Looks like the easterlies are settling down and we can proceed toward Copenhagen today. Bagenkop was a pleasant rest but there isn't much to do and see here.
Lots of German boats from Kiel. One Dutch boat and us.
We leave for Rodbyhavn in a couple of hours, only 30 miles.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Bagenkop, Denmark
We are now in Denmark in a small fishing village waiting for the weather to improve before going east. We have strong easterlies for the next two days.
Here are some photos from the Kiel canal
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| approaching a bridge. always looks scary but there was lots of clearance |
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| sharing the Kiel canal |
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| This guy doesn't know how to spell his own name |
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| tucked into a small marina in Brunsbuttlewatching ships go by all night |
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| sheep. not a usual sight for us |
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| leaving the southern lock |
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| bridge approach. there were nine of these |
s
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| close encounter |
Saturday, June 11, 2016
The British Kiel Yacht Club, Kiel Germany
After we left Volendam, we motored north through the dam and lock at Enkhuizen and then through another dam and lock at Den Oever back into the North Sea. Following the channel we were able to motorsail with tide to proceed outside the Friesian Islands and go north around them.The wind and tide was favourable and made good progress under sail around the top of Holland and the German Friesian Islands and then into the Elbe River.
If you think the outer reaches of the Thames Estuary are bleak then I would suggest that the Elbe is worse. Fortunately, we had favourable wind and tide to take us past Cuxhaven and up into the massive locks at Brunsbuttle, where we found shelter at a tiny marina.
We looked around the small town, which seemed typically German but after a long 36 hours at sea were not inclined to do much except go to sleep.
Yesterday, was a bright clear day, perfect for the 60 mile meandering run up the Kiel Canal. This a massive canal project completed in 1895 but still works very well, even though we have to share with some enormous ships.
Very strange to hear birds and see cows and sheep while sailing but there it is.This must be what the narrow boaters see every day on their travels.
We locked out of the north end of the canal at about 1530H into the Baltic Sea and on to the British Kiel Yacht Club. We chose this place from a recommendation in my pilot book and a member of the Little Ship Club in London who said it was a must see.
Perhaps the information was a little out of date, as there really isn't much here. The place seems to be run as a training center for the remaining British Army and even though it is well maintained there was nothing going on. Even on a Saturday night, it was occupied by four or five post adolescent squaddies watching the soccer on TV. We couldn't even make any jokes about not mentioning the war.
They wouldn't even give us the internet password as it was seemingly " classified information"
With the magic of Google we found a very nice Balkan restaurant about a 20 minute walk from here.
It was called Bato's and was situated in the local municipal airport. Very friendly staff and great value.
The weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse today, with a strong front coming through and strong easterlies for a few days and its raining quite hard right now.
We would like to head east and north toward Copenhagen but that's not going to happen until Wednesday at the earliest. It the rain settles down, we might go 30 miles north to the small Danish fishing village of Bagenskop on the southeast tip of the island of Langeland and wait for the weather to improve.
Photos of the Kiel Canal to follow.
If you think the outer reaches of the Thames Estuary are bleak then I would suggest that the Elbe is worse. Fortunately, we had favourable wind and tide to take us past Cuxhaven and up into the massive locks at Brunsbuttle, where we found shelter at a tiny marina.
We looked around the small town, which seemed typically German but after a long 36 hours at sea were not inclined to do much except go to sleep.
Yesterday, was a bright clear day, perfect for the 60 mile meandering run up the Kiel Canal. This a massive canal project completed in 1895 but still works very well, even though we have to share with some enormous ships.
Very strange to hear birds and see cows and sheep while sailing but there it is.This must be what the narrow boaters see every day on their travels.
We locked out of the north end of the canal at about 1530H into the Baltic Sea and on to the British Kiel Yacht Club. We chose this place from a recommendation in my pilot book and a member of the Little Ship Club in London who said it was a must see.
Perhaps the information was a little out of date, as there really isn't much here. The place seems to be run as a training center for the remaining British Army and even though it is well maintained there was nothing going on. Even on a Saturday night, it was occupied by four or five post adolescent squaddies watching the soccer on TV. We couldn't even make any jokes about not mentioning the war.
They wouldn't even give us the internet password as it was seemingly " classified information"
With the magic of Google we found a very nice Balkan restaurant about a 20 minute walk from here.
It was called Bato's and was situated in the local municipal airport. Very friendly staff and great value.
The weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse today, with a strong front coming through and strong easterlies for a few days and its raining quite hard right now.
We would like to head east and north toward Copenhagen but that's not going to happen until Wednesday at the earliest. It the rain settles down, we might go 30 miles north to the small Danish fishing village of Bagenskop on the southeast tip of the island of Langeland and wait for the weather to improve.
