Keil to north sea, is there an inland waterway

[falcon5]

Hi,
next year I will be sailing (racing) near Copenhagen, and rather than sail my boat to the north of Denmark to the north sea, is there a canal or river that can take a keel depth of 2.6 metres, say from Kiel or similar.

Many thanks Rob

 

[Malish]

The Kiel canal

 

[snowleopard]

Yes.

 

[Vagabond]

The Kiel canal is the way to go.

There is a good website that describes what you need and have to do to go through it. Documents, fees etc.

Do a search for Kiel canal on google.

 

[Dalliance]

Keil canal is a bit of a bore - a full day under engine. The highlight is the tea room on the West bank half way along where they play the appropriate national anthem for your ensign - they like it if you salute them as you go past!
The only tricky bit getting to the North Sea is exiting the Elbe. You have to go out with the tide but must never do so against the wind as wind over tide in the entrance is extremely dangerous. The worst seas I've ever known were in the Elbe with W F5-6 wind against tide trying to get from the bottom of the Keil Canal to Cuxhaven - and we were in a heavy displacement yacht. I daren't think what it was like in the delta.
The Imray guide to cruising the Baltic gives excellent pilotage and Cuxhaven is an OK place to stop over to wait for wind, tide or both.
Enjoy the trip.

 

[falcon5]

thank you very much for that, i have navigation software but it does not show canals,

Rob

 

[falcon5]

Thank you for your help

Rob

 

[Dalliance]

PS - you might want to avoid Keil Week (or not if you want to watch the racing). The marina's get as busy as Cowes and are full of loud German racing types falling across your foredeck at 2am on their way to the eighth boat in the raft of which you're number 1!!!

 

[Keen_Ed]

Brunbuttel

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Brunsbuttel,+Germany&ll=53.892605,9.145432&spn=0.022761,0.085831&t=k&om=1

Kiel

http://maps.google.co.uk/?t=k&om=1&ll=54.366758,10.142784&spn=0.011251,0.028925

 

[roger]

Kiel Canal - no autohelm

Kiel Canal is quite pretty in places. Few places to stop. There are one or two lakes that are possible otherwise its Rendsberg. The Autohelm isnt much use as the canal os a series of very gentle curves. Dont forget you can get cheaper charts at Kapitan Stegmans at the Kiel end Lock.

 

[isha]

You ask for a canal to take your draught of 2.6m. The Keil canal takes large ships. There is plenty of water for 2.6m and a lot more besides. usually busy and therefore usually interesting.
Regards
Dave

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Kiel Canal was built for the benefit of the High Seas Fleet, to battleship dimensions and is therefore big. Same philosophy as Panama, biggest battlewagon we, the builders, can think might ever be built.