Decided to visit UK for a couple of weeks. Keren has to go back to look after my Mum, we have a wedding to attend in early August and I would like to see my sons and daughters after three months away, so we are leaving Jomora at the marina in Middelfart for a while. The honorary local representative for the cruising association recommended the marina and then arranged the berth for us. Thank goodness again for the CA.
We've had some good cruising since the last blog despite the weather being generally poor.
After leaving Haderslev we ghosted down the fjord for about four miles and anchored at a lovely spot we had noted on the way in, between Dvaelo island and Fordholm. Well sheltered under the trees from the fresh SE wind, and we shared the spot with a host of jellyfish, mostly the small clear kind but a few pink monsters with long tentacles.
On Thursday July 19th, we explored North along the coast looking in at Hejlsmunde and Mosvig Bay, before anchoring in the corner of Gatrup Vig in Kolding Fjord where we encountered thunder, lightning and torrential rain. The lightning got so close that we switched off all the electrics for a while just in case. Not sure if that does any good, but made us feel better!
Next day we sailed down Kolding fjord into Faeno sound, and up Gamborg Fjord before anchoring to the East of Faeno Island. Faeno Island is private and is owned by the boss of LM yachts. Apparently it's quite a place complete with a hunting lodge. This was the first anchorage we have stopped at that was not totally sheltered. The wind was supposed to be West, but had some North in it, was gusting to F6 and we pitched a little during the night despite the shelter of a hill and trees.
We really are getting soft! It would be considered a really good anchorage in the Scilly isles.
So on Saturday 21st July we went all of two miles to our pre booked berth in Middelfart marina and stayed there over Sunday to do yet more clothes washing and to clean the boat before leaving for the UK via a stop in Copenhagen to see the sights.
More when we get back. We will then be heading South back to Germany to join a Cruising Association rally at Travemunde, And cruising along the German Baltic coast before laying up for the winter at Fehmarn.
Monday, 23 July 2012
Monday, 16 July 2012
Sondeborg, Dyvig, theGenner Bucht and Haderslev
On 11th July we rented bikes from the marina and rode up the hill outside Sonderborg to the Dybbol memorial. This centre commemorates the war between Denmark and Germany which ended in 1864 with the Danes being defeated by the Prussians and losing all of Schleswig Holstein. It wasn't until 1920 that the people of these two districts had a referendum and the current borders were settled. The redoubts and gun emplacements have been rebuilt as they were at the time and there are film shows to explain the battles.
Although the bike ride was only about eight kilometres, Keen and I had sore rears when we got ack to to the boat!
On Thursday 12th July we had planned to sail to Augustenborg, which is North up the Als fjord and then South East down the Augustenborg fjord, a grand total of about 14nm. The wind however was strong, there were lots of rain clouds scudding by, so we cheated, walked into Sonderborg and caught the bus instead!
We are glad we did. Augustenborg is a quite pretty little village but the marina is nothing special and the wind was whistling down the fjord, making the place seem most uninviting. A nice lunch at a local cafe, bus back, and settle down in the boat to read and write part of this blog.
Friday 13th, unlucky for some, saw the wind ease and shift to South West so we had a glorious sunny sail North up the Als fjord and then West before turning North again into Dyvig. A really narrow entrance leads into an enchanting little bay at the head of which is an hotel and small marina. We anchored again in about 3m with our stern about thirty metres off the reed lined shore, pumped up the dinghy and went ashore. The hotel is a " Bade" hotel, which seems to mean a hotel were families stay to go bathing. There are jetties, dinghies and a floating bouncy castle moored just off the beach, a great place for kids to have fun in the water. We had a look inside the hotel - expensive! Back to the boat for a sundowner and supper listening to the birds singing in the trees.
Saturday 14th July, we sailed again in company with Wandering Star out of Dyvig and across the Abenraa fjord past the island of Barso and into the Genner Bugt which is a little bay on the South Jutland shore. Another idyllic anchorage which was so nice that we stayed there two nights while exploring around the bay by foot and in the dinghy as well as cleaning the hull and decks.
Wandering Star left us on Sunday to sail to Flensburg to pick up a relative. We hope to join them later.
Time to move again as we needed civilisation for water provisions and a WIFI connection, so on Monday 16th July we sailed out of the bay and North again up the Jutland coast and into Haderslev fjord. The town of Haderslev lies at the head of the fjord which like most of the others on this coast lie SW/NE so it tends be an upwind plug travelling up them.
