from them 😊 Cheers
Wow, i didn't realize that u Brits had Schengen problems. We Norwegians are not EU members, but we are a part of Schengen.
Yes after Brexit we were hoping we would at least adopt your model, but our politicians are to stupid to do anything constructive!
Great video as always. Nobody appears to have mentioned that the UK was never part of the Schengen agreement prior to Brexit and the 90-day rule was already in place.
My understanding is that the Canaries are part of the Schengen area as well. Although I've been wrong before. 😁
You don't happen to have a Grandfather that was born in Ireland ideally before partition (1920) if you can prove it with a birth certificate you can apply for an EU passport from the Irish government if you do.
Unfortunately my English heritage goes back as far as records began. And you are right about the Canaries which is why we are looking at Morocco as a possible break. It will work out. Usually does
@@judyaslett6209 I have an Irish Grandfather. Born in Belfast but because he was born before 1920 it counts but we can't find his original Birth Certificate which is what you need, they won't accept copies.
So near yet so far.
Yes the Canaries are Spanish and are part of Schengen. Word is though (amongst sailors) that similar to Malta they do not go through your passport and add up Schengen days. Doing so would somewhat shoot themselves in the foot as a lot of sailors go there to cross and might be short of Schengen time. It's far from an ideal situation as no one really knows where they stand but as we are liable to end up in the Canaries with not much Schengen time left we just have to hope the word on the street is right!
Don't forget Cabo Verde is south of the Canaries and Mindelo seems to be a popular destination.
Winded Voyage Sailing ua-cam.com/video/2DQGfa3UF6I/v-deo.html
has been there for at least two years. The authority's attitude seems to be if you can support yourself and you're spending money here you're welcome.
yay brexit!
Too bad it happened after you got "culturally enriched". Now you need a loicence even for a knoife, gov'nah.
@@yarpenzigrin1893 not quite sure what you are trying to say
@@DorsetSaferRoads I'm saying that brexit should have happened 10 years earlier.
@@yarpenzigrin1893 definitely not. It's a complete sh*t show
Why don’t you try any coast of Africa
Cause, neither Libya nor Algeria are places you want to go, I presume? Perhaps Tunesia, but everthing else?
Yes as we mentioned Tunisia is an option we might try. Libya is a no go, Algeria is not recommended and by the time you've got to Morocco you're as good as out (and the main ports are Spanish weirdly!)
Also, yacht insurance companies have exclusions for these countries...
Taking out residency in an EU country is the answer to these problems. This will allow unlimited travel to all of Schengen and EU zone. Different countries have different requirements for residency. It was easy for Brits during the period before the UK formally left the EU. I know of at least 3 sailing channels in youtube run by liveaboard Brits who have picked up Greek residency.
Yes if we had planned to just cruise the Med we would have done that. It's not really viable to just stay here for a couple of years.
Not true, applying and being granted residency within any single Schengen member country only gives you unlimited access to that country, without a EC citizen passport you still have only 90 day access in every 180 days covering all of the other member states.
@@teddyboysdontknit810 I have been told what you're saying is not true by a person who already has residency but I may have the wrong info since I have no personal experience (neither do I need it..). But even if that is true it still solves much of the problem if the residency is in a Med country. What is EC btw lol
@@razisn I am an EU citizen and the issue is clear from a legal perspective. Only EU or EFTA citizens may travel freely throughout Schengen without time restriction. If you have obtained a longer term visa for, say, the Netherlands then Schengen rules apply to you if you leave the Netherlands as they would apply if you entered Schengen from outside Schengen.
