What happens if I want to sell my shares before the syndicate is wound up? You can offer your shares for sale on this website. By paying £100 you get, for three months, a link from your name on the Prices & Availability page to your contact details, notifying the webmaster what sum you are seeking* or whether you are open to offers. You then negotiate directly with potential buyers. If more than one is wishing to sell at the same time, you are required to join the informal consortium that decides what advertisements to place to drive traffic to this site. The webmaster has no involvement with such a consortium, other than reserving the right to remove a member's contact details in the event of a majority of the consortium informing him that the member is not contributing his fair share to the consortium's expenses. You also pay £100 to the syndicate Chairman when the purchaser signs a similar Owner's Agreement to that which you signed when you bought them. Do I need a licence to use the boat? Yes, you need an International Certificate of Competence. You get this from the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) after taking the CEVNI (Code Européen des Voies Navigables Intérieures) test which you take at the same time as doing your Dutch Barge Experience Day at Bisham Abbey Sailing & Navigation School, or at other centres in the U.K. Go to Boating flashcards to see the kind of multiple choice questions you will be asked, having prepared for the test by studying the RYA's European Waterways Regulations (the CEVNI rules explained), obtainable from Bisham Abbey. What's the best way to get to the Languedoc base? Easyjet flies from Gatwick to Toulouse, whence there is a direct train to Béziers, and from there it is a 30 kilometre taxi ride to Marseillan. Train and taxi costs to be added when known Ryanair flies from Stansted and Luton to Montpellier, whence there is a direct train to Béziers. The AA will give you the shortest journey time between Calais and Marseillan, currently 10'47" covering 1,030 kilometres. This takes you, incidentally, over the Viaduc de Millau, the world's tallest bridge. What's the best way to get to the Burgundy base? There are no flights from the UK direct to any airport in Burgundy. The AA will give you the shortest journey time between Calais and St Jean de Losne, currently 5'56" covering 593.1 kilometres. How do I learn how to use the boat? As you will have done a Dutch Barge Experience Day in order to get the International Certificate of Competence, all that is necessary is to arrange with the person from whom you take over the boat to give you an hour or so hands-on familiarisation. There is also a comprehensive Owner's Manual on board. What do I need to bring with me in the way of bed linen etcetera? You need a pair of sheets, and of pillowcases, a duvet cover and towels for each person who will be sleeping aboard during your tenure. Duvets, pillows and blankets for eight are on board: see Inventory. Are there any special requirements about footwear? Required footwear is anything which will not damage the deck (by bringing sharp stones aboard from the shore embedded in the sole) or soil the saloon carpet: see Rules of Operation. Can I smoke on board? No (Défense de fumer dedans le bâteau), except outside on deck: see Rules of Operation. Can I arrange to hand over the boat at place other than its base? Yes, by arrangement with the co-owner from whom you take over the boat. Can people who do not have a licence handle the boat? Yes, provided a shareholder is on board: see Rules of Use. What happens if I damage the boat? You must ensure the damage is repaired with the least possible delay: see Rules of Use Webmaster Tony Randall 7 Bristle Hill, Buckingham MK18 1EZ, United Kingdom Land line: +44 (0)1280 821388 Mobile: +44 (0)77456 50144 E-mail: agrandall@btinternet.com The price at which you offer shares may not be, for the first three months, at a price which might prejudice the sale of shares already on offer. In practice, this means that any price at or above original price less 7.5% p.a. should be proposed.