16/06/2025 Topic: Boatyards in Bergen Norway Charles.Lenhoff	Nico, My man in Vollen also recommends Bergen Marinesenter... ~Charles
22/06/2025 Topic: Provisioning in the northwest coast of Scotland Charles.Lenhoff	Friends, Making the jump from Norway to the northwest coast of Scotland via Shetland in late July, what ports in Scotland would you recommend for food provisioning? ~Lisa
23/06/2025 Topic: Provisioning in the northwest coast of Scotland Charles.Lenhoff	Thank you Dick and Simon!!!
03/07/2025 Topic: Western Scotland and the Hebrides Charles.Lenhoff	Nancy, We are in Norway and will be heading to Shetland mid-July, and then down the west coast of Scotland so maybe we can meet up... ~Lisa
24/07/2025 Topic: Wanted: Recommendation for Extended EU Visa Charles.Lenhoff	Thanks Simon!!! But in my ignorance... John, Please consult this document covering pre-Schengen Bi-Lateral Agreements in effect if you want to extend you time in Schengen past 90 days...and double check the information with live immigration office in the country you intend to stay: https://www.theca.org.uk/node/63970#:~:text=https%3A//op.europa.eu/en/publication%2Ddetail/%2D/publication/c067e92d%2D5a8b%2D11e9%2D9151%2D01aa75ed71a1 I share with you my Kafkaesque recent experience: We checked out of Norway last week at the Bergen airport and headed to Shetland. Here's a few things we took note of from our experience: 1. You can only check out in Bergen at the airport, and not at the Police station in center ville. The #1 train from the bus station is easy and runs every 10 minutes. The police station is on the LEFT side of the departure terminal and is supposed to be open daily from 07000 to 2300 hr, but the officer is also making the rounds in the airport so we had to wait 40 minutes. 2. For yachts under 15 meters, checking into Norway can be done via emailing the police in the district you are checking in, but also it is important to email the police in the district where you are checking out of PRIOR to arriving at the airport to get your passport stamped. Also, you have to check into customs whether or not you have anything to declare and they will register your MMSI into their system. 3. For yachts over 15 meters, they have to go through SafeSeaNet for entry and exit documentation prior to arriving at the airport for a passport exit stamp. 4. And for citizens of the USA, there is a bi-lateral treaty with Norway that allows for an additional 90 day in NORWAY only, once 89 days in Schengen countries outside Norway has been incurred. for example, Sally the Sailor is a USA citizen and enters Paris on January 1st, 2026 and spends 89 days shopping and stimulating the economies in Paris, Londo, Milan and Berlin. On the 89the day, she goes to Oslo immigration and they stamp her passport with an exit stamp and swing her around the Norwegian flagpole with a welcome to Norway ONLY bonus stamp which she can only use for Norway. How the 90/180 day rules apply for her return to Schengen is uncertain but believed that the clock starts on exiting Norway. That's all for now. ~Captain Lisa Lenhof USCG MMC mv Ho'okipa Selene 4326
08/12/2025 Topic: Shetland Light Dues Charles.Lenhoff	Friends, I received an email out of the blue from Cristina Sutton who claims to be a "Light Dues Administrator" in Shetland... She's asking a dues payment for entering Lerwick from Norway in July on our boat. I called her and she explained the dues were for using the lighthouses as navigation aids. She sent us the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 which outlines her claim for Light Dues. But nothing in applies to us and something smells fishy here. Has anyone heard about this? ~Lisa
28/12/2025 Topic: Shetland Light Dues Charles.Lenhoff	Friends, Christina Sutton @ Light House Administration hit us up for 90 pounds and we're going to pay it cuz it's not worth disputing and we want to be honorable visitors to her turf. ~Lisa
18/04/2026 Topic: Wanted: Recommendation for Extended EU Visa Charles.Lenhoff	Gino, May I ask how you filled in the "Proof of Accommodation" section? Also, how did you avoid the mistake of providing proof of MEDICARE insurance that needs to cover the full stay, but needs to be renewed prior to the Vias 1 year date? edited by Charles.Lenhoff on 18/04/2026
08/07/2026 Topic: FUEL costs in Scotland VS Ireland Charles.Lenhoff	Friends, I need to take on about 2300 liters of diesel. I ran today's rate through AI including the UK VAT discount of 40% for heating the boat and converted the pound/euro to USD. Here's what AI determined: In Scotland, with the 60% propulsion and 40% heating split, and the different VAT rates, your total came to about $7,660. In Ireland, with the full VAT rate on the entire purchase, the total was about $5,848. That's was a surprise and big difference. Do you have additional thoughts? ~Lisa
08/07/2026 Topic: FUEL costs in Scotland VS Ireland Charles.Lenhoff	Friends, I need to take on about 2300 liters of diesel. I ran today's rate through AI including the UK VAT discount of 40% for heating the boat and converted the pound/euro to USD. Here's what AI determined: In Scotland, with the 60% propulsion and 40% heating split, and the different VAT rates, your total came to about $7,660. In Ireland, with the full VAT rate on the entire purchase, the total was about $5,848. That's was a surprise and big difference. Do you have additional thoughts? ~Lisa
24 days ago Topic: DDZ Marine in ALrgs fire sale on NoFlex Charles.Lenhoff	Ahoy, My buddy Dino @ DDZ in Largs is having a fire sale on Noflex Digestor sewage treatment and order eliminator. Price reduced from 90 to 57.50 pounds. he asked me to spread the word.

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