It’s intresting ,,I and my wife have lived in Spain many years but don’t have residencia so are now doing the shengen shuffle,,yes brexit is rubbish ,,,anyway I’m suprised you’re so dismissive of Morocco in such a blasé way,,we sailed to melilla from almeria south of Spain ,,,we stayed in Melilla Spanish territory in Morocco but of of the shengen zone ,for 6 weeks and then we sailed to Marchica / Nador Morocco,,,fantastic marina in a massive lagoon ferries airports ,,we where given 6 months visa with a yacht and another 6 months will be given if we require it ,we are going to be leaving the boat here until July then again for a quick visit to see family in freinds in the uk ,then return again take the boat out of the water in melilla to do the bottom and zincs,we are currently here and it’s only about 4.50 euros a day. For our 30footer
Sounds great. We are not dismissive at all just planning the journey from here!
@@judyaslett6209 it just seems strange if people are looking for shenghen strategies then north Morocco is a great idea ....you only mentioned it as being to close to the Atlantic to bother with when for some it would make a great place to visit ....I'm only saying this as I just feel if you're going to talk about shenghen it would of been great to mention the plus sides to possibly staying in Morocco rather than pretty much ignoring ING it ..sorry don't want to sound like I am having a go .just shenghen as you know is a nightmare .and it would of been useful for others to see ,all the other options.
@@nigelwhybrow9257 Thank you, when we get that far west it is certainly a good option. What we are looking at this summer is how to travel to that part of the med from here in 3 months and what we can see on the way. No doubt we will look at Morocco when the time comes.
Brexit, what a masterpiece...!
It's good that it happened, it's a shame it happened 10 years too late to save the British culture.
@@yarpenzigrin1893save british culture? Please explain. Sound like a fairytale used before the election
@@yarpenzigrin1893 well. no. it isnt.
The truth is that no-one will really know for many years to come. I voted to remain as I have Cypriot residency - but choose to keep my boat in the UK because its too chuffin' 'ot out here in the summer months, plus UK, Irish and northern European waters hold more attraction for my type of cruising. However, constantly complaining about the Brexit result is futile and rather boring; there were far more factors involved than personal convenience.
@@Itsmeagain- I remember London from the 90s and everyone knows what London in the current year looks like.
"Av you got loicence for that noife, bruv?" is not something I would have ever heard 30 years ago. In fact, you're lucky if you hear English in London at all these days.
Diversity is not a strength.
I love your channel very much. But what make me sad is the constant teeth grinding about the EU and Schengen and it’s Visa rules. It was the democratic choice of Great Britain to vote for Brexit, and nobody can say that the result came by surprise. Any decision has its cost and consequences, and Great Britain thought to have all advantages to leave the EU. During the Brexit Great Britain expected a special smooth treatment for the future with no extra costs, what not happened (again, what a surprise ). To be honest: a lot of reasonable people predicted the problems that now Brits have to face actually being out of the Schengen party. But again, it was the free will expressed by election, and the consequences have now to be taken without any sorrows. It is not the EU that now has to figure out free travel passages for British people. This is now a common problem for British travelers to be foreigners in the Schengen area, and like any other foreign visitor has to deal with it like in the rest of the world. No reason for British to demand AGAIN exceptions and a VIP Schengen Visa treatment. Sometimes it really looks like the British have still the Empire behavior expecting open doors worldwide to all times. These times are definitely over now. Sorry to speak out loud the Brexit headache, and believe me, I am not happy about the Brexit either. The EU had to pay in any meaning as well! Hope to cross your path to invite you to a cool brew on bord of my boat. Mitch
You are right about Brexit of course. 😢. Our view now is that it would help international cruisers like us if we could get a travel visa for the Schengen area. That would mean the Schengen countries working together for the purpose of granting travel visas. It’s just a thought. In any event we just point out how it is not just for us but all those nationals outside Schengen. I am sure we will find other challenges and delights in other countries we visit in future! We try to show the good and the bad and this is only a vlog. A video diary. And it relates to sailing which is a particular way of life. For most people on holiday for instance, a three month visa is plenty. We travel a bit slower than that so if we are asking for”special” treatment at all it is not because we are british but rather because we are sailors. Thank you for your kind words about the channel. We do our best to make it fun to watch 😊❤
Thank you Judy for your kind answer. Please forgive me that I had a moment of unleashing myself about the Brexit and it’s consequences for all of us. Yes I am a sailor myself too, with exactly the same problems when it comes to a visit to Great Britain by boat. Of course Great Britain has not the size of the Schengen area, but you mentioned it: we sailors travel slowly, and we take our time to visit the countries. We sailors from the continent do as well not have the freedom of travel in England any more, what is very often forgotten. But enough of Brexit (one last word: yes it was a bad decision from the British people 😅). Anyway, I feel with you and this huge problems to head direction West and where to stay on this passage.