We left at 0930 and roared North under a reefed genoa in 25knots of West wind. We then had to turn just South of West to motor up the fjord which although wide has a narrow winding channel for 7 miles. A weary slog although the scenery made up for it despite the frequent rain showers. This fjord is very reminiscent of the Fal up to Ruan Lanihorn when the tide is in, ( and it's always in here).
Fun getting into the box mooring at Haderslev. Cross wind, cross current, cross skipper and cross crew. Still, no damage and off to the local cafe for a beer, wine and Biksmad, ( a Danish dish with meat, potatoes, and onions). We will stay here for a couple of days to do shopping wash clothes, and fill up with water before moving on.
Although the bike ride was only about eight kilometres, Keen and I had sore rears when we got ack to to the boat!
On Thursday 12th July we had planned to sail to Augustenborg, which is North up the Als fjord and then South East down the Augustenborg fjord, a grand total of about 14nm. The wind however was strong, there were lots of rain clouds scudding by, so we cheated, walked into Sonderborg and caught the bus instead!
We are glad we did. Augustenborg is a quite pretty little village but the marina is nothing special and the wind was whistling down the fjord, making the place seem most uninviting. A nice lunch at a local cafe, bus back, and settle down in the boat to read and write part of this blog.
Friday 13th, unlucky for some, saw the wind ease and shift to South West so we had a glorious sunny sail North up the Als fjord and then West before turning North again into Dyvig. A really narrow entrance leads into an enchanting little bay at the head of which is an hotel and small marina. We anchored again in about 3m with our stern about thirty metres off the reed lined shore, pumped up the dinghy and went ashore. The hotel is a " Bade" hotel, which seems to mean a hotel were families stay to go bathing. There are jetties, dinghies and a floating bouncy castle moored just off the beach, a great place for kids to have fun in the water. We had a look inside the hotel - expensive! Back to the boat for a sundowner and supper listening to the birds singing in the trees.
Saturday 14th July, we sailed again in company with Wandering Star out of Dyvig and across the Abenraa fjord past the island of Barso and into the Genner Bugt which is a little bay on the South Jutland shore. Another idyllic anchorage which was so nice that we stayed there two nights while exploring around the bay by foot and in the dinghy as well as cleaning the hull and decks.
Wandering Star left us on Sunday to sail to Flensburg to pick up a relative. We hope to join them later.
Time to move again as we needed civilisation for water provisions and a WIFI connection, so on Monday 16th July we sailed out of the bay and North again up the Jutland coast and into Haderslev fjord. The town of Haderslev lies at the head of the fjord which like most of the others on this coast lie SW/NE so it tends be an upwind plug travelling up them.
We left at 0930 and roared North under a reefed genoa in 25knots of West wind. We then had to turn just South of West to motor up the fjord which although wide has a narrow winding channel for 7 miles. A weary slog although the scenery made up for it despite the frequent rain showers. This fjord is very reminiscent of the Fal up to Ruan Lanihorn when the tide is in, ( and it's always in here).
Fun getting into the box mooring at Haderslev. Cross wind, cross current, cross skipper and cross crew. Still, no damage and off to the local cafe for a beer, wine and Biksmad, ( a Danish dish with meat, potatoes, and onions). We will stay here for a couple of days to do shopping wash clothes, and fill up with water before moving on.
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Sondeborg in Denmark - fifth country visited
We don't count UK but so far we have been to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, and now Denmark.
We are, however, really starting to cruise slowly now because we are enjoying the places and scenery so much. Corinthian sailors would be disgusted with our progress, but our excuse is quality rather than quantity, (it probably is that, just an excuse)!
We left Wandering Star watching the tennis on their satellite telly on Sunday 8th July and ambled through the lifting bridge at Kappeln and up the Schlei using just the genoa as we could not be bothered to rush. Incredibly picturesque with rolling hills coming down to the waters edge. We stopped and anchored in a little bay above the town of Schleswig and watched the world go by for a couple of hours and then turned back through the lifting bridge again and further down the fjord to an anchorage close the entrance. The weather forecast was not cheerful, ( second hand English weather approaching), so we anchored in 2 1/2 metres of water close to the shore for protection from the forecast wind. Not something you would try in a tidal environment. Just after we had anchored, a huge black cloud like a biblical portent of doom approached and it started to pour with rain and to thunder. A catamaran came scudding by and dropped anchor in even shallower water, and when the rain eased, Iain Kidsen (CA member) came over in his dinghy and invited us for drinks!
