(2024 review, continued)
Passages
The first outing wasn’t what I’d hoped. In Travemünde, I leaned awkwardly and fell overboard. The boat drifted downwind onto a steel ferry. All I could think was ‘My first and last yacht…’ Thankfully, the consequences were limited to servicing the lifejacket and repairing the stem. On the next outing I just tried to enjoy coffee, wind and sunset. Feeling braver, I tried my first night outings and unexpectedly fell in love with their atmosphere. Step by step, I reached a solo forty-mile passage to an anchorage off Neustadt, in rain and a thunderstorm. It exposed a gap in my knowledge of reefing.
In June came one of the largest maritime festivals, Kieler Woche. Grigory and I took the opportunity to explore the naval base and join the closing sailing parade .
In July, in Britain, I completed an intensive RYA Coastal Skipper practical course, where I experienced seasickness for the first time. I also received the RYA First Aid certificate.
Back home, I made my longest solo passage: sixteen hours and 85 miles from Lübeck to Kiel. With the yacht there for a month at €200, I relaxed, but still found time to go sailing with friends and colleagues. I returned at the end of August via the Danish archipelago: berths, food and fuel cost only €100. In October, I sailed to Wismar to explore its waters.
Dangerous moments
– fell from a stepladder while polishing — my arm still hurts
- fell overboard and the yacht drifted away
– almost went overboard in Denmark
- hit a rock
– ran aground
End of season
Autumn flew by in a bustle: repairing the compass, packing the sails, unstepping the mast, lifting out and winterising the boat. No empty feeling, though: in a couple of months, preparations begin again.
Statistics
According to my SailTies profile I covered 600 miles over 27 days in 2024, almost as much as all the previous years combined.
The channel grew from seventy to 170 subscribers. Thank you to everyone interested in my experience and writing. I’ve chatted privately with many of you: choosing yachts, marinas, services, routes, paperwork, winter preparation, repairs, training and seamanship. Anton came for a week’s passage, and Grigory and I seemed to meet every month or two.
Afterword
A year of challenge and inspiration. Every mile, day and difficulty taught me something, sometimes happily, sometimes nervously. Above all, I was reminded of the untamed freedom the sea offers, beyond miles and certificates.
#results
Passages
The first outing wasn’t what I’d hoped. In Travemünde, I leaned awkwardly and fell overboard. The boat drifted downwind onto a steel ferry. All I could think was ‘My first and last yacht…’ Thankfully, the consequences were limited to servicing the lifejacket and repairing the stem. On the next outing I just tried to enjoy coffee, wind and sunset. Feeling braver, I tried my first night outings and unexpectedly fell in love with their atmosphere. Step by step, I reached a solo forty-mile passage to an anchorage off Neustadt, in rain and a thunderstorm. It exposed a gap in my knowledge of reefing.
In June came one of the largest maritime festivals, Kieler Woche. Grigory and I took the opportunity to explore the naval base and join the closing sailing parade .
In July, in Britain, I completed an intensive RYA Coastal Skipper practical course, where I experienced seasickness for the first time. I also received the RYA First Aid certificate.
Back home, I made my longest solo passage: sixteen hours and 85 miles from Lübeck to Kiel. With the yacht there for a month at €200, I relaxed, but still found time to go sailing with friends and colleagues. I returned at the end of August via the Danish archipelago: berths, food and fuel cost only €100. In October, I sailed to Wismar to explore its waters.
Dangerous moments
– fell from a stepladder while polishing — my arm still hurts
- fell overboard and the yacht drifted away
– almost went overboard in Denmark
- hit a rock
– ran aground
End of season
Autumn flew by in a bustle: repairing the compass, packing the sails, unstepping the mast, lifting out and winterising the boat. No empty feeling, though: in a couple of months, preparations begin again.
Statistics
According to my SailTies profile I covered 600 miles over 27 days in 2024, almost as much as all the previous years combined.
The channel grew from seventy to 170 subscribers. Thank you to everyone interested in my experience and writing. I’ve chatted privately with many of you: choosing yachts, marinas, services, routes, paperwork, winter preparation, repairs, training and seamanship. Anton came for a week’s passage, and Grigory and I seemed to meet every month or two.
Afterword
A year of challenge and inspiration. Every mile, day and difficulty taught me something, sometimes happily, sometimes nervously. Above all, I was reminded of the untamed freedom the sea offers, beyond miles and certificates.
#results
Original and discussionOpen post in Telegram ↗