catfisher
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 13
Loc: Manchester UK
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In March 2007 I took my boat from the IJsselmeer to Baltic Germany, following this route:
Standing Mast Route - Delfzijl - Norderney - Langeoog - Wangerooge - Hooksiel - Nord-Ostsee-Kanal (Kiel Canal) - Kappeln
I have recently completed my log on the Cruising Association's website. To reach it direct, please click on:
http://myca.org.uk/node/1172
If you are planning a voyage along this challenging route - particularly out of season - you will discover a wealth of helpful tips. I only wish I had known before the voyage what I know now!
Your comments and corrections are most welcome.
Bob
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Kermudjon
regular
Reged: 14/02/2007
Posts: 1438
Loc: Essex
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Many thanks for an interesting log. I've not done the watt passages, except Delfzyl-Norderney, but most of what you report agrees with our experience (5 times). It's the little things, like where to get diesel that can be so helpful.
In spite of your scare with the "Gotland", the Kiel canal can be quite a relaxing experience and the passage can be comfortably broken at Rendsberg if desired. I agree the Elbe is not a good place in a gale, though the Cuxhaven-Brunsbuttel section should be manageable in a boat of 30' or so.
PS I've just tried the site again and it seems to be down.
Edited by Kermudjon (13/03/2008 18:14)
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JimC
regular
Reged: 30/08/2001
Posts: 131
Loc: Lancashire
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Your post is very interesting to me as I hope to do something similar myself. I've tried clicking on the link but I think there must be something wrong because your log fails to load - my computer just hangs in the loading phase indefinitely. Perhaps you could have a look at this? Thanks.
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JimC
regular
Reged: 30/08/2001
Posts: 131
Loc: Lancashire
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It's OK I've downloaded it successfully now - thanks>
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MrCramp
regular
Reged: 02/09/2006
Posts: 614
Loc: Newark/Woodbridge
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Just read the log. Very interesting. Thanks for posting the link.
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AliM
regular
Reged: 24/06/2004
Posts: 483
Loc: UK, Herts/Essex
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Thanks, I really enjoyed it.
I wondered why you didn't go the outside route, though - the prevailing winds are SW, so you'd be running most of the way, and the tides tend to be helpful too.
We did it from Harwich through the Kiel Canal 4 years ago, admitedly at the end rather than beginning of March, (with another Bob Harris as crew!). We went outside the Frisian islands, darting in between the islands to spend the nights in the harbours. (Den Helder, Terschelling, Borkum, Wangerooge, somewhere on the Kiel canal, Rendsburg). I guess we were luckier than you were with the weather, but it turned out to be a much less "challenging" experience than you had!
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cnh
regular
Reged: 18/10/2003
Posts: 321
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I'm going Ramsgate/Kiel next month, and I don't have much choice about going outside - I draw 1.8m!
Nicholas Hill
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Channel & Baltic Guide
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AliM
regular
Reged: 24/06/2004
Posts: 483
Loc: UK, Herts/Essex
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Enjoy it - it's a lovely trip. I hope the weather is good for you.
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cnh
regular
Reged: 18/10/2003
Posts: 321
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Thank you. EVerything is in the lap of the weather gods.
Gven the traffic on the North sea, I've also installed AIS. I hope it lives up to its reputation!
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Channel & Baltic Guide
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catfisher
regular
Reged: 14/01/2004
Posts: 13
Loc: Manchester UK
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Thanks for your kind comments, makes all that writing worthwhile.
I did find the Kiel Canal relaxing and fun - but I obviously dropped my guard.
Re outside route vs inside route:
With a shoal draft boat that dries upright, going through the shallows was irresistible! Although it was a challenge, to have missed it would have been a big personal mistake. Good summer weather and no time pressure would have made all the difference.
36 hours offshore in the German Bight in this 9m yacht with just two crew, in March? Not for me a softie like me, thanks. Also, as you've probably gathered, my boat hates head seas. Even with westerlies forecast, the timeframe was too long to assume that we would never have to fight to windward.
AliM, I amazed that you managed to pass outside all the islands yet still found a harbour each night. Was the weather particularly settled? For instance, the seegat out from Wangerooge looks like a nightmare in anything but a flat calm. Also, supposing you had to leave each island at HW to get the depth in the seegat, didn't that mean that you had to fight the ebb all the way along the island shore and into the next seegat? I'd be really interested in how you managed.
Bob
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