Next morning, Monday 9th Wandering Star came down to us, we sailed out of the Schlei and North to the large fjord that leads to Sonderborg and on to Flensburg. The middle of this fjord is the border between Germany and Denmark. The original border was much further South, making Denmark a considerably larger country, but in 1864, the Germans beat the Danes at the battle of Dybbol (close to Sonderborg), and so Denark shrunk.
The weather forecast for the area was grim predicting F6-7in the afternoon, but as we only had twenty miles to go to a protected anchorage and left at 9:30 we thought it worth the effort especially as it was a broad reach all the way.
Both boats roared down wind under genoa alone, the sails gradually being furled as the wind increased. To get into the chosen anchorage in Vemmingbund Bay West of Sonderburg required a cross wind reach and then we felt the wind. I only saw 35 knots but the local marina claimed it was gusting 40. The grief only lasted for an hour though before we were in the lee of land and both boats anchored in less than 3m and calm water with the wind roaring through the trees onshore but just a breeze at water level.
Today, 10th July was a record for a short sail, just three miles to the big marina at the entrance to the town of Sonderborg. A lovely historic town.
The queen of Denmark is here!
Nice of her to visit in her beautiful classic motor yacht 'Danneborg' just to see us, we have had a wash and brush up collected a case of beer from the local supermarket and await our invite to her summer residence!
We are, however, really starting to cruise slowly now because we are enjoying the places and scenery so much. Corinthian sailors would be disgusted with our progress, but our excuse is quality rather than quantity, (it probably is that, just an excuse)!
We left Wandering Star watching the tennis on their satellite telly on Sunday 8th July and ambled through the lifting bridge at Kappeln and up the Schlei using just the genoa as we could not be bothered to rush. Incredibly picturesque with rolling hills coming down to the waters edge. We stopped and anchored in a little bay above the town of Schleswig and watched the world go by for a couple of hours and then turned back through the lifting bridge again and further down the fjord to an anchorage close the entrance. The weather forecast was not cheerful, ( second hand English weather approaching), so we anchored in 2 1/2 metres of water close to the shore for protection from the forecast wind. Not something you would try in a tidal environment. Just after we had anchored, a huge black cloud like a biblical portent of doom approached and it started to pour with rain and to thunder. A catamaran came scudding by and dropped anchor in even shallower water, and when the rain eased, Iain Kidsen (CA member) came over in his dinghy and invited us for drinks!
Next morning, Monday 9th Wandering Star came down to us, we sailed out of the Schlei and North to the large fjord that leads to Sonderborg and on to Flensburg. The middle of this fjord is the border between Germany and Denmark. The original border was much further South, making Denmark a considerably larger country, but in 1864, the Germans beat the Danes at the battle of Dybbol (close to Sonderborg), and so Denark shrunk.
The weather forecast for the area was grim predicting F6-7in the afternoon, but as we only had twenty miles to go to a protected anchorage and left at 9:30 we thought it worth the effort especially as it was a broad reach all the way.
Both boats roared down wind under genoa alone, the sails gradually being furled as the wind increased. To get into the chosen anchorage in Vemmingbund Bay West of Sonderburg required a cross wind reach and then we felt the wind. I only saw 35 knots but the local marina claimed it was gusting 40. The grief only lasted for an hour though before we were in the lee of land and both boats anchored in less than 3m and calm water with the wind roaring through the trees onshore but just a breeze at water level.
Today, 10th July was a record for a short sail, just three miles to the big marina at the entrance to the town of Sonderborg. A lovely historic town.
The queen of Denmark is here!
Nice of her to visit in her beautiful classic motor yacht 'Danneborg' just to see us, we have had a wash and brush up collected a case of beer from the local supermarket and await our invite to her summer residence!
Saturday, 7 July 2012
Kappeln
On Wednesday July 4th we left the marina at Moltenort after taking a walk around the village and visiting the memorial to the u boat crews that were lost at sea. Apparently 80% of the uboat folk never returned and there are rows and rows of names carved into the black granite facia. All very sombre. Of course we all have our own views on the whole issue, and one comment in the visitors book said it all, " Never again".
We had a lovely sail North along the coast in sunshine, although the seas were a bit lumpy, and then turned into Eckenforde. The Danish fjords are all wide with rolling green hills, quite reminiscent of Devon. The town of Eckenforde is at the head of the fjord and has two marinas. The one recommended to us and closest to the town looked very full and also uninviting because the wind by now had strengthened to about 20kn and as it faced back down the fjord and into the wind it looked as though it could be uncomfortable. We chose the bigger marina close to the naval base and were glad we did. Nice big berths, good facilities and restaurant together with free bikes to get us the 2 km into town. All for €18 a night inclusive of electricity.
