MacGregorSailors.com

OK..which program is for visiting Macs???

The I68 is for boats only. The Nexus can be used for boats and for crossing the border in your car.

For us in the Seattle area the I68 is more convenient to obtain since we can apply in Seattle. The Nexus has to be applied for in Blaine, on the border.

Neither program is absoluteley required this year if you have a passport and are willing to stop at the customs dock at Roche or Friday Harbor, when returning to the US. Even with the I68 or Nexus the Customs officials can make you stop for inspection.

Thanks for the post, Tom. For this summer then a passport, boat registration, proof of insurance, no radio license, and check in when returning to USA or when entering Canada. Can do!

Steve

JUST CAME ACROSS A NEAT PHOTO PAGE THAT HAS A GREAT AERIEL VIEW OF THE GANGES MARINA ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PHOTOS OF THE GULF ISLAND AREA

http://www.vancouverisland.com/photogal ... p?catID=18

ENJOY

SCOTT

Here is another good site:

http://www.gulfislands.net/

Latest on I68:

Update from the Recreational Boating Association of
Washington..........

I-68 UPDATE
(updated May 20, 2005)

Effective April 21, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
implemented enhanced security procedures for small boats
arriving in the U.S. from Canada. The old PIN number system is
no longer in effect but the small boat reporting phone number,
1-800-562-5943, can still be used by those boaters who have
I-68 Forms or NEXUS cards. The number can also be used by
any small boater to determine an acceptable port of entry. For
background information on this subject, go to the RBAW website,
http://www.rbaw.org.

Everyone on board your boat must now have their own I-68 form
or NEXUS card for telephonic clearance. However, children
under 14 can be listed on their parents I-68, or now on their
grandparents I-68 or on both I-68`s. Children can also have their
own I-68 if desired. Everyone listed on an I-68 does not have to
be on board to use the I-68, but again, everyone on board has to
have, or be listed on an I-68 to cross the border without stopping
at customs (i.e., for telephone clearance).

Having an I-68 does not relieve required Canadian
documentation for taking children and grandchildren into
Canada.

The I-68 requirement only applies if you want to clear Customs
by telephone. From Canada, you can always land you boat at a
U.S. Customs Port-of-Entry dock. Please phone Customs for
locations, more details and hours of specific Customs dock
operations - 1-800-562-5943. Phone via land line before leaving
Canada.
----------------------------------------------------
I-68 Forms are now available at most U.S. Custom's offices in
Washington State. IT CANNOT BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH
THAT AN APPOINTMENT MUST BE MADE TO OBTAIN AN I-68.
Information and appointments can be made by calling your
closest U.S. Customs Office (9am-3pm, Mon. thru Fri.)
-Seattle 206-553-0667
-Everett 425-259-0246
-Bellingham 360-734-5463
-Tacoma 253-593-6338
-Aberdeen 360-310-0109
-Anacortes 360-293-2331
-Blaine 360-734-5463
-**Friday Harbor 360-378-2080
-Port Angeles 360-457-4311
-Point Roberts 360-945-2314
-Port Townsend 360-385-3777

**At present Friday Harbor is running a minimum three-day
lead-time on I-68 appointments and anticipates shortly that may
increase to five to seven days. It is recommended you get your
I-68 before leaving your homeport.

Reports from boaters indicate the I-68 process is fairly simple
and quick during your appointment.

These rule changes and acceptable documentation also apply
going between Canadian and Alaskan waters.

For questions, contact U.S. Customs small boat reporting:
1-800-562-5943.

-end

I just got off the phone after making my marina reservations for my route, including Deer and Friday Harbor. Deer Harbor says groups get a discount, so if you make a reservation, let them know. He said he'll try to put us all on the same dock. Now, back to the mods!

Tom Spohn wrote:Neither program is absoluteley required this year if you have a passport and are willing to stop at the customs dock at Roche or Friday Harbor, when returning to the US. Even with the I68 or Nexus the Customs officials can make you stop for inspection.

