Sunday 25. More: We had a nice sailing day with little wind and pleasant temperatures. Against 22:00 We were blessed with an incredibly beautiful sunset. Solch intensive Farben und Kontraste haben wir auf dem Wasser zuvor noch nicht gesehen 🙂

At times, the North Sea seems to consist only of oil rigs and wind farms. At night, the islands look like a Weihnachtsmaerkte from, because they are similar brightly lit. Only once we have received a slight shock because no rig was there to see, where should be according to the map a. The Loesung: all the lights were turned off because it was just working on the gas lines. Macht Sinn 🙂 Wir wurden per Funk gebeten, to bypass the monitored supply ship with nautical mile distance. Once again I am pleased about the decision, ein weiteres Funkgeraet im Cockpit installieren zu lassen 🙂
Otherwise, the night went smoothly and without problems vorrüber.

Monday 10:20: We are just sitting at breakfast when suddenly a rapidly coming closer Motorengeraeusch leaves us jump in seconds on deck. In such moments do wonders, whether the same darkened the sun and the bow of a tanker thick stands before the ship. Creepy idea! But then we see a propeller plane area from the Dutch Coastguard at low altitude (really deep!) come to us. The crew looks at our SUMMER and right after the Coast Guard notifies already by radio. Then, after we do that in the best of English who, whence, why and where have you clarified Team wish us a good onward journey. The guys have scared us though but we were treated extremely friendly.

Another highlight was the discovery of “Wing to Wing” or “Butterfly” segelns. The rate rose equal to a node and the so-called violins (lurch) was eliminated. In other words, we had peace at last ship! Once again, we have learned something about. This course we are on the way from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean with the trade winds in Back System so mainly drive.
22:30: The wind dies down more and more to and the waves are also higher and higher. For this reason, we recover the spinnaker tree and roll the genoa completely a. Since we strong wind to 30 Expected node, we also reef the mainsail to 60% and set the tree with the Bull Stander fixed. Our intention is, to make as much way as possible to south, to the bad weather as possible to drive them. The barometer is in 10 Hours of 1021,5 fallen to 1010.5 mbar! In the textbooks it is strongly recommended not to leave under such conditions , because it can be very uncomfortable on the Nordee. So it was then also. Thank God we have a good ship, which even at 6 (in Boen 7) Beaufort has taught a lot of security and brought us through the night safely. The sails were well trimmed, so we had not even out on the deck.
Wir sind so happy, that we have a deck saloon yacht and can watch from inside the events at sea. This type of vessel was exactly the right decision for us. Katja hat die Nacht quer im Bett gelegen und wie ein sattes Baby geschlafen 🙂

The next morning we have then seen in daylight, has with which waves our Summer fought all the time so bravely. It was good, that it was too dark at night, to see the lake……. Katja said on morning: Such nights at sea as children get. Is it finally managed, dann sind die Qualen schnell vergessen und man erfreut sich statt dessen am Ergebnis 🙂
In the afternoon we then also the first visitors had on board. A Schwalbenpaerchen has made it cozy on the wings of the wind generator and is then hitchhiked a good piece sailed with us. These experiences are the salt in the soup and make us as animal lovers a lot of joy.
18:15: Das Anlegemannoever im Suffolk Yacht Harbour am Steg West 30 was exemplary. You can see very clearly, that a certain routine has set. Our dear friend Tom was already on the spot. Quick our SUMMER was still “landfein” made before we went with Tom to his home to Felixstowe. These links traffic I will never get used!!! At least 3 times I have chased away neatly when the cars came from the wrong side. Katja was there more relaxed. A heartfelt “Hello” Ann was then the reward for the drive. You have to understand, Tom until today works as a driver for a car dealership and the most Exalted, the clientele Ferraries, Bentleys usw. brings home. If hot, love Tom can drive excellent car!
Ann was so kind to provide us with their washing machine at your disposal. Katja has enjoyed a hot shower and then it was already in bed. It was a nice reunion with Tom and Ann!

