Flying Fish ArticlesAla Wai entrance – 21°16.85'N, 157°50.73'W
Hilo - Hawaian Islands – 19°49.55'N, 155°08.00'W
Kane 'ohe Bay ship channel entrance – 21°30.86'N, 157°48.56'W
Lahaina anchorage – Maui 20°53.23'N, 156°41.43'W
Lono Harbor –Molokai 21°05.06'N, 157°14.94'W
Nawilili – 21°57.30'N, 159°20.85'W
Visa requirements
Anyone entering the United States by private yacht, other than US or Canadian citizens, must be in possession of a US visa.
It is important to realise that the US Visa Waiver Scheme is only applicable to travel on commercial carriers; airlines and ferries etc. If one enters the USA by private yacht, wherever one enters, even if it is a port served by commercial carriers, one MUST have a valid visa in one’s passport prior to entry. The fine for arriving without a visa is $5,000 per person and entry may also be refused.
Applications for Visas have to be made at a US Embassy and, in most cases, will require an interview. Interviews are by prior appointment after completing an application form and paying the application fee. Depending on the particular Embassy the time required for the application and interview process may be several weeks. It is normally best to make the application in one’s home country but applications may be made at any US Embassy. A valid visa in an expired passport is still valid if presented with a new, valid, passport.
When asked why you need a visa you must state that you will be visiting the USA by private sailing vessel and that the Visa Waiver Scheme is not applicable to such visits. Many US Immigration officials are unfamiliar with their own regulations and it is not unknown for them to advise you that a visa is not necessary! Be firm, polite and diplomatic if this happens.
If picking up foreign guests within the USA, they will normally have entered by commercial airline within the Visa Waiver Scheme and will obtain a visa on entry. Provided they are not aboard the yacht when the yacht enters, they do not need visas as above.
Entry requirements
The Master of foreign flag vessels (including Canadian vessels) must report to the nearest office of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately on arrival. The first report should be made by telephone to 1-800-973-2867 or, in the case of Florida, to the Small Vessels Reporting Line 1-800-432-1216. For New England the number is 207-532-6622 ext 255. Basic details of vessel and crew will be taken and a Clearance Number issued. Instructions will then be given as to whether CBP Officials will visit the yacht (unusually) or whether the crew is required to visit the local CBP office. This must be done within 24 hours of arrival.
There are 327 Ports of Entry into the USA. Details may be found at:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/
Foreign yachts of most nationalities, including those from Britain and EC countries and Canada, are required to obtain a cruising permit on first entry (currently $19). This permit, which exempts the yacht from further clearance while in US waters, remains valid for up to one year and may not be renewed until after expiry, and then only after the vessel has left US waters for at least 15 days and returned.
Note that these cruising permit renewal regulations may impose severe restrictions on the cruising plans of yachts wishing to remain in US waters for more than one year and this issue requires very careful consideration in overall cruise planning, especially as the most convenient foreign countries to go to on expiry are Canada, Bermuda or the Bahamas and may involve substantial offshore passages which may be restricted by seasonal weather considerations (winter and hurricane season). In this respect it is worth noting that the cruising permit is normally issued for 12 months but may be requested for a lesser period.
There is some belief among visiting foreign yachtsmen that the cruising permit can be suspended while the boat is hauled out and stored ashore, however, this is incorrect.
If a foreign yacht remains in the USA after expiry of it’s cruising permit, then there is a requirement to report on arrival at every new port or anchorage. The exact details of this are unclear but, if it occurs, it would be wise to discuss the matter with CBP.
As Customs and Border Protection Department now include both Customs and Immigration, both functions are normally dealt with in the same office as well as the issue of a cruising permit (see section 6 below).
