Registering a Classic Boat

Did you think boat registration was only for recent vessels, motorboats, or sailboats? That's not the case! Classic sailboats are also concerned.

The good news is that administrative procedures for these vessels are another one of our team's specialties. We explain...

For classic sailboats as for all boats, the rule is simple: the vessel registration procedure applies to all boats measuring more than 2.5 meters in length, or that are equipped with an engine with a power equal to or greater than 4.5 kW.

Classic sailboats, most of the time in this case, must therefore be registered. The administrative procedures for their registration are essential if they want to be able to navigate in accordance with regulations!

Classic sailboats may require more complex administrative procedures than usual. Indeed, most of the time, they are unique sailboats with their own particularities, and which cannot always meet the criteria requested by the administration.

The techniques and construction methods used, for example, sometimes do not allow them to comply with the standards that boats must meet to be registered. Other times, the advanced age and long history of the sailboat do not allow all the requested documents to be provided...

However, within the Bateau-immatriculation.com team, we are convinced that classic sailboats have great historical and heritage value. Therefore, we have developed the skills to carry out all the administrative procedures for classic sailboats, to allow you to sail without delay. So, will you let us help you?

If you own a classic sailboat, you are probably familiar with these vessels designed by William Fife, a particularly renowned Scottish naval architect: Moonbeam, Mariquita, and Moonbeam IV, built in 1903, 1911, and 1914 respectively, are three magnificent centenarian sailboats that regularly enliven classic regattas.

But did you know that the current owner of these three legendary sailboats entrusted our team with all the registration procedures?

When we began assisting the owner with their procedures in 2020, all three vessels were in different administrative situations:

• Moonbeam, formerly known as Moonbeam of Fife, was under a commercial flag with the French International Register (RIF),
• Mariquita flew a British flag,
• Moonbeam IV, for its part, sailed under a Maltese flag.

After the three boats had been in the Mediterranean for several years, the current owner wanted them to sail in Brittany, for pleasure and under the French flag. For him, the administrative procedures involved proved particularly tedious and complex.

Today, the three magnificent classic sailboats are moored at the Château port in Brest. They still enliven many classic regattas – in the Channel and the Atlantic.

At the end of August 2024, the vessels distinguished themselves at the Brest Douarnenez Classic Finistère – a race held for the second consecutive year in Brittany, in which a total of 110 crew members on 9 of the most beautiful classic sailboats participated.

After 6 days of racing in the Finistère waters, the vessel Mariquita was declared the winner, with Moonbeam IV coming in second and the sailboat Moonbeam finishing fourth. Mariquita had already won the first edition of the race in summer 2023!

Moonbeam, Mariquita, and Moonbeam IV are not the only classic sailboats registered thanks to our team's work. Recently, we also assisted the new owner of the sailboat Avatar with the registration of his vessel and obtaining the French flag.

More commonly known as Pursuit – a name that is not the sailboat's original but was used for many years, Avatar was designed by the renowned American naval architect William Starling Burgess. Built in Germany, the M-Class racing yacht was first launched in 1929.

Exported to the United States and flying the American flag, it delighted multiple owners for many years. Then, more recently, it was abandoned in a shipyard in the United States. It was under these circumstances that the new owner, a Frenchman, acquired it!

Since then, Avatar has been brought back to France by cargo ship. For our part, we carried out the procedures to register the vessel in France and obtain the French flag for it.

As of this writing, the classic sailboat is currently undergoing a refit at a shipyard in Brittany...

Are you a classic sailboat owner and also need our team's help to complete your administrative procedures? Contact us, and let us take care of all your paperwork!