Kiel 2 Days
24/07/06 21:31 Filed in: Germany
Sunday 23rd July 2006
On the way north we spent only one night in Kiel so I decide to spend some time here and have a better look around.
The Brompton is deployed and I cycle south into Kiel town centre. It's quite a nice ride on quiet roads and cycle paths.
There is a small ferry which crosses the Kiel canal free of charge just west of Holtenau locks. The path then continues south, mostly along the western side of Kieler Fjord. It passes a large naval base which is home port to the sail training ship Gorch Fock.
Kiel is a biggish town of around 235,000 people and is situated at the southern end of Kieler Fjord. It was a lovely summer day with lot's of people enjoying a day out. I liked the feel of the place.
Rather than cycle back I decided to catch a ferry back. This excellent service run by SFK is a wonderful way to see the Fjord and get about. I caught a ferry from the central station to Laboe on the north eastern side . I wanted to visit the U-Boat memorial and U995. The memorial is housed in a somewhat brutalist tower and has evolved from a U-Boat memorial to more of a memorial to mariners of all nations who were lost at sea serving their countries.
My photos of U995 are here.
Return to by ferry to Friedrichsort which is the nearest ferry stop to BKYC
Monday 24th July 2006
Maintenance day today. Take the ferry into Kiel to purchase some pieces from chandler A.W Niemeyer.
Return about noon and ride into Friedrichsort to top up on domestic stores then spend the afternoon pottering about the boat.
A section of deck seam has opened up near the port midships cleat is caulked. I notice cracked gelcoat around the port side of the mast step. There appears to be a small void behind the gelcoat. Hope it is nothing serious and decide to keep a close eye on it.
I cut off the splice on #2 genoa halyard and replace the snap shackle using a bowline. I don't like this type of splice as it seems to me that they prevent the halyard from being end-for ended each year to even out wear and tear.
Last winter I had a ghosting genoa made which was fitted with Schraeder self furling gear. This unit has a number of minor problems, one of which is the the circlips supplied with it are flat making deployment a fingernail breaking exercise every time. I replace these circlips with raised end types purchased from A.W. Niemayer. These are much better.
An ability to horizontally deploy fenders quickly is essential in this part of the world. I prepare enough 8m lines which can be rove through the bottom of each fender allowing them to be secured horizontally,
The starboard navigation light bulb failed on the way down from Denmark and is replaced. Fresh water is topped up and we are ready to go.
Spend a quiet evening on board ready for an early start tomorrow.
On the way north we spent only one night in Kiel so I decide to spend some time here and have a better look around.
The Brompton is deployed and I cycle south into Kiel town centre. It's quite a nice ride on quiet roads and cycle paths.
There is a small ferry which crosses the Kiel canal free of charge just west of Holtenau locks. The path then continues south, mostly along the western side of Kieler Fjord. It passes a large naval base which is home port to the sail training ship Gorch Fock.
Kiel is a biggish town of around 235,000 people and is situated at the southern end of Kieler Fjord. It was a lovely summer day with lot's of people enjoying a day out. I liked the feel of the place.
Rather than cycle back I decided to catch a ferry back. This excellent service run by SFK is a wonderful way to see the Fjord and get about. I caught a ferry from the central station to Laboe on the north eastern side . I wanted to visit the U-Boat memorial and U995. The memorial is housed in a somewhat brutalist tower and has evolved from a U-Boat memorial to more of a memorial to mariners of all nations who were lost at sea serving their countries.
My photos of U995 are here.
Return to by ferry to Friedrichsort which is the nearest ferry stop to BKYC
Monday 24th July 2006
Maintenance day today. Take the ferry into Kiel to purchase some pieces from chandler A.W Niemeyer.
Return about noon and ride into Friedrichsort to top up on domestic stores then spend the afternoon pottering about the boat.
A section of deck seam has opened up near the port midships cleat is caulked. I notice cracked gelcoat around the port side of the mast step. There appears to be a small void behind the gelcoat. Hope it is nothing serious and decide to keep a close eye on it.
I cut off the splice on #2 genoa halyard and replace the snap shackle using a bowline. I don't like this type of splice as it seems to me that they prevent the halyard from being end-for ended each year to even out wear and tear.
Last winter I had a ghosting genoa made which was fitted with Schraeder self furling gear. This unit has a number of minor problems, one of which is the the circlips supplied with it are flat making deployment a fingernail breaking exercise every time. I replace these circlips with raised end types purchased from A.W. Niemayer. These are much better.
An ability to horizontally deploy fenders quickly is essential in this part of the world. I prepare enough 8m lines which can be rove through the bottom of each fender allowing them to be secured horizontally,
The starboard navigation light bulb failed on the way down from Denmark and is replaced. Fresh water is topped up and we are ready to go.
Spend a quiet evening on board ready for an early start tomorrow.