Needless to say, during this short trip to KIel, there were already a couple of small 'fixes' to be made on the boat before we felt ready to go out on the North Sea. Amongst them the door to the Head (toilet) that for some complete random reeason decided to not stay in locked oposition shortly after we left Falsterbo.

Then, being Swedish, with the rediculously overtaxed wine and bear, we choose to enter the charming little town of Rendsburg to somehow manage to lower the waterline of the boat a little more.

Left at 1.30PM to motor to Brunsbüttel at the other end of the Canal. Here we will await the High Tide at 4.30 tomorrow morrning to contiinue westwards on the river Elbe for the North Sea.

Having sailed in Scandinavian waters all my life, it's an entire new entity for me with tides. Not too complicated, but who on earth decided that the highs always seem to be in the middle if the night? Or maybe that wasn't somenone ON earth, but someone well elevated from it?!

Anyway once out there, we intend to keep going as long as the favourable winds stays with us. I might add that today it's blowing a steady 20 knots in the canal. Could that be because we are inside, not sailing? Hrrmm!

Arrival at Brunsbüttel at 8PM we could go through the lock right away. Ans alone. All in all a lot less traffic than we expected.

Anyway, once outside the lock - in river Elbe- the tidal stream was at least three knots. Our vague idea (since I have no previous experience with tides, was to anchor outside the lockl and wait for the next high water at 4.30 in the morning. It did not look very inviting to anchor here though and we met one sole sailiingboat that showed to be locals. They advised us to go on to the North Sea right away with the outgoing tide instead of waisting five ours here. So we did. An exhilirating sailing in 20 knots of E wind and the streaming water. Over 11 knots on the GPS close-hauled! Then, as daylight ran out, the busy shipping area fuly showed up. I have never seen so many bouys and ship's lights at the same time. I had the time of my life there, sailing the boat and navigating simultaneously, and I was so excited I dind't think of waking Isabelle until almost 4 in the morning, when I was soooo tired.