The next day was spent shopping, particularly for beer, gin and whisky all of which are cheap here while the prices in Denmark are very high.
On Friday 6th July we were headed back down the Eckenforde by 9 am, and North again past the marina and resort of Damp ( well named, it was drizzling). Five miles further on we turned into the Schlei ( as in Sly). This is where Davies and Carruthers met Bartles, the skipper of the trading vessel and were taken duck shooting by the pilot in the Riddle of the Sands so we looked out for what we thought might have been the pilot's house.
A beautiful fjord bordered with green fields and woods with a number of tempting anchorages. We were bound for the town of Kappeln however and by 3pm we were in yet another box mooring right by the main drag and restaurants. Thank goodness the cruising association guide had mentioned the strong current that can run across these moorings because both Wandering Star and us made allowance for it and berthed without too much drama. Some others were not so lucky and ended up all over the place.
The current in these fjords is an interesting phenomena because there are no big rivers running into them and the current seems to be driven by barometric pressure but is not predictable. Today ( 7th July ) Keren and I watched it. No current at all until about 10.30am and by 4pm it was flowing fast enough to catch folk out again.
Apart from being a pretty place Kappeln has an amazing yacht chandlery. Run by a wizened old fellow it is an Aladdins cave of yachtie stuff, particularly things stainless.
Tomorrow we're off up the Schlei to look at Schleswig before heading to Flensburg, but that's another blog.
We had a lovely sail North along the coast in sunshine, although the seas were a bit lumpy, and then turned into Eckenforde. The Danish fjords are all wide with rolling green hills, quite reminiscent of Devon. The town of Eckenforde is at the head of the fjord and has two marinas. The one recommended to us and closest to the town looked very full and also uninviting because the wind by now had strengthened to about 20kn and as it faced back down the fjord and into the wind it looked as though it could be uncomfortable. We chose the bigger marina close to the naval base and were glad we did. Nice big berths, good facilities and restaurant together with free bikes to get us the 2 km into town. All for €18 a night inclusive of electricity.
The next day was spent shopping, particularly for beer, gin and whisky all of which are cheap here while the prices in Denmark are very high.
On Friday 6th July we were headed back down the Eckenforde by 9 am, and North again past the marina and resort of Damp ( well named, it was drizzling). Five miles further on we turned into the Schlei ( as in Sly). This is where Davies and Carruthers met Bartles, the skipper of the trading vessel and were taken duck shooting by the pilot in the Riddle of the Sands so we looked out for what we thought might have been the pilot's house.
A beautiful fjord bordered with green fields and woods with a number of tempting anchorages. We were bound for the town of Kappeln however and by 3pm we were in yet another box mooring right by the main drag and restaurants. Thank goodness the cruising association guide had mentioned the strong current that can run across these moorings because both Wandering Star and us made allowance for it and berthed without too much drama. Some others were not so lucky and ended up all over the place.
The current in these fjords is an interesting phenomena because there are no big rivers running into them and the current seems to be driven by barometric pressure but is not predictable. Today ( 7th July ) Keren and I watched it. No current at all until about 10.30am and by 4pm it was flowing fast enough to catch folk out again.
Apart from being a pretty place Kappeln has an amazing yacht chandlery. Run by a wizened old fellow it is an Aladdins cave of yachtie stuff, particularly things stainless.
Tomorrow we're off up the Schlei to look at Schleswig before heading to Flensburg, but that's another blog.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Finally - the Baltic!
We left Rendsburg at 9 o'clock today ( July 3rd) and motored the last 15 miles to the Holtenau locks at Kiel. After jilling about for an hour the lights changed to green and we entered the 1/2 mile long lock together with about 30 other boats. After tying up alongside Wandering Star we paid our canal dues of €18, the gates closed the lock filled about a metre and the other gates opened to the Kiel Bucht, ( bay).
