Our closeness with Canada which we take for granted, and joke about, has been strained the last few months. We routinely go back and forth across the border, Detroit/Windsor, Port Huron/Sarnia, and the freedom of pulling our boats into any of the ports along the way of the shared lakes. As long as one had their I-68s there has never been an issue. However, as of last fall, the friendship or border seriousness has turned into 'going to another country'.
As an officer with offshore doublehanded sailing, several of our events start/finish in either/both countries, and co-sponsoring of US and Canadian yacht clubs. The first major regatta this year came off with only half participation since the US during Orange security status stopped issueing I-68s, tickets were being issued, etc.
Also Canada would not allow US boats into the co-sponsoring club without onsite inspections, restricted crew to their boats waiting inspection. Three boats from my club were tickited, one for kids going up to harbor ice cream shop, one for a wife putting wet gear into the marina laundry drier, and another club member who got off his boat secured his lines and then assisted another boat with their lines coming in along side. All of these resulted in 3 digit fines and warnings of subsequent vilolations of boat seizure. We were given a warning letter for anchoring on the Canadian side of the invisible line in Lake St Clair for a ccuple of hours, a couple miles offshore.
My yacht club also received an anchoring notice for one of our juniors program sailing safety boats. It had escorted a group of kids down to a sailing event and stood by as a safty boat in case of capsize etc. Had it ideled uder power at the race mark all day, it would have been OK, but when the engine was shut down and and anchored, bingo, violation.....
I have had to arrange for two US customs agents to spend 3 days at a finish after the doublehanded regatta u Lake Huron. It apear we get to pay for fees. The alternative is for the Canadians to sail across the finish line and head back to Canada for another day sail and miss sleep, awards dinner, etc.
We annnually cruise the north end of Canadian Lake Huron uron, North Channel, and Georgian Bay. We take a couple of trips to Tobermorey Five Fathoms park in Ontario, either by personal boat or vehicle. We will not be boating or traveling Canada this year, as will a lot of our firends boats not going to Canada. Our border friendship, etc., will need to mend. Unfortunately with increased border security which I do support, may make the casual Canadian cruising and diving a thing of the past.
Boating in Canada, or coming back to US via water is no longer humorous.