Denmark

[Daydream believer]

If it works for you, fine but I couldnt think of a worse way to go sailing personally.

Actually meeting all my targets makes it even better

 

[johnalison]

Actually meeting all my targets makes it even better

We start off with the furthest destination in mind, generally get there with the least delay, and take it from there. I can't think of a cruise when we failed to reach our target, mainly because of our fast-out: slow-back policy. There are places that are hard to get to, and I think one needs to be prepared for disappointment occasionally, though three months in retirement gives a lot of leeway. The Isles of Scilly are notorious for being hard to reach in a short cruise from the South Coast, and there are many experienced sailors there who have never made it, though we managed twice in two attempts. In the Baltic, Bornholm has the same status, being about as far as a Dane in a small boat can do and get home in a two-week cruise.

We have usually confined ourselves to the Southern Baltic, though we visited the Bohuslan coast twice. The Southern Baltic lends itself to circular or random cruises. A typical one of ours would have taken in Poland as far as Kolobrzeg, then return via Bornholm and Southern Sweden and maybe Denmark, though we have also done it in the reverse order when the weather ordered us to. With no tides, there is little planning to do, a typical example of a random trip being from Vitte to Ystad that I remember doing on impulse in company with a friend's boat because I wanted to show them Bornholm. (My real reason was that I wanted to take them in their 46' Island Packet and see how they got on in Bornholm's tiny harbors and give them a bit of a scare).

 

[sailaboutvic]

In 45 years of cruising and most part of that has been long distance I have to say mostly our plains rotated around weather I can’t say how many time we changed plains on the morning that we was leaving for us it’s a matter of having plain A,Band C ,
it not unusual for Us end up doing plain D .
there been a lot of years when we sailed in non tidal water like southern Med so current never came into play but now we back cruising Northern Europe and with the speed we can make under sail or on the donkey it still don’t really come into play , we have no plains to get up at 4 am or wait till 2pm not to have a foul current , if it mean losing a knot or two for a few hours it’s no big deal ,
the only time this would change is it we needed to cross a bar or have enough water to get into a harbour .

I appreciate some people are only interested in getting from A to B in day light and as quickly as possible but that’s us we into the enjoyment of sailing .

 

[ChromeDome]

You won't find a lot of high or low tides in Denmark (+/- 4" along Jutland's east coast these days), water level changes are more caused by the wind.
Currents are equllay low apart from a few narrow-ish places, but the sweet time spots are easy to find and use.

 

[johnalison]

You won't find a lot of high or low tides in Denmark (+/- 4" along Jutland's east coast these days), water level changes are more caused by the wind.
Currents are equllay low apart from a few narrow-ish places, but the sweet time spots are easy to find and use.

When in Copenhagen I amused myself by watching the tide recorded on my Graphic dial, and noted that there was a predicted curve on my plotter. It was a long time ago but I had an idea that it was some nine inches range. I have never met a large wind-induced 'tide' in the Baltic but a current of half a knot or more is quite common. I think the chief movements tend to be in winter storms, when flooding to quite a high level can occur in places such as Usedom. The strongest current I have seen was at Middelfart (stop laughing, you at the back), where it was a couple of knots.

 

[ChromeDome]

The name Middelfart, first recorded as "Mæthælfar" in Valdemar's Census Book in 1231, consists of the old Danish word mæthal meaning 'middle' and far meaning 'way'. This name originally referred to the strait Snævringen ('the narrowing'), which is the narrowest part of the Little Belt, and was subsequently applied to the settlement as well

Little Belt between Jutland and Funen is quite narrow at the northern end,- albeit not huge amounts, the current can get up to 3-5 knots

 

[johnalison]

We only went up the Little Belt once, in 1990 in our then Sadler 29. On the way to Middlefart the weather wasn't wonderful so I tried out a disposable 35mm waterproof camera, but we were obviously sailing happily by the time we rounded a few corners. That's my late friend in the picture, not me, though not dissimilar, in fact I was once the recipient of a big hug from his wife who approached me in error on fireworks night.

 

[Daydream believer]

...

 

[Gargleblaster]

(My real reason was that I wanted to take them in their 46' Island Packet and see how they got on in Bornholm's tiny harbors and give them a bit of a scare).

