A great feeling, to come back home. So it felt really, when the lighthouse Schleimünde to starboard and we had this past Sunday afternoon in a crowd with dozens of other sailing boats chugged up the loop. Behind us were two exhausting days: On Friday afternoon, embarked the crew - consisting of my mother, Gabi (was the first time a long distance to board), my uncle Uwe, In Wedel - Cati and me. The water ran off already, We had to quickly get rid of. Boat loaded, Machine check, At the Tankpier ... we wanted to fill a precaution, some diesel. Once there, the woman handed me the harbor master (East) silently into the hands of the trunk, then silently looked at her files after, because if I had paid my mooring fees. The boat has two 250-liter diesel tanks, of which I have since last fall, but only the starboard tank in operation. The fuel gauge is broken, Therefore, we have every now and then a couple of cans and hoped nachgekippt, that the fuel reaches. We were very surprised, as for me, the diesel 70 fueled liters suddenly came to meet. Fully! Madness, then the machine is more economical but have been, than expected.
Then it was low tide and seven with winds from the east just under mainsail down the Elbe. Rauschefahrt. Brunsbüttel we reached at 20 Clock, were quickly funneled into the channel and made to 20.30 Clock, the end of the Tagfahrzeit, locks firmly in Brunsbüttel. The harbor was already pretty full. Last year I was with Cati and this boat has been there, also in strong easterly winds. That's when I learned the hard way, that the ship is very vulnerable to side winds. Clear, at the high construction, Spray Hood and the giant solar panels. Short: The turning of the wind abaft the port did not work at, We stood across, were not around and drifted to a fleet of Hallberg Rassy to-. Panic! Fortunately, the ship has quite a large three-blade screw. Full steam back - already had the helm and we drove back out of the harbor, then reverse back in and alongside of another ship.
For me inexplicable reason, I thought, but now “oh, the works already” I moved forward and new items. A place alongside of a large Hallberg-Rassy, somewhat longer than we, it should be - but first we had to turn. Again, it did not work, again, we were momentarily drifted across the harbor and. Apparently learned nothing since the last time. Close behind us now but was a little broken in Westerly, retirees whose crew did not notice until late, that we need to maneuver a little more space than three meters to. It has been hectic - but eventually we found our way back again but out of the harbor and into reverse again, alongside the Rassy. The fourth ship in the pack. Helgoland-Feeling.
Two months ago I was in the research for an article on the North Sea-Baltic Canal (YACHT 08/11) All berths left. Back then I was told, that the tabernacle of the pylorus, have conceded that the earlier demurrage, Now with a new “Container Security” was replaced. There in the container but no one knew, who is responsible for the demurrage. Dawned on me already, that even with no control start of the season will be found - and indeed we found no one now, who feels responsible for cashing and no harbor master. So much the better! 😉
After a delicious dinner at the Pizza Factory and a Maxi-Pizza (36 cm) “Dracula” For me, we slept soundly. Cati told me the next morning, that may have been wrong about my well-garlic smell fear and they had temporarily, to suffocate. At eight o'clock we cast off the ropes and chugged off - at about six winds. Normally we are cruising with 5,5 Nodes move. On the straight lines, during which the wind we just popped on the nose, But now, we drove just over temporarily 4 Knots, been pushed back so much. More than ten hours we needed for the 100 km.
Enough time, to do some work deferred. On the priority list quite far above the seacock was a bilge pump. The drainage pipe connected to a clever sits directly on the board breaking and more, when we were sailing on starboard tack, reached water through the tube into the bilge. A new through-hull is made of brass for next winter. There, sitting on it and then the valve. Now I wanted to first create a temporary, build a hose and attach it to the opening a valve. Then it can at least shut off. Overhead in the storage box at the top end of the hose clamps Gästekoje I solved, sawed the pipe and pulled it. Eventually it gave way and I could see through the through-hull on the water. Ten centimeters above it is only. Then, when the tube was placed on it, my face is relaxed.
On Saturday evening we moored at the Kiel Reventlou Bridge. In front of the magnificent restaurant “Crazy”. Three years ago I lived there for a season with “Pathfinder” located, in time there are also new toilets built. Pointless, though, if they coincide with the restaurant “Seaside” be closed and one well at night 15 min to the nearest bathroom to be traipsing Düsternbrook.
After a pleasant evening in the “Crazy” went there on Sunday morning out on the Baltic Sea. Were announced 4-5 Winds, one to one and a half meter wave. But that does not quite fit. After I've been thinking about a reef in the promotion of young and planned with the small Kutterfock, instead of Genoa, It then subsided quickly 1-2 Winds over and we were able to set full sail. Three hours later we reached the loop.
The weather could not be better: Glorious sunshine, of the green, hilly fields and meadows brought to light. The scenery reminded me a bit of Teletubbie-Land 😉 A short stop in Kappeln for ice cream, until the bridge opens - then even our home port Kopperby appeared on the left bank on. At the dock we were met my father, of us pick up and wanted to bring back to the cars to Wedel - and on time when we did a pirouette in front of the harbor, Wilfried Erdmann and Astrid also strolled down the dock, participated in our lines. A wonderful surprise visit. At the seventh and then we sat over coffee (Milk and cake were out to us ...) in pilothouse, looked at the Schlei told.
So now we are in Kopperby. Summer is coming. And we look forward to! 🙂
John
