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Clearing Customs (US & Canada) in San Juan Islands.

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Josh Assing

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May 25, 2003, 2:05:38 PM5/25/03
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Having never done it; I would like advise from those that have on
A) Places to clear customs when going from US to Canada & back.
B) "gotchas"

As I understand it...

You fly your Q flag when approaching on starboard spreader.
Either hail customs on VHF (channel?) or dock & only the SKIPPER leaves the boat
to request clearance.
Once cleared, replace Q with the host countries flag (Canada)
drop flag when leaving Canadian waters.

Thanks for advice & tips...
-josh

Armond Perretta

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May 25, 2003, 2:35:45 PM5/25/03
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Josh Assing wrote:
> ... I would like advise from those that have on

> A) Places to clear customs when going from US to Canada & back.

You don't say which coast or body of water (e.g., Great Lakes) you are
interested in, so there may be regional differences in procedure. In
Atlantic Canada, there are only a few "authorized" stations and these are
listed on the appropriate web site. The Nova Scotia information is
available at

http://www.checkinnovascotia.com/Public/main/hoteliers.asp

In recent years the Canadian authorities have reduced the number of
"authorized" locations and tightened up somewhat on procedures. Last summer
was the first time in 4 cruises to Nova Scotia that I have actually had to
go through something of a thorough search and fill out many forms, even
though I am on file as a "regular visitor."


> B) "gotchas"

Don't bother with guns or prohibited or limited substances, and stick to the
facts. You will not regret it.

> You fly your Q flag when approaching on starboard spreader.
> Either hail customs on VHF (channel?) or dock & only the SKIPPER
> leaves the boat to request clearance.

Nowadays cell phones have pretty much replaced VHF for this procedure, at
least in Atlantic Canada. In some cases you can avail yourself of the
services of a local yacht club, as they can usually smooth things a bit and
notify the authorities a bit in advance.

> Once cleared, replace Q with the host countries flag (Canada)
> drop flag when leaving Canadian waters.

Your flag etiquette is fine. Some folks fly "Q" and the courtesy flag
together on entry, but my thinking is that this is slightly in error. In
times past it was definitely lubberly to fly more than one flag on a single
hoist.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.tripod.com


Tom Dacon

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May 25, 2003, 8:06:36 PM5/25/03
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I just cleared back into the US at Friday Harbor a couple of weeks ago from
Vancouver, B.C. The procedure at Friday Harbor is that you come in and tie
up to the middle section of Breakwater Dock B (the middle breakwater dock).
That section of the dock is painted red and says "U.S. Customs". It's easy
to spot. There's a small customs building there, but it wasn't manned at the
time. There was a notice in the window telling arrivals to go to the customs
office below the yacht club. You (the skipper only) go up the dock past the
marina office building and turn right. A couple of hundred feet on is the
customs office. Bring your boat registration or documentation, and passports
for yourself and each of your crew. If you've not cleared in previously
during the calendar year, they'll charge you $25 and give you a customs
sticker to put on the boat.

This was during normal business hours. I don't know what the procedure would
be if you arrived outside of office hours. I also can't help you with
clearing into Canada. My boat arrived on a ship and was cleared into Canada
by the ship's agent.

Tom Dacon

"Josh Assing" <jo...@jassing.com> wrote in message
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jps

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May 26, 2003, 1:23:11 AM5/26/03
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See answers below:

"Josh Assing" <jo...@jassing.com> wrote in message
news:ga12dv0pudcnaqah1...@4ax.com...

> Having never done it; I would like advise from those that have on
> A) Places to clear customs when going from US to Canada & back.

Depends on your route. Popular spots to clear Canadian customs from the San
Juan/Gulf Islands are Victoria Harbor, Sidney, South Pender Island. You
should carry legal ID for all passengers. If you've got kids with you it's
wise to take birth certificates.

Popular American customs spots are on San Juan Island at Friday Harbor or
Roche Harbor. Also in Port Townsend, Anacortes and, if you're on a straight
shot, in Seattle (at Shilshole?).

> B) "gotchas"

Getting there after hours. You'll have to wait until the next day and,
according to law, only the Captain may leave the boat (I admit to violating
this in order to get my family fed. The penalty would've been far more
severe than anything customs would've done to me). Customs hours depend on
the day of the week so I'd call ahead to confirm or pay for your US customs
sticker ($25) in advance (call them and get it mailed to you). That may
allow you to clear by phone.

Fruits and vegetables. Prescription drugs should be in their original
containers. And the latest... mad cow burgers. They're also a little
sensitive to Canadian pot or lumber coming over. It's very unlikely that
they'll inspect the vessel but it's good to know when they ask the
questions, you can answer them with a straight face.

> As I understand it...
>
> You fly your Q flag when approaching on starboard spreader.
> Either hail customs on VHF (channel?) or dock & only the SKIPPER leaves
the boat
> to request clearance.
> Once cleared, replace Q with the host countries flag (Canada)
> drop flag when leaving Canadian waters.