Hey there. It's been a while since my last post. Things have been busy, but we are still planning to make the trip up north this year.

A question about the customs clearance, both outgoing and returning. My wife and I have passports, which will make things a bit easier. My dad is now part of the crew, and he doesn't have a passport. I know that I've been able to cross the border with just a drivers license and birth certificate. Does that still work?

If we are not participants in NEXUS or I68, we can still cross the border, but we have to physically stop and report, correct?

--Mark

Mark,
Check the phone numbers in my post above and give your closest office a call to be absolutely sure. It is my understanding that a birth certificate is still OK, but I would call first to be sure.

If you are not I68 or Nexus participants you can still cross, but you must appear in person at an official CBP station.

Other news:

Jean and I made an appointment with the CBP office on Boeing Field last week. The people were friendly, knowledgeable, professional. We took about 40 minutes for the interview and walked out with our I68 certificates. We needed our Passports, three passport photos, and the boat registration. Very easy--If you live in Seattle

While there we learned that CBP will be setting up a new office in the same location at Boeing Field where you will be able to get the Nexus card. The officer suggested we check back in September or October. We will do this because we go skiing in Canada and make several visits a year. If you have the Nexus card you can enter by boat or car. Only hassle is that currently the only place to get one is at Blaine.

With only 6 weeks left before the Flotilla I thought it might be a good idea to put in my order for a couple of "CanAm" T-Shirts to make sure I get them in time. Anyone know who or if anyone is handling these?

Called 6/15/05 for an appointment and was told 1:45 p.m. the next day.

Showed up with my passport, vessel registration, and 3 passport size photos.

Form was filled out, photos glued to form, fingerprint placed on form.

Paid $16.00 and was out of there in 10 minutes with permit in hand

This was at Boeing Field U.S. Customs office (aka King County International Airport)

Easy as can be!

BTW, mine was the 810th permit issued from that office since the first of the year. Permit is valid for 1 year from date of issue.

I'm going through and making the rest of the reservations for our trip. I got to the Stuart Is. stop, and I'm not sure if there is a way to make reservations for this park. Does anyone know?

Also, are we going into Prevost Hbr or Reid Hbr?

--Mark

Mgg4,
See this site for more info on Reid Hbr: Reid Harbor
I believe you can anchor in the harbor for free. The fees are for the buoys and the dock, and for camping ashore. You can check this out by clicking on the "contact us" at the bottom of the above site. Reid and Prevost are separated by a spine of land about one or two city blocks wide. Both are fabulous anchorages. If you are clearing customs at Roche Harbor or Friday Harbor you will come to Reid first.

Be sure to go ashore and follow a gravel road about a mile or so to a small country schoolhouse with a large wooden "Treasure" chest in front beneath some trees. Open the chest and select a custom T shirt or other article of clothing which will have a SASE envelope attached to it. When you get home send a check for the articles you bought. Amazing in this day and age!

Happy sails.

Tom Spohn wrote:See this site for more info on Reid Hbr: Reid Harbor

Thanks for the link, Tom. I called the number and had a nice chat with the chap who answered the phone. Very helpful.

As an aside to those planning to go, I've mentioned the CanAm 05 Flotilla to every marina I've called. None of them, with the exception of Ganges has any idea what I'm talking about. If you are making your reservations, please remember to mention that group so we can get our slips together.

I've completed making all my reservations. So far, I've already gotten slip assignments from:

• Port Sydney Marina (Slip A-10)
• Port of Friday Harbor Marina (Slip H-1)
• Blakely Island Marina (Slip C-9)

We are on the Loop A plan, so if you are also taking the "Civilized" route, you can let them know you are part of the group that "Offline" is part of. See if they can put you nearby.


--Mark

I'll be launching at Anacortes around July 11 and taking 11-12 days to get to the Ganges Marina for the party. I was wondering if anyone else is launching early and what, if any, is the VHF calling procedure for finding any MacGregor Sailors in the area. Should we set a VHF channel and a certain AM time for listening to in the morning ??? Any ideas will be greatly appreciated

Scott