I wish you all the best and hope you will find safe harbors on your way. Do not forget: this is a chance to visit harbors you never would have taken in consideration if you would not have been in the „Schengen-Shuffle“ (I hate that term). Mitch
@@kruzweg3860 Yet the UK permits EU cruisers to remain for 6 months......
Schengen doesn't exclude British alone. it excludes citizens from over a 150 countries so let's stop making it a Brit thing.
bultar tape ???
Butyl tape... this stuff: www.amazon.co.uk/LLPT-Repair-Sealing-Patching-BST343/dp/B08HSY9N76/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=ET27Q181MVP3&keywords=butyl+tape&qid=1679002416&sprefix=butyle+tape%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Do you not have a connection for an Irish passport?
Sadly not, English from the doomsday book , although I (Steve )have a Maltese connection which might be helpful.
Please stop calling it a Schengen issue! Call it by its real name: BREXIT! Nobody in Europe forced this on Great Britain, and the laws have been around and Britain wanted those laws too!
It’s only a brexit issue for Brits but schengen is an issue for any 3rd country nationals (like the various people, other than us, that Steve and Judy spoke to in this video) Yes schengen was “self inflicted” on U.K. nationals and our awareness of it has been raised as a result however the schengen struggles are not a Brexit issue for every other nationality that struggles with it. Nothing in this video by FairIsle is complaining about the treatment of Brits by schengen it is simply an issue that is new to Brits but is a problem for many cruisers and has been for years. People’s views on Brexit vary and I suspect there are very few cruisers who voted for it but it has happened and is not likely to change for many years but there are moves afoot among various countries to introduce visa’s that will help 3rd country nationals. Schengen is an issue way beyond brexit I think it’s not useful to narrow it down to a Brexit issue because there are many more nationals than just Brits struggling with it.
Totally agree with that!
@Follow Intrepid Bear It's not a Schengen problem, it's a visa (or visiting) problem. The US has the same 90 day rule. We don't call it "the USA problem" but you have to go to Canada, or Mexico after 90 days. It is a VISA problem.
I think all cruisers want more flexible visa rules. If your (or my) government don't arrange flexible travel agreements with other countries, then we should call them out on it. Don't distance you from the problem by calling it their problem.
Schengen solves the visa problems for the people within (but only for them).
But most important - another nice video thanks
@@andersk1854 fair enough…no offence was intended to Schengen countries…it is what it is and countries or groups of countries can do as they see fit. Indeed let’s call it a visa problem wherever it may occur in the world. For us the Schengen Agreement makes cruising the Med difficult but it’s the choice of the appointed governments, I respect that and I choose to leave the area for now. I will still cruise in Schengen countries but I’ll do so closer to our home country as it suits us better. No offence intended to countries within schengen my main point was that it’s not a Brexit issue unless you’re British, it’s a visa issue for anyone outside schengen and for any 3rd country nationals other than the U.K. the issue was not caused by Brexit. I kind of think we’re agreeing on all but the finer points of terminology 😊⛵️
Hmmm!!! Didn't realize you can apply for a BREXIT visa to extend cruising days in the Schengin area. Lol. Sorry Brits, you are out of it. Brexit and Schengen are mutually exclusive and never the twain to meet. Sorry, you Brits resigned from the club.