Others can advise on this. Sounds darned formal. We're pretty laid back
out here... I fly the Canadian flag off the stern when in Canadian waters
and the US flag otherwise. I'm probably violating the law...again.

I'd write more but the Admiral says "start the move now or wait until
tomorrow." That usually means several days pass with late fees accruing.
Feel free to ask more questions. Hope this is helpful.

jps


jps

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May 26, 2003, 11:20:52 AM5/26/03
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"jps" <tr...@thedump.com> wrote in message
news:vd399o...@corp.supernews.com...

> I'd write more but the Admiral says "start the move now or wait until
> tomorrow." That usually means several days pass with late fees accruing.
> Feel free to ask more questions. Hope this is helpful.
>
> jps

That should've been movie. Sorry to mislead you.

jps


Louise

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May 26, 2003, 9:17:52 PM5/26/03
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In article <vd399o...@corp.supernews.com>, "jps"
<tr...@thedump.com> wrote:

>See answers below:
>
>"Josh Assing" <jo...@jassing.com> wrote in message
>news:ga12dv0pudcnaqah1...@4ax.com...

>> You fly your Q flag when approaching on starboard spreader.


>> Either hail customs on VHF (channel?) or dock & only the SKIPPER leaves
>the boat
>> to request clearance.
>> Once cleared, replace Q with the host countries flag (Canada)
>> drop flag when leaving Canadian waters.
>
>Others can advise on this. Sounds darned formal. We're pretty laid back
>out here... I fly the Canadian flag off the stern when in Canadian waters
>and the US flag otherwise. I'm probably violating the law...again.

We're on a Canadian vessel in the St Lawrence River. We fly the
Canadian flag off the stern all the time in daylight (except when we
can't find the little one and the big one blows in the helm's face, or
some other reason). When we go to the US, we fly the US courtesy flag
from the spreader after we've been cleared in by Customs and
Immigration, and we leave it up until after we've cleared back into
Canada (that helps to make it obvious to people at the marina that we
can't move or leave the boat while our skipper makes the phone call.)

Louise

Peter Bennett

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May 27, 2003, 2:16:08 AM5/27/03
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On Sun, 25 May 2003 22:23:11 -0700, "jps" <tr...@thedump.com> wrote:


>Others can advise on this. Sounds darned formal. We're pretty laid back
>out here... I fly the Canadian flag off the stern when in Canadian waters
>and the US flag otherwise. I'm probably violating the law...again.

You _only_ fly your own national ensign from the stern. When in
another country, you _still_ fly your own ensign from the stern, but
also fly the host country's ensign from the starboard spreader, as a
"courtesy flag".

--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

jps

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May 27, 2003, 3:15:04 AM5/27/03
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"Peter Bennett" <pet...@interchange.ubc.ca> wrote in message
news:klt5dv8v3d149at2c...@news.supernews.com...

> On Sun, 25 May 2003 22:23:11 -0700, "jps" <tr...@thedump.com> wrote:
>
>
> >Others can advise on this. Sounds darned formal. We're pretty laid back
> >out here... I fly the Canadian flag off the stern when in Canadian
waters
> >and the US flag otherwise. I'm probably violating the law...again.
>
> You _only_ fly your own national ensign from the stern. When in
> another country, you _still_ fly your own ensign from the stern, but
> also fly the host country's ensign from the starboard spreader, as a
> "courtesy flag".

Thanks Peter. I knew this awhile back. I don't think I've *really* flown
the Canadian flag from the stern since I purchased the boat from its former,
lovely, Canadian owner several years ago. I do keep it folded neatly in the
salon for eventual use. BTW, I don't think it's kosher to fly an American
Ensign (thirteen striped with a white fouled anchor surrounded by thirteen
stars) in foreign waters, just the stars and stripes (but that may depend on
whether the vessel is registered, ours is not). I take it you're referring
to the country's flag when you say ensign...sorry, don't mean to be
nit-picky.

Since "I don't have no stinking" spreader, can I fly the Canadian flag on
the burgee mast or is that considered bad form? That's the only alternative
I can think of on our, yup, you guessed it, stinkpot.

How about one arm of the open array?

jps

Charles T. Low

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May 27, 2003, 6:26:42 AM5/27/03
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From a government of Canada web page
(http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/etiquette/2_e.cfm):

"-whenever possible, the proper place for a vessel to display the national
colours is at the stern, except that when at sea, the flag may be flown from
a gaff;"

(What's a gaff? From dictionary.com: "A spar attached to the mast and used
to extend the upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail.")

====

Charles T. Low
ct...@boatUNdocking.com - remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

====

"jps" <tr...@thedump.com> wrote in message

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Josh Assing

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May 27, 2003, 6:59:31 AM5/27/03
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Good info; thanks!


we plan on going up thru deception pass into the san juan isalnds for a few
days; then either up to gulf islands or over to victoria.

