Sir Robin leads Euro visa campaign
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is leading a Cruising Association (CA) campaign to reduce the impact of Brexit on British small boat cruisers wishing to voyage extensively in European waters, including inland waterways.
An estimated 30,000 British sailors keep their boats within European Union (EU) waters, but British citizens are no longer EU nationals, so are now subject to ‘third country’ rules. That means British citizens can currently only visit Schengen Area Member States within the EU for 90 days in every 180-day period.
The Schengen Agreement covers 27 member countries including many popular cruising grounds such as Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Not all EU countries are signatories to the Schengen Agreement.
One way to stay longer in Europe is to make use of the countries that are not part of the Schengen Agreement, such as Croatia, which many have dubbed the ‘Schengen shuffle’.
The 90/180 day rule means that if, for example, you travel out to your boat on 1 May you can use it for up to 90 days – until 30 July. You must then leave all the countries in the Schengen zone and you cannot return until 180 days from 1 May, ie 28 October. This effectively rules out extended cruising within Schengen. Overstaying can incur severe fines. Meanwhile, European sailors can visit the UK for six months visa free.
The CA is seeking bilateral visas allowing British citizens up to 180 days in the other country: the same right that their citizens would enjoy if visiting the UK.
The 180-day visa would be entirely separate from the 90-day in 180-day allowance which the British, as ’third country citizens’ already have as a right when travelling to Schengen area countries. This would allow a UK cruising sailor to spend up to 180 days cruising in a single country, and, if they chose, to use some of their 90 Schengen days to visit other Schengen countries as part of that year’s cruising.
The CA has previously tried to engage with MPs and Ministers, but thus far, and with the COVID-19 pandemic taking priority, there has been little will to address the problem in the corridors of Westminster.
EU rules allow individual EU countries to issue long-term visas and a report that the Government is now considering addressing the problems for professional musicians is encouraging. The CA is making the case that any solution should cover extended amateur sporting tours including sailing and motor boat cruising.
In a letter from the CA’s Patron, Sir Robin KnoxJohnston, addressed to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, Sir Robin writes: ‘We are delighted to welcome visiting EU yachtsmen but we want equality. This is not what we expected from Brexit. It is unfair and resented and it particularly affects the 30,000 British sailors who currently keep their boats within EU waters.’
Sir Robin, who made history as the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world, signs off with this request: ‘Could I ask on behalf of all British sailors that while seeking to resolve the difficulties now facing touring musicians, your working group also recognises the needs of amateur sportsmen and specifically our small boat sailors voyaging on Schengen’s waters, for whom the 90-day limitation is an existential threat to our maritime culture.’
CA president Julian Dussek said: “While we can’t be certain this approach will succeed we’re also directly approaching key cruising countries to seek 180-day cruising visas for members.
“In parallel, our members will contact marinas, harbour authorities and marine service businesses requesting that they speak directly to their local politicians on the CA’s behalf.”
To find out more visit theca. org.uk/180-day-campaign
Sir Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team has been knocked out of the Prada Cup final by their Italian rivals in light-wind conditions.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli won the Series 7-1 over Ainslie’s INEOS Team UK.
At the time of going to press, the Italian team was preparing to compete in the 36th America’s Cup Match, against the defender Emirates Team New Zealand – as happened 20 years ago on the Hauraki Gulf, vying for the oldest trophy in international sport.
Speaking after the Prada Cup Challenger Selection Series, winning co-helmsman Jimmy Spithill said: “We kept the mistakes down, stayed calm, made good decisions and the boat did the job.”
Co-helm Francesco Bruni was less reserved: “Fantastico!”
Sir Ben, INEOS Team UK Skipper and Team Principal, was gracious in defeat. He said: “Congratulations to the team, to Jimmy [Spithill], Cecco [Francesco Bruni] and all the boys, they sailed brilliantly and deserve to take the final.”
Ainslie continued: “Of course, we are disappointed, but I could not be prouder of the team and how they have dealt with the challenges we have faced over the past four years”
He added: “Every single person in this team worked incredibly hard to turn things around from where we were before Christmas to make the Prada Cup Final and I’m really proud of that.
“Now we need to go back and analyse where we didn’t get it quite right. You look at Luna Rossa and Team New Zealand and they have been in this game 20 and 30 years respectively. That learning and development is key.”
A retired businessman is halfway through an odyssey to circumnavigate Britain and meet every Harbour Master along the way.
In 2020, Mark Ashley-Miller sailed his 34ft Nauticat 331 Good Dog from Oban to Skye via Mull; the length of the Outer Hebrides including an overnight anchorage at St Kilda; a passage to Orkney via a bouncy Cape Wrath, on to Shetland via Fair Isle and over the north of Great Britain past Muckle Flugga lighthouse; then from Wick south to Lossiemouth, through the Caledonian Canal to Ardfern.
Ashley-Miller said: “As we left Loch Craignish in mid July, with Good Dog freshly serviced by Ardfern Yacht Centre, much of the country was still in lockdown. I had no idea I’d end up sailing over 2,000 miles, visiting famous anchorages and meeting 32 new harbour masters in just three months.”
The challenge has so far raised £5,875 for Seafarers UK at bit.ly/HM_challenge.
This year Ashley-Miller will be sailing from Lossiemouth to London and is seeking crew. Follow Mark on Instagram @ harbourmastersailingchallenge or email markashleymiller@ gmail.com