The CBP website is quite useful, especially for Ports of Entry and CBP telephone numbers:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/pleasure_boats/boats/pleasure_boat_overview.xml
Transit requirements (departing one port, entering another)
A condition of the cruising permit is that yachts notify US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when they move from one customs port sector to another; normally this is from one State to another, although there is uncertainty about the exact requirement even within CBP. While penalties for failure to report are rare, it is a serious offence subject to a fine of $5,000. Notification is simple and may be made by calling the toll-free number 1 800 973 2867 or any local Customs office
Importing spares
In general everything is available in the USA however, some articles seem to be unreasonably expensive e.g. Volvo Penta spares. It may be more economical to import these in some cases.
Other comments
Report on US Coast Gusrd inspection of a non US flagged vessel (with thanks to Steph and Stu from S/Y Matador)
The CG was like a large RIB with polystyrene foam for sides. They indicated that they were going to come alongside and put 2 guys aboard, told us to keep our course and speed.
First they asked if we had weapons on board.
No 1 sat in the cockpit and did papers, asking questions. No 2 wanted to be below and was told to look around, with his little list in a book.
First job 'for their own safety ' they wanted us to show them the bilge area and the engine compartment so they can see we are not sinking or on fire.
They were content with a quick peek in the side of the engine bay. He asked if we had a fixed fire extinguisher in the engine room (we do, automatic)
They wanted boat papers, passports, phone number.
They wanted to see the following:
Personal flotation devices for number of people on board
A throw-able flotation device.
A sound making device - he wanted to hear it too. We have a pump up air
horn which we know is not USCG approved, but it seemed to satisfy them.
A copy of the collision prevention regs
Other fire extinguishers - they said it did not matter if they were not US approved, because we are not a US flagged boat.
Asked if we had an oil policy notice and a garbage policy notice - home made seem to suffice. He looked at the but didn 't read them.
He asked if we had a standard Y valve arrangement on the holding tank and wanted to see it. A cable tie securing the Y valve closed is what is required in order to prevent accidental emptying of the holding tanks.
He asked what training or qualifications we had. They didn 't ask for proof.
He kept asking if we had access to the internet, not necessarily at sea. Not
sure what the relevance of that was.
He then gave us a yellow copy of his form to keep, which shows that we were inspected and did not have any violations or warnings.
From the yellow paper there is a list of possible violations:
Numbering
Certificate
Document/Official Number
Personal Flotation device
Sound Producing device
Bell
Fire extinguisher
Backfire flame control
Ventilation
Marine Sanitation Devices
Installed Toilet and no MSD Installed
Pollution placard not posted
Garbage placard not posted
Waste management plan vsls>40 '
FCC SSL Not posted/available
Operation without FCC SSL
Nav/Anchor lights (Sunrise-sunset only)
Visual distress signals (Sunrise-sunset only) Negligent Operation
Intoxicated Operation
Unsafe conditions creating especially hazardous conditions
Overloaded Fuel leak
Accumulation of fuel in bilges.
Ala Wai entrance
Enter at Ala Wai entrance, well marked. Proceed almost to the road bridge, and then turn to starboard along the last row of boats nest to the shore line, moor at the loading dock and visit the Harbormaster 's office.
This is a municipally run marina, and the bureaucracy is overwhelming. First, you will be measured for LOA, and inspected to make sure you are seaworthy. Then you will be asked to motor out to the harbour entrance and back in again, to prove that you are seaworthy (even if you have sailed from Tahiti!). Then there is a lot of paperwork to do, even if you are only staying a few days. A temporary mooring permit is allocated for 15 days at a time, up to a maximum of 120 days. In 2013, for 38ft LOA, the cost was $269.90 including stay-aboard fee. If space is tight, you will be allocated a berth on 800 row, med-moored. This has had a bad reputation in the past due to drug and alcohol abuse, but is slowly improving. Nevertheless, ask for a better berth. I was on G row, a normal pontoon berth, and that was fine. Expect to spend two or three hours checking in. Harbormaster James Hong. tel 808 973 9727.
