At the end of August, 2010 we took Oasis to Rotterdam for shipment to the USA. There was a high degree of professionalism by the crew from Seven Star Yacht Transport based in Amsterdam, We were lifted by a crane on the ship and lashed down on the aft deck next to a sailboat that was also going to Newport, Rhode Island. The ocean passage took longer than expected because it ran into Hurricanes Danielle and Earl. Even though Oasis was lashed down near the rear of the freighter the tugboat was covered with salt. A crew member told me that waves came over the steering cabin that was in the front of the ship and covered all the boats front to back. Dorothy's paint job suffered some damage.
As you can imagine the trip took longer than expected--4 days extra--and arrived in Newport with a thoroughly exhausted crew. Unloading was delayed a day because the US Coast Guard made the crew run through a fire drill and a mock escape from a sinking ship. We saw the ship come to anchor 3 miles north of Newport at a designated anchorage. A nearby boat yard was used as a base for the RIB that ran back and forth with boatowners , the pilot, Customs and the Coast Guard. The Customs Inspector told me that all was well with our paperwork and we should have no trouble entering the US. Also, we had a nice boat. As we were unloading a phone call came to the Load-master that Oasis was impounded until a question by Customs was resolved. Some damn bureaucrat decided that we might be a working tugboat and should pay more Import Duty. At the end of the day we were told that there was no problem and we were released. By this time Small Craft warnings came up for Narragansett Bay and I was too timid to cross the bay with those conditions. So, we were held up 2 days and shelled out $225 for two days moorings. Rhode Island Prices. Ugh! Dorothy delivered me early the 3rd day and I zipped across the Bay in quick time to Brewer's Wickford Cove Marina for winter storage. We did some painting and other prepartion for a survey by Bill Coble, a lovely guy. Boat US required the survey for insurance by them.
At the end of August, 2010 we took Oasis to Rotterdam for shipment to the USA. There was a high degree of professionalism by the crew from Seven Star Yacht Transport based in Amsterdam, We were lifted by a crane on the ship and lashed down on the aft deck next to a sailboat that was also going to Newport, Rhode Island. The ocean passage took longer than expected because it ran into Hurricanes Danielle and Earl. Even though Oasis was lashed down near the rear of the freighter the tugboat was covered with salt. A crew member told me that waves came over the steering cabin that was in the front of the ship and covered all the boats front to back. Dorothy's paint job suffered some damage.
As you can imagine the trip took longer than expected--4 days extra--and arrived in Newport with a thoroughly exhausted crew. Unloading was delayed a day because the US Coast Guard made the crew run through a fire drill and a mock escape from a sinking ship. We saw the ship come to anchor 3 miles north of Newport at a designated anchorage. A nearby boat yard was used as a base for the RIB that ran back and forth with boatowners , the pilot, Customs and the Coast Guard. The Customs Inspector told me that all was well with our paperwork and we should have no trouble entering the US. Also, we had a nice boat. As we were unloading a phone call came to the Load-master that Oasis was impounded until a question by Customs was resolved. Some damn bureaucrat decided that we might be a working tugboat and should pay more Import Duty. At the end of the day we were told that there was no problem and we were released. By this time Small Craft warnings came up for Narragansett Bay and I was too timid to cross the bay with those conditions. So, we were held up 2 days and shelled out $225 for two days moorings. Rhode Island Prices. Ugh! Dorothy delivered me early the 3rd day and I zipped across the Bay in quick time to Brewer's Wickford Cove Marina for winter storage. We did some painting and other prepartion for a survey by Bill Coble, a lovely guy. Boat US required the survey for insurance by them. 