Dienstag um 28.Mai 08:00: Ann has made us happy with a Continental Breakfast. Tom could not believe, that someone can eat for breakfast cheese and sausage. No wonder, Tom preferred rather beans, Black Pudding 🙂
The two are really incredibly warm and so full of hospitality, that one knows sometimes almost not deal with it. You just have these people like to have. Tonight it goes with Ann `s “Wein-Club” to a wine tasting. Let's see how the number for we run out. Katja is determined again very funny and I affectionate. In an hour, Tom picks us.

09:30 Leinen's Marina in Cuxhaven, through the bascule bridge in the harbor forebay, Crossed the fairway and then on course 330 Degree at running off flood.

All is well and the sun is shining, after having driven the fog. The departure from Germany can not be better.


Katja controls our SUMMER next to the main fairway on the planned route to England. The weather is supposed to the next 2 Days stay nice and loud WEATHER WORLD. In the English Channel, we expect on Tuesday 5 Beaufort Wind. We have time, slowly to get used to it. Before the GSM network is gone, say we now Tschüüüß and see you soon!
17:25 Contrary to expectations, but once again the GSM network when passing from Helgoland. Quick once shot a picture and brought to the site. The wind freshened up quickly and it is going well. I even have the annoying squeak- can and squeaks Thanks Martins panacea FLUID FILM beiseitigen. Herrlich diese Ruhe 🙂 Danke Martin alter Kumpel!

Last night, it flashed and thundered, like crazy. Our division of labor: Dietmar schläft und Katja steht senkrecht im Bett 🙂 Es war tagsüber unglaublich schwül und in der Sonne kaum auszuhalten. Especially not with a screwdriver in his hand, with a new holder had to be fitted for the two tankers. A very nice trip to the city of Cuxhaven has directed but everything again. Once again a beautiful spot, where we immediately felt very comfortable. Great architecture in an excellent state of maintenance and nice people, dwell therein. And by the way, we are beguiled, to take two fleet folding bikes on board. At noon today we pick up the Renner. Fun in the bike to explore the surrounding area and as often as possible, to engage in sports, also belongs to the new way of life. Vorher waren es ja eher jede Menge Pferdchen unter der Haube 🙂
We were also active in other areas. The routes and scheduling for the cruise to the South-East coast of England is.
Our goal is the Marina “Suffolk Harbour”, because not far away in the town of Felixstowe our dear friend Tom lives with his wife Ann. With “Uncle” Tom bin ich 2012 sailed together from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. We got along very well and our friendship is carefully maintained.
So now for the cruise:

We will see, whether we have calculated correctly with the tide tables. Optimal wäre es 2 Einzulaufen hours before high water in the River Orwell, so that we have enough water under the keel. Between the tides are at least 3,50 m difference.

In 20 Minutes we will leave our mooring in the marina Laboe. It is a beautiful morning with lots of sun and balmy temparatures. It is then about. 1,7 Nautical miles northwest direction until we reach the entrance. Our SUMMER supposed to have tonight for the first time salty North Sea under the keel. The first piece is our dear friend Helmut ride with us. About 7:00 we have arranged to meet for breakfast on board, we want to take before the lock Holtenau. Before the lock we will create and go on hold. If the lock keeper then The light signal “White interrupted” shows means it then free entrance to the old Nordschleuse.
Tomorrow morning we will then report. Muss jetzt schnell noch unter die Dusche 🙂

09:25 Exit lock Holtenau North:-) Helmut takes on the first watch, and the control. We are now running 6 Nodes and are very happy, that we have mastered our first lock together. Nature is truly spectacular in your diversity. We encounter very many geese, Comoranen, Swans and anglers. In Sonar not only a big fish was under the boat between 6 to see and 10m depth. But fishing is not in it for the speed and the ship traffic. This is located on the crossing to UK certainly change but. Cordial greetings to this point in our professional angler Michael from Manching! All in all a very nice canal tour.
12:30 Helmut goes ashore just because not every day is a Saturday for him! Thank you also for your commitment (in every sense!), for the lovely gift and much success in your business appointment!