Almost directly across the sound is the marina at Moltenort/Heickendorf which extends a warm welcome to Cruising Association members. Pete managed to choose a box that would easily fit a 60ft yacht and of course we ran out of stern line before the bows were close to the jetty. Fortunately Peter Wilde, ( CA helper to the local representative) was on hand to hold our bow line while we juggled longer stern lines. He then took us into the local yacht club which is in an old wooden lightship moored in the marina. There we met a number of members, we're given coffee laced with ice cream and shown around the historic wooden vessel. What a nice welcome! The weather continues sunny and warm - long may it last
Almost directly across the sound is the marina at Moltenort/Heickendorf which extends a warm welcome to Cruising Association members. Pete managed to choose a box that would easily fit a 60ft yacht and of course we ran out of stern line before the bows were close to the jetty. Fortunately Peter Wilde, ( CA helper to the local representative) was on hand to hold our bow line while we juggled longer stern lines. He then took us into the local yacht club which is in an old wooden lightship moored in the marina. There we met a number of members, we're given coffee laced with ice cream and shown around the historic wooden vessel. What a nice welcome! The weather continues sunny and warm - long may it last
Sunday, 1 July 2012
Into the Kiel canal to Rendsburg
A long time since our last post. Wifi reception has been like the weather, bad.
From Lauwersoog we locked out into a grey lumpy North Sea on Tuesday June 26th having waited for a window in the weather to make the two longish legs across the German Frisian islands.
We were now really into Riddle of the Sands territory and headed to Nordeney. We immediately got into the spirit of the book by following a channel which was marked on both the chart and the chart plotter but had no buoys! Shore to the right and breakers to the left for about 3 miles, and no Davies on board.
We have noticed before that buoys can be moved or missing. Good job the wind was only F3, although the seas were big as a result of the previous windy weather.
We passed by the entrance to the rivers Jade and Weser where we counted 12 ships waiting on the tide to go up river.
The entrance to Nordeney is tortuous and quite intimidating for a West country sailor, because the channel makes a number of turns and the sand banks are evident by the froth and breakers quite close to the buoys. Fortunately, in this case the buoys are easily visible. Nordeney harbour and marina had, for us, nothing to recommend it and is a long way from town.
The crew agreed that Erskine Childers can keep the Waddenzee!
On the next day (June 27th), we sailed to Cuxhaven. A long day sail of 67nm but quite enjoyable as the wind was fair and the seas quite calm. We were sailing in company with an English couple in a Westerly Sealord called Wandering Star, ( Janet and Chris) with whom we kept intermittent contact en route. The river Elbe, running into Cuxhaven is very impressive. So wide at the entrance that you cannot see any shore but actually quite a narrow deep water channel with sandbanks to right and left. Lots of really big ships going both ways, so yachts have to stay outside the main shipping channel. Feels like being a hedgehog by a motorway.
Halfway along the channel to Cuxhaven we heard Chris calling on channel 16 to say that his engine had failed! Nice timing! We acted as relay for the Elbe rescue services, Alan talking on the radio while Anne and I turned around to go to him and made ready our heaving line and long warp.
What a display when we got back to him about 15 minutes later! The Elbe pilot vessel was standing by, while a police boat came storming up to drop a big RIB off a ramp at the stern in true commando style, and then the big SAR ( search and rescue) launch did likewise. Wandering Star was already taking a tow from a big Dutch yacht, so Jomora and the SAR launch stood by while they were towed into Cuxhaven marina.
We were very impressed with the response to the distress call, but apparently similar events happen quite often in the Elbe, and because it is such an important river for the German economy every effort is made to keep the channels clear for shipping.
The big marina in Cuxhaven is impressive. Nice box moorings with pontoons, clean, efficient and a really nice restaurant all for €18 a night! It is also a short walk from the old part of Cuxhaven which is surprisingly pretty.
At Cuxhaven Jomora had a crew change on Friday June 29th. Alan and Ann left on the train to see Hamburg before flying home and Keren arrived with Mike and Theresa. They had very kindly picked Keren up at Hamburg station the evening before and after showing her Hamburg had taken the trouble to drive her to Cuxhaven. Mike had even printed the details of the Kiel canal locks for us. Thank you both of you!
On 30th June we sailed up the Elbe on the morning flood tide to the southern lock of the Kiel canal at Brunsbuttel. We had such a tide that we were sailing at 9 knots in a F3 with just the genoa, do not fall overboard in the river Elbe! We counted at least twenty boats waiting to enter the Alte lock which is the one reserved for little people. The other one had an enormous cruise liner in it. We let all the folk gallop in, and as recommended we hung back, let them tie up to the slippery floating pontoon and then went alongside. I have worked out that being last through locks and bridges is the way to go.
The Kiel canal is also very impressive, especially considering that it was originally built by the Kaiser before the first world war. It is wide, tree lined with 40m high bridges and lots of sophisticated traffic lights, which fortunately apply to the monster ships that use it as we did not fully understand the instructions Mike supplied! Yachts scuttle along the sides of the canal, but there is plenty of room for all. The big ships are closely regulated with pilots on board and travel quite slowly.
