Taking Your Boat to France: A Calm, Practical Guide to Extending Your Cruising Ground
Thinking about stretching your legs beyond the Solent or the West Country? A hop to France is the classic next step. Here’s the clean, current checklist: the documents to carry, how to report when you leave the UK, where and how to clear into France, what to know about fuel and waste-water rules, and the little inland-waterway extras if you fancy the rivers and canals.
What to carry on board (people + boat)
- Boat docs: UK registration (SSR/Part I), proof of ownership, ship radio licence, insurance, and any VAT/Union-status evidence you hold. Keep printed and digital copies handy. [1]
- Skipper/crew: passports, evidence of competence (carry what you have), VHF SRC (operator certificate) plus the ship’s licence/MMSI, GHIC, and travel/medical insurance. For French coastal waters there’s no formal qualification requirement for small UK boats (<24 m), but carrying certificates smooths conversations. [1]
Before you cast off: report your UK departure
Leaving the UK by private boat? You must submit a Pleasure Craft Report (sPCR) with your voyage, people and goods on board. Do it online (ideally 2–24 hours before departure) and keep the confirmation handy. [2]
Arriving in France: two ways to clear in (PPF vs authorised marinas)
Option A — PPF (official border crossing point): Sail directly to a Port de Passage Frontalier, present passports and boat papers to Police aux Frontières/Douane, and get entry stamps. If you enter via a PPF, plan to exit via a PPF so stamps match. Check opening hours and locations (sometimes a stroll from the berths). [1]
Option B — Authorised non-PPF marinas: Many French marinas can process arrivals from outside Schengen by forwarding your emailed border control declaration to their associated PPF. You usually email the form before arrival (often 24 h or on the day), then berth as directed. Procedures and timing vary—always confirm with your chosen marina in advance. [1]
Tip: If any crew plans to return home by ferry/air/rail, they may need a passport stamp for onward travel. Either arrive/depart via a PPF, or visit the associated PPF office to get stamps before they leave your boat. [1]
Q flag, ensigns and etiquette
Fly the Red Ensign and hoist the French courtesy flag at the starboard spreader in territorial waters. The RYA’s general guidance covers courtesy and Q flags; follow any instructions in your destination marina’s arrival notes. [3] [1]
Customs status: Temporary Admission, Union goods & fuel
- Temporary Admission (TA): UK-resident, UK-flagged boats visiting the EU normally enter under TA for relief from import duty for up to 18 months. Keep proof you’re established outside the EU and re-export on time. If your boat retains EU “Union status”, Returned Goods Relief rules may apply—see the Europe overview. [5]
- Fuel: France does not permit marked (red) diesel for propulsion. Plan to buy white diesel in France and keep receipts tidy. [1]
Waste-water & harbour rules
No discharging in ports and within 3 nm of the coast; use pump-out where available. Some river ports require holding tanks or treatment systems for access. Local penalties for pollution can be significant—check marina rules on arrival. [1]
Choosing your first landfall
Classic Channel landfalls include Cherbourg, St-Vaast-la-Hougue, Dieppe, Boulogne, Dunkerque and Calais. Many Channel marinas now operate the declaration by email process (non-PPF). Download the current form from the marina site, send it in their window, and keep a copy aboard. Prefer passport stamps? Route via a PPF instead. [1]
Inland waterways extras (optional but handy)
- ICC + CEVNI: For French inland waters, carry an ICC with CEVNI endorsement (it’s the waterways’ “rules of the road”). [1]
- ATIS VHF: Inland VHF sets must be ATIS-enabled under RAINWAT; observe local channel usage. [1]
- Vignettes & info: Voies Navigables de France (VNF) handles vignettes and publishes condition updates via its apps/site. [1]
Schengen timing & what’s changing with EES
As tourists, UK skippers/crew have up to 90 days in any 180 across Schengen—track your days. The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is scheduled to start rolling out in October 2025, replacing passport stamps with biometric registration at first entry. Expect phased introduction at ports; until then, stamps or marina declarations remain the record of your stay. Check for updates before you sail. [3] [4]
Coming home: tidy exit and UK arrival
Leaving France, follow the same route you arrived by (PPF → stamped exit; authorised marina → emailed exit declaration). On return to UK waters, hoist Q and complete your arrival using sPCR; follow any instructions from Border Force/National Yachtline. [1] [3] [2]
Quick plan: your first Channel hop, step-by-step
- Two weeks out: confirm insurance cruising area; pick a marina and download its border form; check crew passports. Book a berth if required. [1]
- 48–24 h: lock in a weather window (two sources + text forecast); plan a slack-tide arrival. Use your Weather and Passage Planning & Making modules for a template flow.
- 24–2 h before departure: submit your sPCR; email the French form if using a non-PPF marina. [2] [1]
- Underway: fly the courtesy flag in French waters; follow the marina’s instructions on arrival. [3] [1]
- Before returning: file the French exit (form or stamps), then submit your UK sPCR for the home leg. [1] [2]
Helpful modules & downloads
Shipping Forecast Sea Areas
UK Inshore Waters Forecast
Passage Plan Template
Enrol when you’re ready
- Start Day Skipper Theory (online)
- Enrol in Essential Navigation & Seamanship (online)
- Join the free Sailing Essentials course
Related RYA courses (overview & providers)
Further reading & official guidance
- RYA country advice: France (formalities, PPF vs authorised marinas, fuel & waste rules) ↩ back to top
- GOV.UK — Submit a pleasure craft report (sPCR): guidance & service access ↩ back to top
- RYA — Entry & exit formalities for UK yachts (general overview) ↩ back to top
- EU — Entry/Exit System (EES) official information ↩ back to top
- RYA — Cruising in Europe (Temporary Admission, VAT/Union status basics) ↩ back to top
Pick a friendly tide, keep the paperwork neat, and choose a harbour that matches your plan. The sea doesn’t care about borders — but officials do. A tiny bit of admin buys you a big, blue cruising ground.
