USA FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: Download the CBP ROAM App for fast vessel reporting on arrival in US waters. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Make sure any non-US citizens on board have obtained a US visa in advance. An ESTA does not apply if entering the USA for the first time by yacht. However, if your first entry to the USA is by commercial carrier, or on foot across the border first with an ESTA - then subsequently entering by yacht is a valid form of entry for short visits. As of 9 June, 2025, travel bans have been imposed for citizens of some countries. Note the CBP ROAM app only checks in the boat, not the crew. A face-to-face procedure is required for all crew as well. See Immigration for more details.
Where can I enter? Click on the anchor symbol in the blue “Explore Country” drop down, to see ports of entry.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no entry or exit fees.
What security concerns should I know about? The most frequent crime against visitors to the USA is petty theft. See Security for more info.
USA Facts for Sailors
- Whilst in the past, the majority of foreign boats visiting the United States were Canadian, security and reporting requirements have been simplified in recent years making the USA a much more accessible place to visit.
- The USA has a lot to offer the cruising sailor, particularly the East Coast, the entire length of which can be cruised from the Florida Keys to Maine. A cruise along this coast has the added attraction of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), a unique system of canals, rivers and estuaries, which stretches along most of the eastern seaboard offering the chance of sailing up or down the coast in sheltered waters almost within sight of the ocean.
- Offering less variety, the West Coast's main attractions are concentrated at its two extremes. The most popular cruising area in the Pacific Northwest is the San Juan Islands, an archipelago of some 200 islands, many of which have been declared wildlife reserves or marine parks. Beyond these islands and through Canadian waters, the Inside Passage beckons, linking Puget Sound to Alaska, America's ultimate cruising destination. An increasing number of yachts sail to Alaska for the short summer season, either by taking the inside route or making an offshore detour by stopping first at the Hawaiian Islands.
- Visibility is often poor in the Pacific Northwest region, so radar is useful. The Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) on VHF Channel 14 provides a useful service in the Juan de Fuca Strait which is often fogbound and always very busy with traffic.
- For those avoiding high latitude cruising, there is all year round sailing in the Pacific Southwest, whether in the San Francisco Bay area or the Channel Islands, off Southern California. Of the eight main islands, Santa Catalina is the best known and most popular. The other islands are less frequented and there are countless coves around their precipitous shores. Since some of the Channel Islands are either privately owned or part of the National Park system, a permit to visit them must be obtained in advance by those wishing to go ashore.
- Yachting facilities throughout the United States are predominantly of a high standard, especially near larger cities. There are marinas practically everywhere and the only objection visiting sailors might have are the high docking fees. Fortunately almost everywhere there is also a place to anchor at little or no cost and in some ports municipal marinas, docks or moorings are priced at a level affordable by those cruising on a restricted budget.
- On the East Coast, the most important yachting centers where the whole range of repair facilities are available are the areas around the following cities: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Beaufort/Morehead City, Baltimore, City Island (New York), Newport, Marblehead. On the West Coast: San Diego, Newport Beach, San Francisco, Seattle. In between these places, there are countless smaller ports, where one can find boatyards, chandleries and all kinds of workshops.
- The USA utilizes a different set of VHF frequencies for some communications. Most VHF radio sets have a "USA mode" in order to switch automatically to these frequencies. Whilst VHF Channel 16 is the internationally recognized hailing and emergency channel, it is common for some marinas to use alternate "Alpha Channels" to communicate on working channels. Most importantly, the US Coast Guard commonly uses VHF Channel 22A as a working channel. When operating in US territorial waters, it is advised to switch your VHF radio set to "USA mode." Also, VHF Channel 09 is regularly used as a reserved channel for official activities such as bridge and lock operation.
- The US Coast Guard maintains a record of every report and active navigation issue in all of the waterways – inland and coastal – in the USA. They publish this information for the public at the US Coast Guard Navigation Center website. This is the best location for all Local Notice To Mariners, ice flow charts for high-latitudes, and local/regional/federal navigation rules (and changes to them). It is possible to subscribe to (weekly) email updates specific to the region you may be cruising. The USCG also welcomes updates as you cruise and can be contacted through the website (or on VHF Channel 16). The USCG NavCen site has a truly astounding level of detail.
