Ex-Factory Handover Guide

Your Service Team will be in touch to advise you on the estimated completion date of your vessel. We do not recommend booking any flights until you have received confirmation of your boat's out-of-factory dates, which will be advised.

Please notify us of your travel itinerary so we can ensure access to your boat is arranged, including pick up at train/bus station or airport.

We recommend that you arrange to stay for a few nights in a hotel to recover from your travels and allow enough time to ready your boat before spending your first night onboard.

Please be aware that you will not be able to move onboard your boat until all ex-factory works have been completed and checked by our Handover representative in La Rochelle. Therefore, depending on timing, you may wish to book an AirBnB or similar for a longer length stay. 

NB: The boat is like a brand-new home which will need to be fully furnished with equipment, from bed linen to cutlery etc.

Rebecca will contact you well in advance to compile a list and quote for any extra equipment you would like installed on your boat prior to your arrival.

This is to allow sufficient time to ensure stock availability, so that items can be ordered and delivered on time and installed prior to your arrival.

A few days prior to your departure from La Rochelle, your Service team will receive your export documentation from the boat manufacturer.

Our French Handover team will assist you with this to ensure the export process has been completed as required. Once this procedure is done, you can not claim tax exemption on items installed.

French Customs now allow you to keep the boat up to 18 months within the EU (Shengen zone). 

Find the list of countries included in the Shengen zone here.

To benefit from VAT-free or duty-free purchases, every invoice must be presented and approved by French Customs. This will have to be done by a forwarding agent who charges for each bill processed, which can become quite expensive.

Our Handover representative in France can assist with opening an account for you at the local chandlery on your arrival (See below for chandlery details).

Anything bought there can be processed as ex-VAT purchases. You can also use an App (eg.  Zapptax)  for any other items you wish to claim tax back on.

At your boat's handover, we will go through the boat and your contract to ensure you are satisfied that all of the items you have optioned are present. We will then carry out the technical brief and go through the full operation of the vessel with you.  Please arrange to be available for a full day to complete these steps.

We will then take you for a Sea Trial to check all navigational systems aboard your boat, which generally takes approximately 1-2 hours.

Sail training on your own boat is also offered with our highly experienced instructors in La Rochelle.

We can also organise any additional crew that you may require. 

Once you are happy with your boat and the handover papers are signed, you can relax and enjoy a welcome drink onboard to celebrate!

The Yacht Sales Co. will cover the marina fees up until your handover paperwork is completed and signed. We will then assist you in setting up an account with the harbour master/marina for any extended stay required.

Following handover, The Yacht Sales Co. and Uchimata will be on hand to assist you with moving onboard, organising any further small installation work required, or simply providing local knowledge and outstanding delivery acceptance issues.

There is a Wifi network around the marina. To access the Wifi, you must contact the harbour master to register and obtain the passwords.

Orange and SFR shops located in every shopping centre (see shopping contacts below) offer pre-paid SIM cards for use in your mobile devices.

The Hotel Mercure La Rochelle Vieux-Port is a good choice for accommodation, as it is located very close to the train station and marina.

Alternatively, you can browse other hotel options at www.larochelle-tourisme.com. This website also has a wealth of information about the city and its attractions. 

Another popular accommodation option is to stay at a local Airbnb. 

The best way to get around La Rochelle's city is walking or cycling. For bicycle rentals, visit Greenbike.

A car can be very handy when provisioning, as most bigger stores are located on the outer ring road of La Rochelle. 

At the marina, there is a convenient electric ferry that can transfer you from Minimes marina to the main old harbour located downtown.

Domestic travel connections:

• RyanAir offers discount flights from London Stansted to La Rochelle airport.
• SNCF offers fast trains from Paris (Montparnasse Station) to La Rochelle.

If you are flying into La Rochelle using a domestic connection, please be aware that domestic airline baggage allowances are significantly less than those on international flights and may incur additional fees. 

Accastillage Diffusion 
This is a very convenient chandlery that allows you to set up your own VAT free account to take advantage of receiving just one invoice for VAT purposes.

Hyper U, Beaulieu – La Rochelle 
Route de Nantes  - BP 133
17285 Puilboreau Cedex
T:  (33) 5 46 68 03 22
www.coursesu.com
A large store supplying general household goods at very reasonable prices. Hire a car for the day and load up with everything you need! 

Zodio
2 Rue du 18 Juin, 17138 Puilboreau
T: (33) 5 17 06 00 30
Zodio stocks beautiful kitchen and dining accessories for your new boat. See our French Handover team to receive a 15% discount as a Yacht Sales Co. VIP client. 

Decathlon
ZAC Beaulieu 2
2 Rue de Belgique, 17138 Puilboreau
T: (33) 5 46 68 00 00
Offering sportswear and gear, fishing equipment, folding bikes, lines, and even pool noodles! Located in the same shopping precinct as Hyper U and Leroy Merlin. 

BIS – Boat Interior Solution
E: bonnie@bis-larochelle.com
W: https://www.bis-larochelle.com/en
T: +33 6 83 64 77 38
A turnkey solution for your interior equipment. Everything from towels, bedding, cutlery and more.

Leroy Merlin
Open 7am – 8pm
Supplying Sikaflex, cleaning products, chemicals and tools etc.

Calligrammes
24 Rue Chaudrier, 17000 La Rochelle
A handy resource for all texts, including a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books.

Pharmacie des Minimes
285 av Marillac, 1700 La Rochelle
T: 05 46444086

This pharmacy is an easy walk from the marina in La Rochelle. Previous owners have advised the pharmacy has compiled comprehensive medical kits for them to cater for their cruising plans. See images below for previous examples. 

Docteur Sarah Longe
General Medicine
2 Place Jean Zay, 17000 La Rochelle
T: 05 86 568613

An English-speaking doctor can also be found on Doctolib who can provide prescriptions valid for up to six months. Bookings can be made through the website. They also offer video consultations and can provide online medical support, which can be very helpful when sailing offshore.