Sort of bouncing around the gulf & san juan islands, then back down thru
swinomish channel and home.


------------------------------

Josh Assing

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May 27, 2003, 6:59:34 AM5/27/03
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> You don't say which coast or body of water (e.g., Great Lakes) you are

Good point, my error... West coast, Puget Sound.

>Nowadays cell phones have pretty much replaced VHF for this procedure, at

Maybe it'll be worth picking up.

We had planned on taking the trip very casually as far as where we want to go;
jumping between gulf islands & san juan islands...

What's the consensus on doing that? Do you have to check in/out each time? or
can you check into canada and say "i'll be here for 4 weeks" and only check back
into us when you formally "return"?

> services of a local yacht club, as they can usually smooth things a bit and

Good idea.. We have reciprocals with a few clubs up that way.


thanks.

Josh Assing

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May 27, 2003, 6:59:48 AM5/27/03
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Thanks. I was hoping to go back from canada thru san juan's down thru swinomish
channel.

Steve

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May 27, 2003, 10:44:19 AM5/27/03
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One point you make is correct.

The 'yacht ensign' is never flown in foriegn waters. It is not a
internationally recognized flag of the USA.

But, if you ever try to remind some 'dumb ass' who is flying it, you bound
to get so arguments and maybe the finger salute.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions


Paul L

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May 27, 2003, 12:57:36 PM5/27/03
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"Josh Assing" <jo...@jassing.com> wrote in message
news:55h6dvcmb0uprdsvm...@4ax.com...
>....

> We had planned on taking the trip very casually as far as where we want to
go;
> jumping between gulf islands & san juan islands...
>
> What's the consensus on doing that? Do you have to check in/out each
time? or
> can you check into canada and say "i'll be here for 4 weeks" and only
check back
> into us when you formally "return"?
I wouldn't push it given the current security issues. Technically the CG can
impound your boat for doing this. The distance from a Canadian customs port
to a US customs port is not large. Take a look on a chart for the distance
between Bedwell Harbor and Roche Harbor. Its less than a couple of hours.

Paul
www.jcruiser.org


Ryk

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May 27, 2003, 2:59:29 PM5/27/03
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On Sun, 25 May 2003 14:35:45 -0400, in message
<bar2eq$e8j$1...@slb9.atl.mindspring.net>
"Armond Perretta" <kerry...@REMOVEbigfoot.com> wrote:

>Nowadays cell phones have pretty much replaced VHF for this procedure, at
>least in Atlantic Canada. In some cases you can avail yourself of the
>services of a local yacht club, as they can usually smooth things a bit and
>notify the authorities a bit in advance.

I don't know what the rules are for this year, so things may have
changed. Last year, after a bunch of running around through high level
officialdom, I simply called the customs offices where I was planning
to check in and asked for instructions. All went well...

On the Canadian side around Kingston, they don't like cell phone calls
because the location is not positively identifiable. However, they
will usually clear you in over a land line phone if you land at an
identifiable location. In twelve years of going back and forth I have
never been inspected on either side, although I have seen the
inspectors coming around to check.

Ryk

Ryk

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May 27, 2003, 3:09:41 PM5/27/03
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On Tue, 27 May 2003 16:57:36 GMT, in message
<4OMAa.993624$3D1.583141@sccrnsc01>
"Paul L" <paul...@NOSPAMattbi.com> wrote:

The input I have from around here is that you must check in every time
you touch a new shore. I wouldn't try otherwise, even before the
current security situation -- the fines are big. Just make the call.

Ryk

jps

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May 28, 2003, 12:08:28 AM5/28/03
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"Josh Assing" <jo...@jassing.com> wrote in message
news:55h6dvcmb0uprdsvm...@4ax.com...

> What's the consensus on doing that? Do you have to check in/out each


time? or
> can you check into canada and say "i'll be here for 4 weeks" and only
check back
> into us when you formally "return"?

Definitely a no-no. Check-in is mandatory no matter the direction.

I think you'll find the process pretty simple once you've done it a couple
of times and, besides, there's plenty to keep your interest once you start
exploring the islands on each side of the border.

4 weeks? I'm jealous. Most of us locals are lucky to string two together.

jps


Josh Assing

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May 29, 2003, 12:01:36 PM5/29/03
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>Definitely a no-no. Check-in is mandatory no matter the direction.
Thanks.

I guess we'll probably only do it once both ways... Just seems easier.. We just
wante dto sail around and stop where we ended up; but if we ahve to worry about
the border in the middle of hte channel; we'll stick to one side for a while
then jump to the other side.

>4 weeks? I'm jealous. Most of us locals are lucky to string two together.

Oh; I'll be working the whole time, it's not just a pure vacation, we couldnt'
afford it unless I was working....

-josh

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