There is a lot of traffic noise, and frequent wailing sirens from emergency vehicles, but this is to be expected, hard by Waikiki Beach. From the marina, walk up Hobron Lane, cross Ala Moana Boulevard at the lights, and catch the 19 or 20 bus ($2.50 flat fare) to Downtown; or to Iwilei Road, getting off at Kmart and heading past Kmart and across the Nimitz Highway to West Marine, the only chandler.
Walk west from the marina along Ala Moana Boulevard and over the river bridge to reach Ala Moana Center, a huge mall, where there is a small but adequate supermarket and many other stores. There are local buses running between the mall and Waikiki
Hilo
) Information Submitted by Beth Bushnell Updated by David Tyler 25/02/13
2) Date 27/07/04
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long Hilo, Hawaii 19°43’80 lat, 155°03’18 long.
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts R&R across the Pacific. Radio bay is an anchorage for Transient yachts within a commercial harbour. Good security and shelter to leave boat to travel.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Anchor off in 2-3ms or med moor to wall. Water and power available . good showers and rest area.
2013 - Security has become very much tighter in Radio Bay. You can expect to have to telephone for a security guard to escort you to and from your boat. A much more convenient anchorage can be found off the black sand beach nearer the town, where there are a number of outrigger canoe clubs. Good holding, and sheltered enough, though lively if the Trades are brisk. Walk along the road to the Customs office, and there is no need to contact the harbour office.
6) Entry Ports Hilo
7) Formal Requirements for Yachts Entering/Departing:
a) from/to same country Skipper to report to Customs on arrival with all ships papers and passports. He does immigration and quarantine at same time. Building is just outside dock gate. Then harbour master for berthing fees. 2004 $8.4/day for 40ft..
b) from/to abroad Visit customs
c) visa requirements Must have valid USA visa before arrival. Does not matter if in old passport. This can only be issued in your country of origin. For UK boats a cruising licence can be obtained for $19 valid for a year. Is renewable after absence from US of 15days. UK citzens get 6 months visa on entry.
8) Location/Existence of:
a) harbour master Inside entrance on left.
b) customs/immigration To right outside entrance
c) health authorities Customs do it.
d) police N/a
9) Control of Foreign Yachts Customs and port police
10) Attitude of Officials to Visiting Yachtsmen Helpful, friendly and informative
11) Repair/Hauling Facilities None. Can get parts flown in from us mainland usually overnight. There is a marina on the far side of Hawaii with some chandlery and some repair facilities but Honolulu is best place.
12) Sailing Directions or Charts Charlies charts are ok.
13) Cruising Guide and where Obtainable. Include Phone and/or E-Mail
14) Port Radio Services none
15) Weather Forecasts Wx continuous + Honolulu on SSB.
16) Yacht Club(S) None; bookswap at yachties BBQ area with notice board.
17) Other Facilities: drinking water On quay fuel Jerrycan it or for over 100galls(can combine boats) Tractor services will deliver and cheaper than garages. gas (propane)/gaz Progas 200ms down road but will not fill UK calor cylinders. chandlers Very limited near town basin bank Hilo or Prince Kuhio shopping mall shops/market Hilo or mall both 3 mile walk. small convenience store just outside the harbour. Good farmer 's market in Hilo, Wed. and Sat. restaurants/hotels Approx 1 mile post office/telephones including mobile facilities Hilo. Mobile coverage good. Can get Sim card for UK mobile from T-Mobile. internet cafes at the bar just outside the harbour, or at Bytes and Bites, in Hilo. Good, nearest 1 mile towards hilo. best mailing address Your Name/ Your vessel name, c/o Harbors Division, 80 Kuhio Street, Hilo, HI 96720. c/o Harbourmaster Hilo Port, Hilo, Hawaii showers yes laundry Just 200ms from entrance commercial laundromat transport/air services Airport 2 miles. medical facilities/hospital In Hilo
18) Recommendations or Warnings Good place for a rest when crossing pacific. The Volcano National Park is a must. Incredible. Public transport - bus from Hilo to Prince Kuhio Mall and Volcano, $1 flat fare. Harpers car hire about ½ mile towards Hilo. If you need serious repair work Honolulu is the place. There is a marina on the far side of the island that has some repair,and chandlery
19) Other Information – please include here general impressions, opinions, comments or any other matter which might be of use to those visiting. Hire a 4 x 4 from Harpers (very good vehicles, reasonable cost) and drive up Mauna Loa to the astronomical observatory at 13,700ft, with a dozen huge telescopes. Watch the sunset, then go back down to the visitor centre at 9,000ft for stargazing.
