How far are allowed to sail in Pacific Ocean ?

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W

w2d

I'm a tourist in the U.S. and want to buy a boat. Is this possible?
How far can I swim on a boat in the Pacific Ocean from the U.S. coast ? Is there some sort of boundary where police patrol can stop me ? Do I need to have my documents (passport, visa) on boat ?
 
SamLust

SamLust

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Jan 2, 2008
547
Hunter 33 (Cherubini design Forked River, Barnegat Bay, NJ
This is not Europe. There is no-one to stop you, or care. No licensing as in Europe.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I believe that immigration would have your answers. I presume that you desire to sail form one port to another port? As long as you have your identity papers and your ships papers you shouldn't encounter any problems sailing from a port in California to another port in California. Much would depend on the restrictions on your visa.

edit to add: If you sailed from California to Mexico and landed in Mexico then you would have to clear port in California and report to Mexican Immagration when you landed. When you returned to California you would have to clear port in Mexico and report to immagration when you landed in California. This would require a customs inspection in each port.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Swimming from a boat is generally unwise unless the boat is anchored, and even then it can be less than smart to do so. While there is no regulation or law about how far you can be from your boat or how far your boat can be from land, it would generally be wise to stay fairly close to the boat.

The US enforces its authority within a 12 mile distance of the coast generally, but does have some authority out to 200 miles from the coast, depending on what the exact situation is. If you are not a US citizen, not having your papers either on you or on the boat would be a really bad idea.

w2d said:
I'm a tourist in the U.S. and want to buy a boat. Is this possible?
How far can I swim on a boat in the Pacific Ocean from the U.S. coast ? Is there some sort of boundary where police patrol can stop me ? Do I need to have my documents (passport, visa) on boat ?
Click to expand
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Dog , English is not his first language. I doubt that "swim" as we understand the word was what he had in mind. ;)
 
Don12364

Don12364

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Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
SamLust?

SamLust said:
This is not Europe. There is no-one to stop you, or care. No licensing as in Europe.
Click to expand
I have sailed on the coasts of most countries of Europe and have never been aware of any restrictions or licences to limit one's range sailing or swimming.

Could you please provide more info.
 
W

w2d

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Mar 14, 2010
1
baco argonavt Ukraine, Odessa
Hello, thanks for answers guys !!

>>This is not Europe. There is no-one to stop you, or care. No licensing as in Europe.
USA is awsome ! it is the best country in the world. If I had a choice I would have sold everything that I have and a half of my life to live here !

I think i will come for my next vacation to sail there some time.

This forum always removing my account in few minutes after registration.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Find the wiundow that says "keep me signed in" and click that.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
lol--sorry i had to chime in--the limit on sailing in pacific is as far as ye can sail....japan. phillipines, wherever---lol..have fun!!!
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
Ross—

I think he means that the system is DELETING his account. Considering that it is listing him as having one post, that may be the case.
Ross said:
Find the wiundow that says "keep me signed in" and click that.
Click to expand
It may be due to your IP address and the fact that you're posting from the Ukraine. Many ISPs in the Ukraine are blacklisted on forum software as they are sources of spamming and other malicious activity.
 
druid

druid

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Apr 22, 2009
837
Ontario 32 Pender Harbour
As a foreigner who used to sail in US waters: it's not distance, it's "papers". One May Long Weekend the US INS and Customs were having a bitch-fight with each other. Normally (this was before 9/11) we Canadians could just phone in to clear customs. BUT, the INS came down and said "that's CUSTOMS. Have you cleared IMMIGRATION?" and siezed all the Canadian boats in the San Juans. Fortunately, a lot of boat-owners are lawyers and the thing got straightened out (especially after the US marinas pointed out how much money they were losing by losing the Canadians!).

Also be aware that the INS is "above the law" - as a non-US citizen, you have no rights: no right to an attorney, no right to a speedy trial... (at least according to the border guards that detained me for no reason...)

