Heading South



Well at last I'm getting to an update on the summer cruise to new shores. Eddie Brian and I headed down the Swedish coast and up a river into Halmstad. A nce university town where we wandered around and had a meal ashore. Next morning we made good use of the excellent facilities and did our washing. We didn't leave as early as expected as my choice of normal wash cycle locked my smalls in the machine and went into a molecular level washing cycle which lasted 3.5 hours. We did though make most of the time and changed the engine oil. Eventually we were on our way and made the trip to Hesingoer our first landfall in Denmark.

We were invited into the local yacht club and spent a few pleasant hours. Next morning the plan was to changed the fuel filter which took about 20 mins till we tried to reprime it. Trying for ages to do it we decided to put on the spare fuel pump. This was a very difficult job due to access with very nimble fingers required. We got it done though and headed away bouncing towards Copenhagen to meet up with Maureen and Linda who had enjoyed the sights of the city prior to escorting my crew home to Edinburgh. We tied up in the nice if not a bit noisy Nyhavn right in the town centre. Graeme,Jan and Jim spotted us and came down or a beer prior to joining me on Friday morning. Linda and Maureen also came along so we had a good catch up of news and put up the 2 Scottish flags which Linda had kindly brought out from home. The ladies took the men away to do the touristy things and I got the boat ready for the next Leg.

       

Wonderful Copenhagen

The departing and the arriving.

Friday was a bit breezy so we had a day in Copenhagen enjoying the city and visiting the hippy hideaway of Kristianna. Jan went back home leaving the sailors to their fate.

Copenhagen Tourists

Saturday morning was glorious and we left Nyhaven to cheers from the still partying youth of the city (how do they do it).

We passed the Danish Royal Yacht and headed for the "Bridge" yes the famous bridge mad famous by the TV series which connects Denmark with Sweden.

 Too big for the west harbour

The "Bridge"

Jim put up the Swedish courtesy flag as we headed in to the tiny harbour of Skanoer on the west side of the Falsterbro peninsula. it was moving with boats and the only place we could get was against the wall in the harbour entrance. It was fine though and we enjoyed a walk in the sun to the shops and a taste of Swedish beer.

 

Skanoer

With light winds our choices of where to go next were limited. We had liked the sound of Bornholm the Danish island off south Sweden but instead headed down to Klintholm on the Danish island of Moen. My faithful friend "Auto" stopped steering and after some restarts it went again but I planned some investigation later in trip. After passing some high white cliffs which could have been Dover we tied alongside in a very pretty though almost too pretty harbour. It was a bit like some of the Norwegian visits we had in that it was like the "Trueman Show" in its neatness. A nice meal ashore made it a very pleasant stay though.  

Danish Dover. The small dots on beach re people

The welcome forecast wind of 15knts did not matierialise so we motored in roasting conditions acros to Ruegen island in Germany. Entering the Hiddensee and steered through the incredibly narrow but well marked channels. It was like driving along a road with busy traffic and some right and left turns. We got to the Hanseatic town of Stralsund after 8 hours and tied up in the big busy marina. Stralsund is a very historical and bonny town with medieval buildings everywhere. We wandered through its streets and visited museums. I was ready for a day or 2 ashore as its easy to keep moving along but there is not really any point of sailing to different countries if you dont have a good look at them along the way.

A traditional boat 

 The Rathuis

 Jim having a wee stroll



A sadder past

A sadder reminder of Stralsunds past are these plates which have been placed in the pavement which record the names of the jewish people who were removed from their homes at that address and what their fate was. Most recorded that they were murdered in one of the many concentration camps. It was also quite unexpected that even in a church display the story of what happened to the jews is up for all to read. It seams they are making sure that no one forgets the not too distant history.

On the next day (Tuesday) we planned a trip in the train to Sassnitz on Ruegen island. We also planned a visit to the remains of Hitlers dream holiday camp at Prora south of Sassnitz. It was pouring rain and serious thunder and lightning but not deterred Graeme used his lingual skills to get us on and off the correct trains and we arrived at Prora. A very interesting museum in one of the buildings which were erected by Hitler as a holiday camp for German citizens. His intentions of course to keep the faithful happy and let him prepare his war. It was going to be 3 miles long and house 20000  but was in fact never used as a holiday camp (Butlitz) as the war started and the 9000 builders focussed on nearby Peenemunde to progress rocket research. 

Soaked about 4 times we had tea in Sassnitz and back to Stralsund on the train. A grand day despite the rain.

Butlitz