Photos of the Kiel Canal to follow.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Volandam, Holland
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| Leaving Amsterdam Marina |
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| tied up to the dock at Volendam. Lots of touristy shops and restaurants |
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| the lock and the bridge entering the Ijsselmeer |
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| traditional Dutch barge on the Ijsellmeer |
Amsterdam, holland
We spent the day in Amsterdam yesterday. After leaving Scheveningen at the crack of dawn we went up the west coast of Holland to Ijmuiden and since strong northerlies were forecast we decided to go inland to Amsterdam via the North Sea Canal. It was a mild sunny day and the navigation was easy.
We got to the Amsterdam Marina, which is about 2 miles north of the city center at about 1300H and what a nice marina it was. Great staff and the best shower facilities I've seen since Singapore's 118 marina. They even had a bath!
We took the ferry boat into the town center and had a walkabout and some dinner and generally played the tourist.
After a good boat wash down we left at about 1000H and motored through the city to a lock and a drawbridge and then into the Ijselmeer.
Very brisk northerlies as predicted and the lake is very shallow. We stopped for the night at the delightful village of Volandam/Edam.
Tomorrow, we go north again and out of Den Helder. Hopefully, the weather will comply for us going around the corner and into the Elbe Estuary.
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| the facilities at the Amsterdam Marina |
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| A bathtub with a view! |
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| the famous red light district in Amsterdam. That is not a mannequin in the window. |
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| some big shoes |
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| typical Amsterdam canal scene |
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| the lock and bridge entering the North sea Canal |
Monday, June 6, 2016
Scheveningen, Holland
We are now in Scheveningen, which is the port for the Hague. We came in here on Saturday morning after a cold and wet sail from London dodging ships most of the way. Getting out of the Limehouse lock was easy and we had a nice run down the Thames out to Southend with the tide even though it was very cold and murky. We motor-sailed out of the estuary and we had some nice sailing from about 2000H in brisk north-easterlies, until about 0500H when the wind went forward and then died completely. Visibility was poor overnight and diminished to less than 100 m. by 0600H. We decided to go into Scheveningen as strong north-easterlies were predicted at some time in the day.
I'm glad we did as the wind piped up 2 hours after we got in and they still persist.
The marina here is very well protected and the staff have been excellent.
Very few foreign boats here.
We did some boat chores yesterday. Mainly changing out the bungee cords that tension the topping lift on the main and mizzen booms.the mizzen was easy but the main required removing the housing of the outhaul motor and gearbox to get access. A major PITA but we got it done.
Today we went on a bus and tram trip into the Hague and to the town of Delft. The weather was perfect inland and there was lots of beautiful architecture and scenery to see.
It's good to be out on the water again living the cruising life and being among sailors once more.
I think it's going to be a good summer!
I'm glad we did as the wind piped up 2 hours after we got in and they still persist.
The marina here is very well protected and the staff have been excellent.
Very few foreign boats here.
We did some boat chores yesterday. Mainly changing out the bungee cords that tension the topping lift on the main and mizzen booms.the mizzen was easy but the main required removing the housing of the outhaul motor and gearbox to get access. A major PITA but we got it done.
Today we went on a bus and tram trip into the Hague and to the town of Delft. The weather was perfect inland and there was lots of beautiful architecture and scenery to see.
It's good to be out on the water again living the cruising life and being among sailors once more.
I think it's going to be a good summer!
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| lunch in Delft |
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| the marina in Scheveningen. The admiral's foot in the bottom of the photo |
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| The New Church in Delft |
Thursday, June 2, 2016
Limehouse Basin Marina, London, UK
Last night in Limehouse.
It's incredible how fast a year goes by. It seems like yesterday when we arrived here in Limehouse and now it's time to leave. The weather this week has been somewhat unsettled with a major low over northern Germany causing northerlies winds and quite a bit of rain. And its very cold! So much for the English summer, it lasted a full two days so far.
We leave with the tide tomorrow and we had intended to slide up the coast to Ipswich but it appears that we have about a 36 hour weather window before the north-easterlies return so we will make a dash for Shevingen in Holland and take it from there. Otherwise it will mean waiting for another 5-6 days with no guarantee that conditions will be better.
We have enjoyed our sojourn in London and I would strongly recommend this marina to any visiting sailors.
Next stop the Netherlands.
It's incredible how fast a year goes by. It seems like yesterday when we arrived here in Limehouse and now it's time to leave. The weather this week has been somewhat unsettled with a major low over northern Germany causing northerlies winds and quite a bit of rain. And its very cold! So much for the English summer, it lasted a full two days so far.
We leave with the tide tomorrow and we had intended to slide up the coast to Ipswich but it appears that we have about a 36 hour weather window before the north-easterlies return so we will make a dash for Shevingen in Holland and take it from there. Otherwise it will mean waiting for another 5-6 days with no guarantee that conditions will be better.
We have enjoyed our sojourn in London and I would strongly recommend this marina to any visiting sailors.
Next stop the Netherlands.
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