Norderney to Cuxhaven
07/07/06 22:15 Filed in: Germany
Norderney to Cuxhaven is quite a long run and we wanted to time matters so that we would catch the flood tide into the Elbe.
One of our earliest starts on the trip. The recommended departure time eastbound is 1hr before HW Norderney and we left Norderney Sportboothafen at 07:25. Once clear of the harbour we deployed full main and yankee. The wind soon dropped and at around 09:30 the main and yankee were stowed and the ghosting genoa deployed.
We made reasonable progress but by 12:00 the wind had died completely and we continued under motor alone on a flat calm sea.
By 16:00 we had reached Scharnhorn Riff and the start of the river Elbe buoyage system.
The tide was now flooding and we rushed up the Elbe at a cracking pace. The Elbe is divided into upstream and downstream lanes with small craft lanes outside the big ship lanes. Vessels can proceed either way in the small craft lanes.
It was quite a dramatic trip with lots of big ships and a number of yachts heading up river. We underestimated the tide as we slowed off Cuxhaven to ready fenders and lines and were carried upstream beyond the marina entrance. We had to motor back against the tide for about half a mile but all was OK and we were all fast at Cuxhaven Yacht Haven by 19:35.
The linked photo shows the marina from the southside looking seaward. The entrance is actually quite tricky and several yachts arriving after us under estimated the tidal flow.
We had an excellent dinner in the yacht club restaurant at the marina. Mooring cost €9.00, free bicycle loan, showers €1.00 via swipecard (€10 refundable deposit). It was too late to go touring once we had finished dinner so Cuxhaven will have to wait until the return visit.
Daily Run 63.1 miles.
One of our earliest starts on the trip. The recommended departure time eastbound is 1hr before HW Norderney and we left Norderney Sportboothafen at 07:25. Once clear of the harbour we deployed full main and yankee. The wind soon dropped and at around 09:30 the main and yankee were stowed and the ghosting genoa deployed.
We made reasonable progress but by 12:00 the wind had died completely and we continued under motor alone on a flat calm sea.
By 16:00 we had reached Scharnhorn Riff and the start of the river Elbe buoyage system.
The tide was now flooding and we rushed up the Elbe at a cracking pace. The Elbe is divided into upstream and downstream lanes with small craft lanes outside the big ship lanes. Vessels can proceed either way in the small craft lanes.
It was quite a dramatic trip with lots of big ships and a number of yachts heading up river. We underestimated the tide as we slowed off Cuxhaven to ready fenders and lines and were carried upstream beyond the marina entrance. We had to motor back against the tide for about half a mile but all was OK and we were all fast at Cuxhaven Yacht Haven by 19:35.
The linked photo shows the marina from the southside looking seaward. The entrance is actually quite tricky and several yachts arriving after us under estimated the tidal flow.
We had an excellent dinner in the yacht club restaurant at the marina. Mooring cost €9.00, free bicycle loan, showers €1.00 via swipecard (€10 refundable deposit). It was too late to go touring once we had finished dinner so Cuxhaven will have to wait until the return visit.
Daily Run 63.1 miles.