It's hard to keep up with the situation. We were convinced that the recent announcement, by the French, to effectively ban Brits from travelling to France from May 31, would be in place for several weeks. To my immense surprise, we were wrong. Last Monday, the word was out that the restrictions would be relaxed on June 9th.
And indeed, France has officially announced the new rules. From June 9th, the UK will be on France's 'amber list' which will mean some restrictions are lifted for FULLY VACCINATED people travelling from the UK to France. According to the French government website we will:
- Need 'Preuve de vaccination (vaccins reconnus par l’EMA)';
- No longer need a 'Motif impérieux';
- Require a 'Test PCR négatif < 72h ou antigénique négatif < 48h'; and
- No longer require 'Test exigé à l’arrivée' nor a 'Mesure de quarantaine'
On ethical grounds, I'm against vaccination passports. On principle, I should not go to a country that bans people who have not been fully vaccinated. But I'm afraid realism and pragmatism have won the day.
Both Alix and I already have proof of double-vaccination (on our NHS app), and so we will simply have to get a negative PCR test on Monday 13th, and board our overnight cross-channel ferry on Wednesday 15th. All systems go again. We are busy planning how to get all the kit into the Audi for our trip to the Med coast, where we will store it until the boat is ready. We have been putting duvets and pillows into Rokey Vacuum Bags this afternoon.
Except....
Ruari - our Sunbird technician, who will do the final handover to us - is a young Scot, who has only had a single jab, and who will not have had his second by July 17th (handover date). In short, he will not be allowed into France! We are, therefore, intending that I will sail the boat to Spain, with one other French crew (say from the SAS yard at Canet-en-Rousillon). To reduce the delivery time (it will be at my expense), Sunbird are trying to secure us a Beneteau corporate birth at Port Ginesta, near Barcelona. It is much closer than Palma, Mallorca. Ruari would fly into Barcelona, do the handover with me, and then fly back to quarantine in Scotland (poor chap). Alasdair and John would then meet me in Port Ginesta for the onward voyage to Sardinia. That's the plan until it changes.
p.s. John was so keen that he had already booked his flight to Palma. Luckily he has a flexible ticket and it can be changed. Phew!