The weather was glorious, ( have we finally left the bad weather behind??), shorts and T shirt again.
Mid afternoon saw us turning up the delightful tributary to Rendsburg where we tied up at the tree lined Regatta-Verien marina. We are getting good at box moorings finally, slid into this one like Nordic professionals.
From Lauwersoog we locked out into a grey lumpy North Sea on Tuesday June 26th having waited for a window in the weather to make the two longish legs across the German Frisian islands.
We were now really into Riddle of the Sands territory and headed to Nordeney. We immediately got into the spirit of the book by following a channel which was marked on both the chart and the chart plotter but had no buoys! Shore to the right and breakers to the left for about 3 miles, and no Davies on board.
We have noticed before that buoys can be moved or missing. Good job the wind was only F3, although the seas were big as a result of the previous windy weather.
We passed by the entrance to the rivers Jade and Weser where we counted 12 ships waiting on the tide to go up river.
The entrance to Nordeney is tortuous and quite intimidating for a West country sailor, because the channel makes a number of turns and the sand banks are evident by the froth and breakers quite close to the buoys. Fortunately, in this case the buoys are easily visible. Nordeney harbour and marina had, for us, nothing to recommend it and is a long way from town.
The crew agreed that Erskine Childers can keep the Waddenzee!
On the next day (June 27th), we sailed to Cuxhaven. A long day sail of 67nm but quite enjoyable as the wind was fair and the seas quite calm. We were sailing in company with an English couple in a Westerly Sealord called Wandering Star, ( Janet and Chris) with whom we kept intermittent contact en route. The river Elbe, running into Cuxhaven is very impressive. So wide at the entrance that you cannot see any shore but actually quite a narrow deep water channel with sandbanks to right and left. Lots of really big ships going both ways, so yachts have to stay outside the main shipping channel. Feels like being a hedgehog by a motorway.
Halfway along the channel to Cuxhaven we heard Chris calling on channel 16 to say that his engine had failed! Nice timing! We acted as relay for the Elbe rescue services, Alan talking on the radio while Anne and I turned around to go to him and made ready our heaving line and long warp.
What a display when we got back to him about 15 minutes later! The Elbe pilot vessel was standing by, while a police boat came storming up to drop a big RIB off a ramp at the stern in true commando style, and then the big SAR ( search and rescue) launch did likewise. Wandering Star was already taking a tow from a big Dutch yacht, so Jomora and the SAR launch stood by while they were towed into Cuxhaven marina.
We were very impressed with the response to the distress call, but apparently similar events happen quite often in the Elbe, and because it is such an important river for the German economy every effort is made to keep the channels clear for shipping.
The big marina in Cuxhaven is impressive. Nice box moorings with pontoons, clean, efficient and a really nice restaurant all for €18 a night! It is also a short walk from the old part of Cuxhaven which is surprisingly pretty.
At Cuxhaven Jomora had a crew change on Friday June 29th. Alan and Ann left on the train to see Hamburg before flying home and Keren arrived with Mike and Theresa. They had very kindly picked Keren up at Hamburg station the evening before and after showing her Hamburg had taken the trouble to drive her to Cuxhaven. Mike had even printed the details of the Kiel canal locks for us. Thank you both of you!
On 30th June we sailed up the Elbe on the morning flood tide to the southern lock of the Kiel canal at Brunsbuttel. We had such a tide that we were sailing at 9 knots in a F3 with just the genoa, do not fall overboard in the river Elbe! We counted at least twenty boats waiting to enter the Alte lock which is the one reserved for little people. The other one had an enormous cruise liner in it. We let all the folk gallop in, and as recommended we hung back, let them tie up to the slippery floating pontoon and then went alongside. I have worked out that being last through locks and bridges is the way to go.
The Kiel canal is also very impressive, especially considering that it was originally built by the Kaiser before the first world war. It is wide, tree lined with 40m high bridges and lots of sophisticated traffic lights, which fortunately apply to the monster ships that use it as we did not fully understand the instructions Mike supplied! Yachts scuttle along the sides of the canal, but there is plenty of room for all. The big ships are closely regulated with pilots on board and travel quite slowly.
The weather was glorious, ( have we finally left the bad weather behind??), shorts and T shirt again.
Mid afternoon saw us turning up the delightful tributary to Rendsburg where we tied up at the tree lined Regatta-Verien marina. We are getting good at box moorings finally, slid into this one like Nordic professionals.
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