Please excuse my ignorance about Schengen, but it appears that UK citizens are being deliberately hampered by this stupid policy. Hope it works out for you. 👍
Oh please! No difference between UK citizens and citizens of any other non-EU country. Do you feel exceptional enough that there should be a difference? Let me know how long I as an EU citizen can stay in the UK on a tourist visa. Yeah, I thought so..
It is the same for any non EU citizen. The UK is only recently out because of BREXIT. 😢
yes thats why we interviewed someone from New Zealand and someone from South Africa. There are many Canadians, Americans and Australians here as well. All suffer from the Schengen rules. What makes us exceptional is we were the only ones stupid enough to inflict it on ourselves when we could see how things were panning out with an ever increasing Schengen zone!
@@svfairisle You should have taken advantage of the relaxed way many EU countries were offering residencies for UK citizens in the period before formal Brexit. Quite a few British liveaboards did it in Greece and, I guess, in other EU countries. It is still doable though.
@@razisn no country offers “relaxed residency” as a none EU member the ability to gain residency is difficult and sometimes very expensive.
Thinking about your Schengen complaints, EU citizens encounter similar restrictions for staying in countries like the UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
Politics never do a favor to any of us
The race boats are melges……
No these were J70's, built in Bristol. We don't get many Melges over here, I think they are more common in the US
@@svfairisle There's a fleet of about 25 Melges 24 boats in Croatia used in national championship. Strongest regattas in Croatia at this moment.
They should come down for a regatta with the J70's then. Should be interesting, apparently the Meleges have the advantage downwind and the J70's upwind
Once again thanks to brexit, what a pain
It's easy just don't visit any place in the med. They start losing enough money offers superyachts and small yachts and all kinds of yacht they'll change this crap.
Good riddance to you!
It would be nice if only people who voted for Brexit were affected by it ... unfortunately, that's not the case. 😞 But it's a self-inflicted wound ... sorry for you guys 😞
???why do you need to prove you have to have an income?
Yes you need to prove you have an income for the digital nomad visa and tax becomes complicated
@@svfairisle good grief m can we not just sail around the world without all of this complicated nonsense? Lol
Schengen 90-180 rule is insane! My wife and I struggle with this using our house in Portugal. It boggles my mind how both EU and US are so tough on law-abiding people meanwhile illegal immigrants pour across southern boarders.
Well, it seems that the pig will not fly😂
But if you look at it from the Portuguese perspective you have no family there. You have used a higher income to buy a property in their country raising the local prices. Britain is not paying into the EU anymore. Before 2016 your health costs, pension or even the dole was reciprocal for 5 years. You were of no cost to Portuguese tax payers because Britain paid for you. That was the point. You were going to spend that on the NHS remember? So being a non Dom you pay as much tax as Richi's wife in Portugal. Your quip about Immigrants pouring across your southern borders. Well this would be solved if Steve could apply outside of Britain for this stuff too. You need to go to Britain to do this instead of doing it online like other countries. There is no record of Steve leaving Britain that the UK that British customs cross references, so that is why everyone needs to go in person to Britain at the moment. Including someone seeking asylum
@@fraserwright9482 , Several points to clarify:
1. The issue of no family in Portugal and driving up property prices....yes, that may be an issue; however, it has nothing to do with the "Schengen Shuffle". Property laws and Schengen Rules are two different things and completely independent. No sense conflating the two issues.
2. I am American, not British. So, all the issues regard health costs, pension, etc...don't apply in this situation. I have private health insurance and use private healthcare providers in Portugal.
3. I only mention the issue about illegal immigrants pouring across the southern borders (US and EU) because it seems odd that the 90-180 Rule doesn't apply to them. As a US (or UK) citizen, when I come to Portugal (or anywhere in the Schengen) I must got thru an immigration check point, as it should be. And despite the fact I am contributing taxes by purchasing goods and services, the Schengen Zone is concerned about me staying longer than 90 in 180 days but the same doesn't seem to apply to illegals. It would seem the Portuguese GOV would want me to stay so I'll spend my money and pay 23% VAT. This was my point about Steve's (and other's) "Schengen Shuffle" issue.
