Sailing Around Cyprus

[mymermaid2]

Has anyone had bad experiences about sailing from North Cyprus to South Cyprus?

The reason I'm asking this is that I have heard that people have been fined and imprisoned if they enter the South after sailing in the North.

I did hear that if you sailed in the North, then went back to Turkey or any of the other neighbouring countries and then returned to the Southern side of Cyprus then this was no problem.... but now I have also heard that this isn't true.

Can anyone enlighten me please.

[MMNETSEA]

Mymermaid,

Difficult to advise not knowing the flag your yacht carries - therefore here is a link to the embassies that are there - if yours is listed - as they will be in the best position, contact them and pose the question for the latest information :-

http://www.traveltocyprus.com.cy/useinfo/index.html

[mymermaid2]

Originally Posted by MMNETSEA

Mymermaid,

Difficult to advise not knowing the flag your yacht carries - therefore here is a link to the embassies that are there - if yours is listed - as they will be in the best position, contact them and pose the question for the latest information :-

http://www.traveltocyprus.com.cy/useinfo/index.html

Thanks MMNETSEA but I would like to point out that 2 years ago a German Catamaran moored outside of Krynia (Girne) N. Cyprus, due to engine problems and then sailed around to Paphos where the owner was arrested. Finally paying a huge fine of a couple of thousand dollars.

Last year an Israeli boat was arrested, imprisonned and also fined. They had been to N. Cyprus the previous year and when they entered S. Cyprus they too had to pay a huge fine after spending some time in prison.

A Dutch boat (that we know ) sailed too close to S. Cyprus (within the 12 mile limit) after visiting N. Cyprus and they were asked to follow the Coast Guard back to land so that they could be fined ... but they managed to get away.

We fly a British flag - but would that help ???

[MMNETSEA]

Thank you for the anecdotal reports of previous reports of problems endured by yachts who had visited the Turkish part of Cyprus, we must take these reports at face value.

The reason for asking the flag under which you sail was necessary to help in determining

where you could obtain up-to-date information on visiting Southern Cyprus after visiting

the Turkish north.

Travel Information can be obtained from :-

U.K British High Commission

Alexandrou Palli, P.O.Box 1978, 1587 Nicosia

Tel: /7, Telex: 2208 UKREPNIC CY, Telefax:

Office Hours: Mon., wed., Thurs., Fri., 8:00 - 14:00

Tuesday 8:00 - 13:00 & 14:00 - 17:30

(visiting hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 - 12:00)

And the

Cyprus High Commission in London

Head of Mission: HE Mr George Iacovou

Address:

Tourist Office

17 Hanover Street

London W1R 0AA

Telephone:

Tourist Office

Facsimile:

Tourist Office

Email:

presscounsellor@chclondon.com Press Section

cyphclondon@dial.pipex.com High Commission, Consular Section

cultural_chc@btconnect.com Cultural Section

Office Hours:

Mon–Fri: 0930–1700

And

Another source of local information regarding the issue of coming from Northern Cyprus by boat

could be obtained by contacting the 2 biggest marinas in Southern Cyprus, here are their email addresses :-

larnaca.marina@cytanet.com.cy

marina@raphael.com.cy

.....................

I am sure that you will agree that the source of the best information on visiting Cyprus,

by yacht is best answered by talking to the relevant authorities and the local yachting fraternity.

However, there remains a caveat, and that is, the continuing disagreement between between the two communities means that a good situation can turn bad overnight, and visiting tourists suffer the consequences.

Good Luck

[Harbor_Pilot]

mymermaid2

You may also find this helpful:

http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Cyprus

From that site:

1. Follow the links at the bottom of the page to Northern and Southern Cyprus.

Under the link: Northern Cyprus: Kyrenia *

You will find in part:

Visitors who do not wish to have their passports stamped by the authorities on arrival in North Cyprus may request a stamped visa form which is loosely inserted into the passport and removed on departure.

2. Not the hot link on the right pannel:

Prohibition For Yachts To Enter Southern Cyprus After North Remains In Force

Which confirms you concerns.

Fair Winds,

Jeff

[Yachtmaster81]

By the way, there is a similar prohibition on entering S. Cyprus by land after landing first in N. Cyprus.

[MMNETSEA]

Following up on the original post's question - in terms of having determined that yacht's flag.

Authorities in Larnaca and Limasol (where the majority of yachts are berthed - over a thousand) were contacted and asked to give the latest current situation regarding the position of a yacht arriving in Southern Cyprus after visiting a northern Cyprus Port ?

To get a definitive answer - the following example was provided :-

" A Yacht with Port of Registry : London - England : British Flag - Capt and

Crew hold valid United Kingdom passports visits Kyrenia then sails to Larnarca. How will

that yacht and its crew be treated by the Larnaca authorities after the 1st May 2007 ? "

The Answer received as follows :-

"The yacht that you have described shall not encounter any legal problems when she will enter Larnaca Marina or any other port in the Free part of Cyprus as regards the entry of her crew members into Cyprus. British citizens including Citizens of the European Union MAY ENTER FROM PORTS AND AIRPORTS NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (or the Republic of Cyprus), in spite of the fact that these persons are entering from ports and airports that are under the control of the Turkish army and NOT the Legal Government and the European Union. This is what is the legal side of it up to this very moment."

The position of yachts and crews from countries outside the EU was not questioned - As far as these are concerned , the advice remains that persons wishing to visit Southern Cyprus after visiting the Northern part should obtain the latest travel advice from their own country's Foreign Affairs ministry - The situation in the middle east remains volatile.

[Swagman]

Last year we visited N Cyprus whilst taking part in the East Med Rally.

That was from Turkey to Girne, and back to Turkey a few days later.

As a precuation the Rally ensured no-ones passport was stamped with N Cyprus entry / exit.

A month on when the rally ended in Israel, there was similar scuttlebutt over what might happen IF one returned to S Cyprus - leading to most yachts by passing the island. Including us.

However, learnt a month after that two yachts did enter - and had no issues at all!

Cheers

JOHN

[mymermaid2]

Thank you very much MMNETSEA.

Can you tell me who gave you this information ...

Thanks

Mandy

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by mymermaid2

Can you tell me who gave you this information ...

Mandy

I believe that this is important information for you to add to any official information from official sources that you can gather - the source is irrelevant. In this case it is obvious that the information has come from a local source that perhaps should not be revealed under the circumstances. This is a very sensitive subject that perhaps should not even be discussed in a public forum.

I hope that the information has assisted you - I know it has for me. It is obvious that a lot of homework needs to be done before visiting the area. The good news is that it seems it is becoming easier to visit (the whole of) Cyprus.

[MMNETSEA]

Originally Posted by mymermaid2

Thank you very much MMNETSEA.

Can you tell me who gave you this information ...

Thanks

Mandy

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

Hello Mandy,

Unfortunately, we do not normally divulge the names of parties who provide The Cruiser Log with answers to questions that have a political content. In this instance we have a situation where Cyprus's two communities are gradually coming to terms with each other after many years of bitter antipathy.

What we can say is that our informants are highly respected and closely connected with the yachting community in Cyprus.

The other point is Mandy that your privacy is also respected by this Board. We would never publish your profile to the public.

Whatever, Mandy thanks very much for initiating this topic, it has been very interesting and does reveal the difficulties that can be encountered by Cruisers on their travels under different flags to many parts of our planet .

Richard