Onwards towards Fehmarn to lay up

On Saturday August 25th after a curry supper aboard Freya, owned by a fellow CA members we did not feel like completing the 40 mile haul to Gedser (how lazy we are getting!), so we pottered around the island of Poel eastwards and then sailed up the Ellenbogen sound to the little holiday town of Rerik. A very typical German seaside resort with little hotels and restaurants on the "strand". Rerik has a southern beach facing the sound and, across a narrow spit, a northern beach facing the Baltic and looking across to the Danish island of Falster some 30 miles away. The marina is on the south side and is approached by a three mile channel with only 3-4 metres water depth outside which is a metre or less. A nice protected place to wait out the strong winds forecast on Sunday. We spent the afternoon shopping for tonic water, (to go with the gin), and then lazing in the cockpit in the sun watching the holiday makers.
We ended up spending two windy but sunny days in Rerik eating, reading and starting the general boat clean in preparation for lay up. We did all the German seaside stuff while in Rerik - ate curry worst and apple strudel as well as lots of fish and pork, went to the beach, and sat outside cafes out of the wind but in the sun.
On Tuesday 28th we worked up energy enough to leave Rerik, but in view of the date and the weather, decided that crossing back to Denmark was a step too far, so we sailed back across the Wismar Bay to Neustadt, which is in the general direction of Fehmarn where we will put Jomora to bed for seven months.
A lovely sail due west with 12 to 15kn from the South and Jomora tramping along at hull speed almost all the way.
There is a huge marina on the south side of the entrance to Neustadt, but based on pontoon advice at Rerik we took a mooring up the river closer to town. Nicely situated box mooring, ( we're finally getting pretty slick at these), close to water, power and a tree lined footpath and not far from the centre of town. Further along, moored up against the wall near to the road bridge there are a number of old restored fishing boats. We will stay here for two days to see the old town and, as there are good washing machines close by, we will get some clothes and bed linen washed.

In East Germany, (that was )

From Travemunde we sailed around the coast East into the Wismar Bucht. Nice sail of about 25 miles with the wind abeam or aft. We are well into what used to be the GDR, (East Germany) now. We moored in a tiny marina close to the centre of town opposite a coaster unloading coal! Fortunately the wind was blowing the dust away from us, but it was quite noisy. We had told been by a skipper at the rally to go to the Alte Haven, (old harbour), but it was narrow, dirty and full of tripper boats. It must have changed since he was there! Next day, August 22nd, we spent walking around the town. A beautiful small 16th century town with lots of half timbered houses that has been totally restored since re-unification. We saw two aerial photos of the town, one in 1990 about the time the wall came down, and another in 2005. The changes are amazing. When it was The GDR, all the plaster was peeling off the buildings and power lines were strung everywhere, really third world looking.
To us, there still seems to be quite a difference between West Germany and what used to be East Germany however, The people are not so jolly and very few of the folk older than thirty speak any English.
On Thursday August 23rd we sailed all of eight miles to an inlet in the island of Poel which is just North of Wismar. There we moored in a box mooring in the village of Kirchdorf. Really like going back to the nineteen fifties! The harbour master has to come and unlock the electricity box and the water tap and you have to go the the library to get a WIFI connection. Still, a pretty little place with cheap restaurants and well worth the visit.
Tomorrow ( 25th), all being well we will cross back to Denmark to visit Gedser.

Fehmarn

Arrived back to the boat at Middelfart late afternoon on Sunday August 12th. The journey from UK was uneventful apart from a fire on the train from Copenhagen! Thick smoke billowing into our carriage and an unscheduled train change at Korsor.
On Monday 13th we sailed from Middelfart down the East side of the Lille Bealt past Assens and Faaborg to a small sheltered anchorage well placed for the next leg. A blustery but sunny day with the wind from the South East, just where we were headed.
We hoped for better weather on Tuesday as the forecast was for Easterly winds F 3-4 and we were planning to sail just East of South to Fehmarn, (where we will return early Septamber to lay up).
We had a good time threading our way through the channels behind the islands of Drejo and Aero but when we got to sea for the 40 mile leg to Fehmarn, no prizes for guessing that we were fated to be hard on the wind for the whole time.
Everything ends however and we were safely moored at Fehmarn marina by 7pm.
Today, Wednesday 15th was spent visiting the boatyard where we will lay up, and arranging to have some shipwrights and engine jobs completed during the winter.

Back to Germany - rally at Travemunde

Having settled the details of the winter lay up at the yard in Fehmarn, we sailed 30 miles South to the town of Travemunde on Thursday 16th August to attend the Cruising Association rally. A lovely sail close reaching at 6knots in sunshine nearly all the way.
We moored at the Passathaven marina, so named because the huge four masted barque Passat is moored on the outside of the marina.
There followed a series of trips and parties to celebrate the gathering of the 20 or so boats. For us the highlights were a trip up the river to Lubeck on a replica sixteenth century sailing ship and a tour plus dinner aboard the Passat.
The weather has been very hot, 30 degrees and no wind so we have been moving around slowly and seeking the shade!
It has been interesting to visit other folk on their yachts. The most experienced sailors are a couple of old ladies of 75 and 78 who have sailed all over the Baltic and Norway during the last ten years in their 36ft yacht!
The boats range from a huge 45ft Halberg Rassy to a little 28ft Twister that has been sailed across the Mediterranean as well as the Baltic.
Perhaps the only common denominator is age, every one seems to be retired, which makes sense I suppose. Who else can spend half a year sailing?
On Monday 20th we move on and sail East. More of that later.....