17:00 In gut 2 Hours we will reach Brunsbuttel. Thank goodness the sun has fallen somewhat, it was very warm under Tags. Katja controls diligently the thick pots and I finally allowed them to doze a little below deck. Auf meine Capitana ist eben Verlass 🙂

19:00 Creation in the Marina Bruhnsbüttel directly in front of the entrance to the lock. In ca. 100m driving the huge ships passing us. This will probably go on all night. At our SUMMER still has a 37 Fuss “Janneau” made up alongside. This is called seamanly “in the pack” lie. On the boat Fabian is an instructor with his 4 Fellow sailors just come back from Helgoland. The joke of the matter, we met in Flensburg in the Marina Sonwik a few days ago!
Katja and I then have quickly turned a lap through the city and nibbled a spaghetti ice. Tomorrow it means to get up early because we want to drive to the Elbe flood in downstream direction Cuxhafen.

22:00 Katja is already asleep and I'm enjoying the new life to the fullest on deck paired with nice phone calls just like with my dear friend Reiner from Minga. Life is wonderful and there is still so much to discover. We look forward, unseren Freunden einmal ein Stück davon live irgendwo auf dieser Welt zu zeigen 🙂 Mit Freunden gemeinsam Schönes zu erleben macht doch doppelt so viel Spass!

Two days before the start of Flensburg from the direction of the Kiel Canal, we have today received a very nice video from Yacht Service Gutowski. It is the same to me 2 in full use as I have gone even a shiver down the spine and the endorphins were seen in our SUMMER ride. There are not many occasions his ship in “wild” to see. Thank you at this point to Jan Gutowski, and cinematographer Hinnerk Klopp for these beautiful pictures in front of the harbor entrance Grömitz.
Link to the video:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9idkz38d43ypyzx/AACY0n1TFCpdl6GGuSLDercXa
On Monday, it's finally happening early with the aim of, for the first time to have on Wednesday night North Sea water under the keel. But until then we have to get still a good way behind us. The tingling starts already at the thought of, that we have many new experiences and task ahead of us, we want to tackle together. But one thing is already certain, that the departure of our beloved sailing friends here in Sonwik is us at the dock F difficult. We had a very nice time together here and also a great “Männerabend” mit Martin, Uwe and Piet on board the yacht Ganesha from our friend Martin.
Later plus more. I have to go and meet my responsibilities at home. Sonst gibt es Mecker von Katja 🙂

It is a rainy Saturday afternoon in the Flensburg Fjord. After three busy days in the marina, the best opportunity to make the last week briefly pass in review. After an extremely warm welcome of the Harbor Master Marina Sonwik, Herrn Holt, and our sailing friends Violetta and Martin from the SY Ganesha we felt from the first minute to well. What a contrast to the disappointing adoption of the Harbor Master in Grömitz(down to a more casual spoken “Have a nice trip” there was really no kind words). In Holt has us even 2 Hours before entering into a Sonwik “Welcome” sent by e-mail. That was a great feeling! Last Sunday we received the news, that my mother passed away unexpectedly for us. Of course, it was a depressing feeling to get such a message on the day, where we have cast off the lines in our home port and started our journey. This one but once again more aware on the other side, that life is a gift and we should try to make the best of it. The fulfillment of our dream has only further more get more weight and the family also is behind.
Martin is an experienced sailor and equips his ship also just for the trip to Portugal in July this year from. For this reason, and because he is a good guy, he gave us the best boating equipment “Skipper Paradiese” :-), Presented workshops and Violetta and his sailing friends. The result: Stainless steel fittings for the rear anchor, new linkage for the Bimini, Rettungsboje, 2 AIS transponder times if one of us falls overboard, an ingenious 2,4 KG 'heavy Shimano fishing reel (Endstufe!) for the thickest marine fish, various maintenance products and an invitation to a birthday party on Saturday evening. Yesterday evening there was already a small foretaste. After four bottles of delicious wine with Violetta, Martin, Uwe, Dirk + Woman and very entertaining “Doktor Gorch-Fock” Stories we were against 00:30 back on board with us. Today I was allowed for repair our broken toilet onboard to compensate. Einer der sehr wenigen Gelegenheiten an denen ich meine ansonsten blühende Fantasie und bildliche Vorstellungskraft zwanghaft unterdrückt habe 🙂
Was soll`s, the thing works again. In 20 Minutes we will be met and, therefore, is it a day.

Endlich Wind 🙂 Motiviert machen wir uns auf den Weg nach Flensburg, where we still want to spend a few days with friends in the port Sonwik. The 35 Nautical miles we sail with a fair wind from behind in just six hours. While Dietmar diligently cares the boat, I have a quite a hangover and slept through most of the day. Good, that we can rely on each other each other. When next time Dietmar can then relax and I'll take care of everything else.
In Flensburg, we are already expected and fast moored on our new berth. We feel right at home and we look forward, To spend time here. Tomorrow we will probably explore the city and of course perform work on last boot. Tonight it goes but first Italians to right on the harbor, to let the evening end comfortably.

After a relaxing night at anchor we were woken up at half past seven in a hell of a noise, came directly from our bed box. The generator was jumped J Nice, if the technology works, but it could also may be an hour later.
Our first morning at sea, we started with a hearty breakfast. Then we all left our cozy anchorage and sailed westward. All over the Bay of Kiel large area target practice of the Bundeswehr were sold today. For safety's sake, we made a big bow around it. Nevertheless, we were able to observe on the horizon the great warships and hear the shots.

In the afternoon we had to stop because of strong nachlassendem wind sailing and arrived at eight clock red herring in the loop with motor.

As Dietmar today despite "Fish Finders" had no luck fishing, there was for dinner only rice with Chinese vegetables (but was still tasty J) Let's see, if happiness is hold him tomorrow. So a fresh cod would have fit well on our menu. Tomorrow we will continue to Flensburg.

In ca 1,5 H It is time. Family and friends will be the same on the web. We are pleased and spend tonight in a bay off Fehmarn anchor. Let the Show begin 🙂
16:40: After a windy first passage we have before 40 Minutes reached our anchorage. We are sheltered south from the north-west winds on the island Fehmarn. Katja has successfully run today her first mooring buoys maneuver and since my Capitana not only good tax, but also can cook, issue it after feasting as a delicious noodle soup. The two nice girls from our favorite cafe “BEACH BLISS” in the marina have Grömitz goodbye an incredibly delicious eggnog cake (natural homemade :-)) given. Many thanks to your great crew! It was always a pleasure to have breakfast with you and then for coffee a piece of delicious cake, Almond croissant or just to eat pot pie! In general, the last two days were fantastic and moving. We have spoken with so many nice and love people, New Cute Bekantschaften closed and get a lot of nice wishes on the way. Thanks for that!
Yesterday we still had some great experiences. In the morning jan brought from Yacht Service Gutowski professional cameraman Hinnerk to us on board, to view a video about our SUMMER and the work carried out by his company conversions for his website, to rotate. The recordings will probably have become sensational. Especially beautiful are the exterior shots of the SUMMER have become sailing. We are curious if we will see the result for the first time. In the afternoon we were going to my old friend Christian on his motorcycle past. His visit was totally unexpected and I was looking forward twice, I prior to Christian's sailboat 23 Years have endeckt the love of sailing and really like him as a human also. Last but not least, we also have with Katie's mother Beate our first guest on board had.

Thank you for your visit and the beautiful adoption in Grömitz! It was a lot to us, that yours today “Tschüß” You said.
Morning is to rotate the wind south-west, and then we will have a quick pass to our next destination port in Flensburg.