Moral of the Story: Be VERY careful if you are a non-US citizen sailing in US waters!

druid
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
Buy

People, he wants to "Buy a boat". Watch for forthcoming requests for addresses, bank accounts to send checks to.
 
PaulK

PaulK

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Dec 1, 2009
1,353
Sabre 402 Southport, CT
Donalex said:
I have sailed on the coasts of most countries of Europe and have never been aware of any restrictions or licences to limit one's range sailing or swimming.

Could you please provide more info.
Click to expand
Most European countries restrict the distances certain classifications of vessels can sail from port. Class 1 might sail 15 km from their home port. Class 2 might be able to sail up to 20 km offshore. Class 3 might be allowed to cross oceans. They may also license sailors to certain levels: License 1: you can sail a boat up to xx meters long, yy km from port. License 2, you can sail a boat up to zz meters long, up to ww km from port. Each country has its own rules. European forums are full of people asking which is best to navigate under, and tring to figure out where to register their boat. The police, coast guard, or navy (depending upon the country) might stop you and check your papers if you cross their paths. If you're flying a foreign (US) flag, or you're obviously a charter boat, they'll probably leave you alone, so you can fuss over the paperwork with the harbormaster and customs officials when you get to wherever you're going.
 
jimford2158

jimford2158

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Jul 29, 2009
71
Irwin 37 c.c. Cutter indian rocks beach, fl.
I saw an armada of 5 Hunter Sailboats motoring north on the ICW near Clearwater, Fl. The longest was a 43 foot and I think the shortest was a 28. They were flagged from Norway. I was told you also need to fly the flag for the country you are visiting?
 
SamLust

SamLust

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Jan 2, 2008
547
Hunter 33 (Cherubini design Forked River, Barnegat Bay, NJ
PaulK's explanation pretty much explains it as I understand it from my Belgian friend.
 
sailingdog

sailingdog

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Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
The boat's country of registration's flag is flow off the backstay or stern flag staff. The country you're visiting has its flag flown from the starboard spreader. You can read more here.

jimford2158 said:
I saw an armada of 5 Hunter Sailboats motoring north on the ICW near Clearwater, Fl. The longest was a 43 foot and I think the shortest was a 28. They were flagged from Norway. I was told you also need to fly the flag for the country you are visiting?
Click to expand
 
Don12364

Don12364

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Dec 2, 2003
1,637
Hunter 376 Warsash, England --
Please see the link below:-
http://www.waterrecreatie.be/htmlEN/cursussen.php
Regulations for the sea off Belgium apply to vessels over 15 metres (49' 3") or capable of over 20km/hr (12.5 mph) only, and to all vessels on the inland waters .
They have a voluntary qualification for inshore and offshore skippers but this is only mandatory for the vessels above.
One point of interest is that most of Europe has a mandatory requirement for a qualification for smaller vessel skippers on their inland waterways. The network of rivers and canals is extensive and from the huge vessels which use these waterways, and at the speeds they travel, the need for everyone to know exactly what they are doing is vital.
I am a Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail & Power) under UK regs and free to roam the seas, but I still need an additional endorsement (CEVNI) to navigate the inland waterways of Europe (but not UK inlands).

In addition there is an international 'Recreation Craft Directive' which sets standards of build for leisure craft and the number of people carried. This is divided into categories depending upon the sea conditions they are rated for. However there are no limitations on where these craft sail - though an insurance company might have a point of view if a claim arises!
Commercial operators and charter boats are in a totally different world though and hedged around with all manner of constraints.
 
B

Benny

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Sep 27, 2008
1,149
Hunter 320 Tampa, FL
It don't make sense that in Europe they be so concerned about a boat master's qualifications on inland waterways but yet allow anyone to charter a canal boat with just a 10 minute instruction session. Some of them canal routes require navigating river segments and no additional requirements are necessary. I guess some concessions are made for the sake of the EURO.
 
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