Plenty of big harbours on Bornholm. Ronne Marina (which now has finger pontoons) Nekso (or Nexo, depending on which chart you are using) and one of my favourites - Hammerhus. My son lives on Bornholm just South of Nekso at a place called Snogebaek, which has its own harbour built out at the end of a causeway. It is supposedly offering 2 metres depth if you follow the leading triangles in with rock reefs where it isn't 2 metres. I draw 1.8 metres in my Rival, I made it in without mishap and managed an alongside berth for a week. But then moved up to Nekso when a storm was forecast.

I admit getting into Swaneke on a busy summers day on anything over 25 feet is a challenge to find space. But within a mile either side are fishing harbours (Aarsedale and Listed) with depth, that are not used by visitors much. I think Bornholm has 35 harbours not counting Christianso for a permanent population of 35,000. Spoilt for choice.

Christianso is the jewel in the whole of the Baltic. John as a birdwatcher I can't see how you could ever have left.

 

[johnalison]

Plenty of big harbours on Bornholm. Ronne Marina (which now has finger pontoons) Nekso (or Nexo, depending on which chart you are using) and one of my favourites - Hammerhus. My son lives on Bornholm just South of Nekso at a place called Snogebaek, which has its own harbour built out at the end of a causeway. It is supposedly offering 2 metres depth if you follow the leading triangles in with rock reefs where it isn't 2 metres. I draw 1.8 metres in my Rival, I made it in without mishap and managed an alongside berth for a week. But then moved up to Nekso when a storm was forecast.

I admit getting into Swaneke on a busy summers day on anything over 25 feet is a challenge to find space. But within a mile either side are fishing harbours (Aarsedale and Listed) with depth, that are not used by visitors much. I think Bornholm has 35 harbours not counting Christianso for a permanent population of 35,000. Spoilt for choice.

Christianso is the jewel in the whole of the Baltic. John as a birdwatcher I can't see how you could ever have left.

I have a great fondness for Bornholm. There is so much about it that is unique, on an island about the size of the IoW. For some reason, we never went to Ronne, preferring the smaller places, my favourite being Gudhjem. On one occasion we arrived to find ‘our’ berth still free, and felt quite at home. I think we visited all the east coast harbours from Nexo to Allinge, and often used the cycle tracks to get to the sights, among which are:
Four ‘round churches’, the two we saw were beautiful.
A very fine modern art gallery at a place whose name I forget, near Tjorn
Sweet-making and glass-blowing in Swaneke
Granite in various colours. My wife even has a granite necklace.
Fig trees, which ripen in the heat retained by the granite.
Hammershuis castle
Good beer and ice creams
The highest waterfall in Denmark
Rocking stones

Yes, I did see many birds there, including mergansers in the harbours, and razorbills near Christianso, which is where one goes for the best pickled herring.

On one occasion in Swaneke I saw an advert for a cock fight. This sounded just my sort of thing so I made my way there and found a small square fenced off and marked in numbered squares on the ground. Some corn had been scattered around and there was a solitary chicken engaged in feeding itself. Bets could be placed on which squares the chicken would peck at. Very Danish.

 

[steve yates]

Actually meeting all my targets makes it even better

I dont have targets, I just go for a wander

 

[johnalison]

I dont have targets, I just go for a wander

Me too, which accounts for the surprised expression usually to be found on my face.

 

[sailaboutvic]

getting well into our third week in Denmark now ,
enjoying the country and what it has to offer , although other then marinas fees which are cheeper compared to the UK everything else seen expensive,
I needed a 22mm spaner to work on my engine mounts to my surprise it was going to cost £13 at a diy store luckily a local guy said I could use his when the time comes .
people who complain prices are high in the UK should come here .Putting that to one side the country is clean , the sailing been great , we done very little motoring since we locked out of the Kiel canal.
we been paying around 160DDK for mooring. (£18.50) and the last few stops if you pay for four nights you get one free .
most marinas we used have machines to pay and you pick your own berth as long they have a green sign .
we spend years living on our hook and very unusually for us to berth in a marina but we used more marina in the last months then we used in the last 13 years .

the friendness of people is overcoming , you get into a conversation with someone and you can’t get away .
we not seen any British flag boat since we entered the Kiel canal ,
I guess for most people it’s a long way to go if they only have a few weeks cruising ,
actually people have commented about seeing very little British flag boat .
we have to be back mid August other wise we would be happy to spend all summer here exploring Denmark .
there down side is for the monument the weather as turned , wind and rain and the odd thunderstorms but not all bad I need to get on and change my engine mounts so it’s a good time to stay put and do the job.