Kane 'ohe Bay
ship channel entrance – 21°30.86'N, 157°48.56'W
Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor – 21°26.77'N, 157°48.54'W
Anchorage B – 21°26.55'N, 157°48.23'W
Enter Kane 'ohe Bay by the ship channel entrance (there is also a secondry channel, the Sampan Channel, but it passes close by the prohibited area of the military airfield). The channel is well marked, with a landfall buoy and port and starboard buoys and posts.
Do not anchor directly off Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor, but proceed through the gap between the coral reefs (depth 14 metres) to Anchorage B, the only permitted anchorage. Comfortable anchorage, good holding in 12 metres.
Free anchoring for 72 hours. For a longer stay, visit the Harbormaster at Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor and obtain a monthly permit. The maximum stay is 3 months. In 2013, the permit was $121.38. Contact Ernest Choy, tel 808 233 3603 email heeia.kea.harbor@hawaii.gov
A two mile walk/bus ride (no 55, hourly) brings you to Kaneohe, where there are all supplies, including a large Safeway supermarket.
Lahaina anchorage – Maui
The most convenient Lahaina anchorage is off the Maia Wharf launching ramp, where the dinghy may conveniently moored with others in a sheltered position next to the ramp.
The anchorage is safe enough, if lively, in the normal NE Trades, but in winter watch out for the southerly Kona winds, and be prepared to put to sea.
It is a half mile walk into town, where there is a Foodland supermarket. Do not try to use the harbour at Lahaina - it is only for the whale-watching and dive boats. Lahaina is very much a town for the tourists.
Lono Harbor –Molokai
Lono Harbor, an abandoned barge harbor at Haleolono Point, is protected by two breakwaters; the entrance channel is 12 feet deep and is marked by a 346° private unlighted range. The 500-foot-square harbor basin is 18 feet deep. The harbor has a 260-foot wharf, but is usually uncomfortable due to scend entering the harbour. Local knowledge is advised for entering but in fact the entrance is easy so long as there is not too much westerly swell.
This harbour is literally miles from anywhere. I believe it was built to ship sand to build Waikiki beach in the 1950s. There is a dirt road and some tracks leading inland and along the shore, for hikes through the semi arid scrubland, but otherwise there is nothing there at all. A few locals come down to fish, swim and BBQ. I spent Christmas 2012 there, very quietly.
Nawilili
1) Information Submitted by David Tyler
2) Date 31 July 2007
3) Harbour or Area Covered Include Lat & Long Nawilili, Kauai, Hawaii 21° 57 ' N, 159 ° 21.6 ' W
4) Suitability and Attraction for Yachts. Include details of relevant web sites The only harbour on Kauai. This is billed as the "Garden Isle", and is a major holiday destination for N Americans. As such, there are many beach resorts, golf courses, timeshares etc. around the E and S coasts. However, you can ignore these, and visit the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" (Mark Twain), and the world famous Na Pali coastline, both on the E side of the island. Many films have been shot here because of the scenery, including South Pacific, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark.
5) Marinas, Berthing or Anchorage Small Boat Harbour , State-run. 80 to 90 slips consisting of concrete jetties, since the tidal range is very small. Mostly full of local yachts and sport fishing boats, but space may be available. Stop at a loading/unloading jetty just inside to enquire. Or anchor in the outer harbour, just inside the S breakwater (a long dinghy ride) or just outside the small boat harbour (shallow). The commercial quays handle container barges and numerous cruise ships, and I got the impression that anchoring thus would not attract any attention or charges.