Here’s a Sailorgirl tip on how to make your life easier when checking in or out with customs officials:

Have ALL your boat information and crew lists in a handy dandy form photocopied to give the nice customs person.

Before setting offshore, visit your local library/supermarket/copy centre and make about 50 copies of each of these. It will only cost a few dollars and it will simplify things greatly. The following is a list of what they want to know. And for the Americans reading this, you are the only country not using the metric system. Learn it.

A couple of other quick tips for dealing with customs people. Bathing is good. Clean clothing is good. Smiles are free.

THE BOAT/EL BARCO

Boat Name/Nombre del Barco:
Flag/Bandera:
Home Port/Matriculo:
Registration Number/Folio:
Type/Tipo: Yate de vela (sailboat)
Length/Eslora:
Beam/Manga:
Draft/Puntal:
Tonnage/Tonnelado:
Colour/Color:
Made of/Hecho de:
Make of engine/Tipo de motor:
Horsepower/Caballos:
Fuel/Combustible:
Dinghy made of/Lanchita hecho de:
Outboard make/Tipo de motor de lanchita:
Outboard HP/Caballos de motor de lanchita:
Outboard fuel/Combustible de motor de lanchita:

DATE/FECHA:
SIGNATURE/FIRMA:

CREW LIST/LISTA DE TRIPULANTES

Name of Boat/Nombre del Barco:

Name/Nombre:
Citizenship/Ciudadania:
Passport Number/Numero de pasaporte:
Date of Birth/Fecha de naciemente:
Passport Date/Fecha de pasaporte:
Crew Position/Puesto:

Name/Nombre:
Citizenship/Ciudadania:
Passport Number/Numero de pasaporte:
Date of Birth/Fecha de naciemente:
Passport Date/Fecha de pasaporte:
Crew Position/Puesto:

DATE/FECHA:
SIGNATURE/FIRMA: