Saturday June 3, 2017

Photo: Boats in the marina at Juelsminde. Big harbor that has recently been expanded.

We departed Toro Red at 0915, putting up sails and heading north in the Lille Baelt. There are two passages around the island of Fyn. Lille Baelt or Small belt is on the west side of Fyn. It has two main channels, one to the west of the island of Faeno and one to the east. At Middelfart, there are two bridges connecting Fyn with Jutland (the long N/S peninsula of Denmark stretching from the German border to the northern tip of Denmark at Skagen. The Store Baelt or Big Belt is the passage for big ships. It is on the east side of Fyn. We can thru there in 2006. A very large bridge spans the Store Baelt connecting Fyn to Zealand.

After we pass the lighthouse on the northeast tip of Fyn called Strib, we head NE to Juelsminde on Jutland. Paul visited Juelsminde on 1963 when he was sailing with his parents on their new boat, a Northeast 38. Built in Holland, they took it thru the Keil Canal, to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and then retraced their route back to Holland where the boat was shipped to the US. This boat was the third Canty. Our J-42 is the seventh but we have just named them Canty – no numbers.

Juelsminde has changed totally since 1963, and even more in the past few years. A new section to the marina has been added that doesn’t show on any charts. Five boats head into the harbor ahead of us and we just follow along. Nice sail today! Max wind 21.3 knots. Max speed 8.2 knots for our 40-mile trip.

The marina accommodates sailboats, powerboats, campers and tourists who come to enjoy the seaside. The marina is fully automated—no harbormaster. You tied up at an open berth (marked with a green placard) and then go to a central kiosk to pay the boat fee (175 Kr for a 12-15 meter boat) and 50 Kr for a “marina card.” Just like a credit card—even has a chip. This card gives you access to facilities like the showers, toilets, laundry, power. When you leave you insert the card and you get your 50 Kr deposit back for the card, and the tally of your charges are put on your own credit card. Pretty slick!

After supper on board we went to a jazz concert in a tent at the head of the harbor. There is a full season of concerts all summer. This 8-piece band with a vocalist was called Bla Mandag – Blue Monday. Great music and entertainment. Nice conversations with the friendly Danes at our table.