Comments on: Aussie Customs versus Sailing Vessel SohCahToa

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:43:21 +0000

I can’t imagine anyone wanting to go to a country where the merest minor mistake will cost you more than five times the cost of getting there, As their add on tv says, wehav’e got the sharks out of the pool, where the bloody hell are yah, my reply is, not where the bloody sharks are, if the customs are like this and these are the first Aussies you meet, what are the bad Aussies likely to be like, I think I’d rather stay at sea, better company there !

By: S/V Epifania

S/V Epifania — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:29:46 +0000

Hey guys,
Les and Tammy here in FRIENDLY Puerto Vallarta. Tell those backwards downunders they should figure out a better way to raise revenue..maybe they should model their government after NZ! Carry on with the fun and if you make it back to Mexico, stop by the new coffee shop.
Cheers!!!
P.S.
Good thing there weren’t any Mazatlan kitchen herbs aboard.

By: Ross Asher

Ross Asher — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 09:12:38 +0000

Jeff and crew. Hopefully you do get to explore OZ – I am telling you it is a great country and many good times are in your future if you do go up or down the Eastern Coast line. Enjoy the world gents!

By: Gail Stewart

Gail Stewart — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 05:18:52 +0000

This is Jeffrey Stewart’s mother!. I agree with the comment above about them being a bit preoccupied sailing around a bunch of reefs with no power, etc. I am sitting her in my family room in Olympia, Washington reading and responding to this – very amazing how the internet can draw us all close together no matter where we are. I love you Jeff, Matt, and Casey!! Mother Gail

By: OG

OG — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 01:12:38 +0000

As an Aussie, I just hope this experience won’t deter you from returning sometime in the future!

Perhaps if you do return you will come to Brisbane and I will shout you a round of drinks!

OG.

By: jeff stewart

jeff stewart — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 21:39:36 +0000

KaptainKen. . .yea, we were kind of thinking the same thing. I think it would have been different if we had KNOWN about the reporting requirements and proved we were unable to email due to our lack of electricity. Instead, during the interview with customs, I said that I didn’t know about the 96 hour reporting requirements.

The offence is a non-criminal, “no-fault”. Which, as far as I understand, means that you either did it or didn’t do it. . .there really isn’t much room for argument, only leniency with respect to the penalty. The maximum penalty could have been around $15000 AUD, so we were not horribly upset at $3400.

By: KaptainKen

KaptainKen — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:37:27 +0000

Am I missing something here? How does a sailboat with a busted engine and, presumably, no electric power communicate with anyone 96 hours (say … 480 miles) out at sea? Also an engine less sailboat is not exactly in a position to pick and chose among destination harbors … the first one they get to has to be good enough.

Isn’t there a “force magure” (SP?) concept in Australian law? One would think that any vessel could, due to break down, damage or sickness, seek refuge in any port.

By: jeff stewart

jeff stewart — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:19:37 +0000

Yea, we pretty much fucked up and didn’t check the latest customs requirements. I think we got a bit too used to the laid back attitude across the South Pacific and were planning on just “showing up” like we had in the previous 7 countries.

I certainly understand that all the customs guys were doing their jobs and everyone from the magistrate to the solicitor were really friendly and there certainly aren’t any hard feelings. We fucked up, we accepted the responsibility and we are pretty sure we aren’t going to do it again.

Send us an email or buy us a drink. http://www.svsohcahtoa.com.

By: Stan

Stan — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:56:45 +0000

They did break the law based on the customs website. Even if this was by mistake, Ignorance or miscommunication is no excuse. Their beef should be with the guy that told them you need to advise customs 3 hours prior to arrival.

Australian customs more than likely require the 96 hours notice due to the enormous coastline we have. The coastline is scattered with bays and harbours where you can make landfall and unlike the US Customs Service and Coast Guard, Australia has limited resources to patrol theses areas.

By: Tillerman

Tillerman — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:19:30 +0000

Interesting. The 96 hour notice requirement is on the Australia Customs website but this is unusual isn’t it? I just checked the UK and US Customs sites and they just say you have to notify Customs when you arrive. Why do the Aussies need so much notice?