 

[ChromeDome]

Nice review

Weather will turn to the better within next days.

The general price index is higher - but so is the average income. Not a great help to visitors, but when comparing countries a holistic view comprising all is needed.

BTW if you want to visit other cities (Copenhagen?), the train station in Kalundborg is within walking distance and you'd be surprised to se ticket prices notably below UK levels.

Cheap tools are available but if you want half decent stuff the price tag will follow.

Let me know if you need tools, believe I have any (metric) you might need.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Nice review

Weather will turn to the better within next days.

The general price index is higher - but so is the average income. Not a great help to visitors, but when comparing countries a holistic view comprising all is needed.

BTW if you want to visit other cities (Copenhagen?), the train station in Kalundborg is within walking distance and you'd be surprised to se ticket prices notably below UK levels.

Cheap tools are available but if you want half decent stuff the price tag will follow.

Let me know if you need tools, believe I have any (metric) you might need.

Thanks for the offer of tools , it’s more tiny hands I could do with HA ha . Child likes with no bones .
three engines mounts on one to go , been at it all day , I deal with some awkward jobs , but this one beats them all ,
tiny hole in impossible places to remove nuts and washers .

then come the fun of lining the engine up, one job in 45 years of boating I’ve not done before .

we had a day out to the viking museum , very interesting day out .

we have a wedding next weekend in Kalunborg in between visiting wife daughter who live just out of town and hopfull to finish off the engine mounts .
I see how things go might be up for that drink if all goes well .

 

[ChromeDome]

Thanks for the offer of tools , it’s more tiny hands I could do with HA ha . Child likes with no bones .
three engines mounts on one to go , been at it all day , I deal with some awkward jobs , but this one beats them all ,
tiny hole in impossible places to remove nuts and washers .

then come the fun of lining the engine up, one job in 45 years of boating I’ve not done before .

we had a day out to the viking museum , very interesting day out .

we have a wedding next weekend in Kalunborg in between visiting wife daughter who live just out of town and hopfull to finish off the engine mounts .
I see how things go might be up for that drink if all goes well .

All fine.
The Viking museum in Roskilde? If so you'd have noticed the Roskilde Festival is on these days

Roskilde Festival

Any possibility for sockets on extensions to reach down?

Remember to take pics before dismantling and mark things up to be able to put in same place when you assemble. Paint markers are way better than permanent markers (just ask graffiti "artists"!)

 

[mattonthesea]

getting well into our third week in Denmark now ,
enjoying the country and what it has to offer , although other then marinas fees which are cheeper compared to the UK everything else seen expensive,
I needed a 22mm spaner to work on my engine mounts to my surprise it was going to cost £13 at a diy store luckily a local guy said I could use his when the time comes .
people who complain prices are high in the UK should come here .Putting that to one side the country is clean , the sailing been great , we done very little motoring since we locked out of the Kiel canal.
we been paying around 160DDK for mooring. (£18.50) and the last few stops if you pay for four nights you get one free .
most marinas we used have machines to pay and you pick your own berth as long they have a green sign .
we spend years living on our hook and very unusually for us to berth in a marina but we used more marina in the last months then we used in the last 13 years .

the friendness of people is overcoming , you get into a conversation with someone and you can’t get away .
we not seen any British flag boat since we entered the Kiel canal ,
I guess for most people it’s a long way to go if they only have a few weeks cruising ,
actually people have commented about seeing very little British flag boat .
we have to be back mid August other wise we would be happy to spend all summer here exploring Denmark .
there down side is for the monument the weather as turned , wind and rain and the odd thunderstorms but not all bad I need to get on and change my engine mounts so it’s a good time to stay put and do the job.

That weather is swinging around the South of Sweden and back up to is in Estonia!

 

[ChromeDome]

Swinging weather.

That's about the most exact one can say about Scandinavian climate

 

[ChromeDome]

Biltema, a supermarket for tools 'n stuff originating from Sweden and now in other Scandinavian countries (also called Gents' Goodie Shop) has a fair selection of good quality tools - e.g. spanners.

Also in Kalundborg

Biltema

 

[sailaboutvic]

Biltema, a supermarket for tools 'n stuff originating from Sweden and now in other Scandinavian countries (also called Gents' Goodie Shop) has a fair selection of good quality tools - e.g. spanners.

Also in Kalundborg

Biltema

Thanks but it’s quite a walk from where I am ,
the only thing I was short off was a 22mm spanner .
but I made do .