We left Vlieland mid afternoon on a warm sunny and windless day (1st May) to take advantage of a 48hr weather window for the long overnight trip north of the Frisian Islands to the river Elbe in Germany. The destination, Cuxhaven, is then within a couple of hours striking distance from the start of the Keil Canal at Brunsbuttel. From there a 50 mile trip along the canal gets you to the Baltic.
We were resigned to having to motor all the way but the alternative was a delay of more than a week with strong winds then easterlies forecast for some time to come. The daylight trip was pleasant with lovely conditions. As the sun set the temperature dropped and although not as cold as the North Sea crossing the cold creeps in as the night draws on. Navigation was pretty straightforward with extra care need as we crossed the mouth of the Ems and later the Jade and Waser rivers. It was a long night. We finally made the Elbe river estuary as the wind picked up. We had arrived a bit early and the tide was still ebbing. It was a long 16 mile crawl in choppy seas, not great with little sleep, a forbidding place.
We finally arrived at Cuxhaven Marina and looked for a berth. Unfortunately the finger berths had these stupid metal hoops rather than proper cleats which make it impossible to drop a line over from the boat. We managed to get into a berth, with the wind blowing us off, with some help from the next boat, only to find it had a red marker rather than green meaning it was reserved!! So off to find another berth which we finally managed with Lorette walking round to take my lines. Pretty knackered, a bit of tidying up and then a couple of hours sleep to catch up.
Saturday is a rest day before heading down to the Kiel Canal on Sunday. However Lorette had other ideas and we set about polishing and cleaning the boat, which we didn't have time for before we left. Compensation was a lovely dinner on board with a glass of wine. Lorette has done an amazing job of victualling the boat and providing great meals.