@@thepigwillfly5869 But Steve and Judy can't spend more than 90 days in the US either? Fundamentally both the US and Britain have bureaucratic systems for immigration and those living there. Ever try opening a company or registering a car at the DMV in America its crazy. Britain you arrive and they give you a temporary NI number and tell you to come back in 3 Weeks. Their current problem is with getting people processed. Britain opted out of sharing Police details with Europe and that is why they need to go back to Britain. Not because there is a person stepping ashore in Brighton jumping the queue.
This debate seems to have gone off at somewhat of a tangent! Just to make it clear where we stand, I don't think the immigration problem of asylum seekers and economic migrants has anything to do with this. That's not to take away from the fact that it is a massive problem that Europe needs to tackle as a whole. The fact they aren't even trying to do that is probably the most damning thing about Europe as a political entity. It proves the EU is not fit for purpose, I spent years, no decades, covering the migration problem in Calais for the BBC and have seen first hand the contemp Europe has shown for human beings that for whatever reason find themselves there. This should not have been a reason to leave Europe however. The UK can do nothing from outside, we have made ourselves irrelevant. The issue we are facing hear is trivial by comparison, but again if authorities had any sense none of this should be happening. It's nonsense that people of independent means who won't be a burden to a country they visit (only a plus as they will spend money there) are limited in the ways we are at the moment. That problem becomes bigger as the area becomes bigger, which is why the Med is now killing itself. The same would happen to the Caribbean if all the islands formed a union and imposed a 90 day visit rule. So although the two things are very different I do think the fact Europe has completely failed to deal with migration in a unified and dignified way has led to this ridiculous nonsense where countries have become scared, introspective and overly bureaucratic. It's a very dangerous trait in my opinion.
Steve and Judy, you must have been born as the British say, "with your bum in the butter" or you have very deep pockets from some other source. You speak so casually about replacing your entire rigging system, needed or not, as if you bought a new kettle. Are you willing to reveal the total cost, hired labour included?
I would have though going by your name on here that you would understand the costs of sailing a yacht. Rigging is something that needs to be changed every 10 years. Fair Isles rigging is if unknown age (possibly 20 years) and we are crossing an ocean this year so it’s not a debate, it needs changing, we wouldn’t get insurance without doing it for a start. Yes is expensive, it’s wiped out our whole contingency of £10,000 but that’s what it’s there for. We did our best to cut costs by getting a good deal at the Annapolis boat show for the furler. Jade has good connections for rigging to get good prices and of course will make sure you don’t end up with sun standard Chinese wire or something so key to doing this job right. So his costs are very reasonable, he’s actually coming out again next month to do two more boats ( when sailors find someone of Jades standard they want him in their boat!) So no it’s got nothing to do with being rich it’s just something that has to be in the budget, like a haul out every couple of years or diesel for the engine, if you don’t budget for these things as a cruiser you won’t get far!
@@svfairisle Yes I do understand these costs. My boat is 60' LOA, a traditionally rigged schooner. I asked for the benefit of the armchair sailors who think living on, cruising and maintaining a vessel is an inexpensive way of life. Own a vessel long enough and we may actually pay for them twice. Travel safely.
But at least you have your sovereignty, and blue passports.
Cant see the small boats coming across the English Channel getting much sympathy under the right of innocent passage.
Politics aside, you'll love the Carribbean. Don't waste a whole season in the windward isles, it's all a bit samey, and spendy. Spend your time north of Antigua or West of Grenada, and get over to Colombia and Panama. Heaven. You'll kick yourselves for not having come sooner.
We are looking forward to visiting that part of the world for sure
Brexit !