Into Denmark with friends

Ants enjoying cream on his coffee

Time is flying by and we are having an amazing time aboard Le Bateau. After meeting Kerry and Jenni, our friends from Adelaide, in the little town of Appingedam, we set off for Delfzijl, our last Dutch town for a while. We had picked out a smallish yacht club for the night (it was called after Abel Tasman as he came from the area). We have found the smaller, volunteer clubs are generally more friendly, cheaper and the members are so helpful and we found we were happy with our choice. Next day, Friday the 15th June, we set out for the German Friesan islands. "Riddle of the Sands" fans eat your heart out!

We got out the rebuilt spinnaker for the downwind sail  (50km journey) and it performed really well.  Ended up the day with a short motor against 3 knots of tide into the pretty but rundown harbour of Borkum.

Setting out for a walk from the Borkum Yacht Haven

When we were motoring in the tide was dropping fast and by that evening we were sitting in a pool of mud, nice very soft mud but mud nevertheless.

Mud glorious mud

Then the following day we travelled inside some of the islands where the chart showed drying sand banks and no official beacons. We followed the "Withies" for what seemed like miles, these are just saplings pressed into the sandy mud. The instructions are just hold them close to on the port side. They are actually well done and easy to follow (on a rising tide!)

The Withies off Juist. Note the port tags on each one

A seal off Juist checking us out....there were lots of seals sun bathing along the sandy beaches of the Islands

The Withies in Nordeney harbour

These "cabanas" are found on most beaches for hire. German deckchairs with wind protection and little fold down shelves for drinks and nibbles. Kerry and Jenni were just testing them.

After the Friesan Islands we sailed into Cuxhaven prior to the Kiel Canal. We stayed at the American Harbour Yacht club. Located next to the wharf where emigrants left for America/ Australia and the New World. A lovely little yacht club with an honour payment system, free "hire" bikes and the best shower/bathroom I have ever experienced in my  cruising time. The Kiel Canal runs for about 100km from the North sea to the Baltic sea. The Kiel Canal motor/sail was much more rural than we expected and actually quite pleasant. And plenty of big ships close by.

The revamped spinnaker 

Kiel Canal about halfway passing under the famous Rendsburg Transporter Bridge without its Transporter!

The Oxen Islands in Flensburg Fjord

When we popped out of the canal near Kiel it just so happened to be Kiel Week probably one of the largest Sailing events in the world. I have never seen so many yachts sailing at one time it was little over whelming but also awesome.

The weather was quite windy and a little wet as we went north towards Denmark. We sailed into Flensburg Fjord in 25 plus knots. Le Bateau and all the crew handled it well. We ended up in a pub in the small town of Gråston for the Australia vs Denmark soccer game. Good job it was a draw. 

Ants tries out being a palace guard

This little town is also the summer residence of the Danish royal family with its Aussie connection. They weren't at home though but the palace grounds were open to visitors and it was quite beautiful. 

The view from the Gråston Summer Palace front garden

We sailed with a stiff breeze up the Als Fjord and ended up sheltering for the night off Stevning Nor Badelaug (motor/yacht club) on Midsummers Eve. We discovered that the Danes celebrate the night with a bonfire (to burn witches and send them off to Germany) and a party. They made us truly welcome. A great night and also breakfast at the club the next day.

Midsummers celebration in Stevning Nor

Pier talking about famous Danes

The bonfire with the witch being sent to Germany

Kerry and Jenni got off Le Bateau at Thuro Island for a Norwegian adventure and Peter and Jane (KI friends) hopped on for five days. We visited three or four Danish islands our favourite being Aero with its medieval buildings, pretty countryside and smoked fish!

Peter and Jane on Aero Island Denmark

Elbow island (Albuen) surprisingly looking a bit Australian with Le Bateau in the heat haze!

Cycling on Langeland

Peter and Jane on Aero

Outside a museum on Aero

An Aero Street

A sculpture we saw on a bike ride near Delfzijl which we thought says a lot about what happened to the Dutch during WWII and how the placing of mines caused so much suffering

Denmark was really worth cruising around and the Danes at Stevning Nor were so welcoming. They gave us a picture of their inlet to remember Denmark.

Our Danish Stevning Nor Boat Club souvenir

Next back down the Kiel Canal and then to the Netherlands

Our next blog may well be from France with a demasted Le Bateau! I wonder what the French will think of the boat's name?