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21 June 2024. Cast off at ten. A headwind meant tacking up the river every two or three minutes. Five miles in two and a half hours. About halfway, AIS warned of crossing courses. A seven-metre motor yacht approached from starboard, its owner ignoring me. I expected him to slow and pass astern of the sailing boat. With only a couple of metres left, I had to head up. Simultaneously, he turned sharply to starboard. An older man came into the cockpit and shouted furiously. Unfortunately, that level of German is beyond me. I pointed at my sail, then at him, and tapped my temple. He remained adamant he was right. I hope his marina neighbours can remind him of the COLREGs.
Near Travemünde, the wind died and I started the engine, hoping to sail again in open water. It worked: at the bay entrance, the anemometer showed a steady twelve knots. I set sail towards the safe-water mark. The wind rose to a steady 20–22 knots, well above forecast. The boat heeled and tried to round up; I held about fifteen degrees of tiller to bear away. Six knots on the log. I should have put in the first reef, though it wasn’t obvious to me then. Later, I refreshed my knowledge with this Sailing Time video.
At Neustadt, I anchored off the beach and put on some gentle jazz. Listen to Nate Smith – Fly (For Mike) with me. Hot coffee, lunch and a rest.
An hour and a half later, I weighed anchor and headed home. Naturally, a downpour arrived and wiped out visibility. Thankfully, without the forecast lightning. At one point, I suddenly spotted another sailing boat ten metres astern. That was unsettling. Later, the clouds cleared in time for a sunset. Berthed at eleven. Forty miles on the log.
Track here.
#passage
Near Travemünde, the wind died and I started the engine, hoping to sail again in open water. It worked: at the bay entrance, the anemometer showed a steady twelve knots. I set sail towards the safe-water mark. The wind rose to a steady 20–22 knots, well above forecast. The boat heeled and tried to round up; I held about fifteen degrees of tiller to bear away. Six knots on the log. I should have put in the first reef, though it wasn’t obvious to me then. Later, I refreshed my knowledge with this Sailing Time video.
At Neustadt, I anchored off the beach and put on some gentle jazz. Listen to Nate Smith – Fly (For Mike) with me. Hot coffee, lunch and a rest.
An hour and a half later, I weighed anchor and headed home. Naturally, a downpour arrived and wiped out visibility. Thankfully, without the forecast lightning. At one point, I suddenly spotted another sailing boat ten metres astern. That was unsettling. Later, the clouds cleared in time for a sunset. Berthed at eleven. Forty miles on the log.
Track here.
#passage
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