Kiel canal

[sailaboutvic]

We still playing with the tho of leaving the Netherlands Mid/late Aug and sailing to Denmark for a month or so before sailing back to the UK mid Oct /Nov .
If so we need to made a decision to sail out side or use the kiel canal or sail out side and return through the Kiel canal..

As anyone used the kiel canal route in the last few years and have any useful info ?

Thanks

 

[Yngmar]

This guide is really, really good and detailed, but in German. Pipe it through Google translate to read: Nord-Ostsee-Kanal: Ausführliche Anleitung für Sportboote/Yachten

You can also ask Hans, the Swedish guy from your pontoon in Licata the last two years - he's just been through there on his boat

 

[sailaboutvic]

This guide is really, really good and detailed, but in German. Pipe it through Google translate to read: Nord-Ostsee-Kanal: Ausführliche Anleitung für Sportboote/Yachten

You can also ask Hans, the Swedish guy from your pontoon in Licata the last two years - he's just been through there on his boat

Cool Christine can translate German so no problem .
Don't have Hans details if you do can you pass on my details
Cheers

 

[capnsensible]

I'm well out of date. All I can remember is it rained a lot......

Interesting thing to have done though.

 

[Yngmar]

Sent an email introduction for Hans and you.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Sent an email introduction for Hans and you.

Thank I know who you mean I help him with his windows

 

[TonyMS]

Some years ago now, but we tried to sail through under spinnaker with a motoring cone hoisted. Wind failed, we almost ran out of fuel, tied up to a bollard somewhere, got shouted at by a disembodied voice, motored into a side canal, got out bikes, cycled several kms to find fuel station.
My advice: don't do this!

 

[sailaboutvic]

Some years ago now, but we tried to sail through under spinnaker with a motoring cone hoisted. Wind failed, we almost ran out of fuel, tied up to a bollard somewhere, got shouted at by a disembodied voice, motored into a side canal, got out bikes, cycled several kms to find fuel station.
My advice: don't do this!

Thanks Tony hope you and Ann are well .
You should know that telling me not to do some thing we end up doing the opposite
We like new experience give us some thing new to aim for .
Which is why we left Greece five years ago ,
it just got very boring.
The boat knew it's own way around haha .

We do some research and take it from there ,
We may even just sail around the out side both ways yet .

 

[johnalison]

The Kiel canal is surprising attractive and interesting in places. It is some years since we did it, and it’s true that the weather can be dodgy, but not always. The water is a peaty colour and there is even one swimming area with mooring posts that I have not dared to try. The ten or so hours of transit can be a bit tedious so we usually broke it at Rendsberg for a night and a good meal at the club, though there are several other options. A typical plan for us was Cuxhaven-Rendsberg; Rendsberg-Laboe. Just occasionally you can be kept waiting outside the locks for an hour or more, and attention needs to be given to the signs indicating the safe distance to the shore.

 

[LadyInBed]

When I went through I went to Helgoland then timed the tides from there to get the flood to the canal.

 

[Fossil]

While it was quite a long time ago now, I have transited the Kiel/Nordzee Canal twice in small boats and I would definitely recommend it as an interesting and instructive experience. In midsummer, you can do it in one hop (you are not allowed to move the boat during the hours of darkness) but as said above, Rendsberg makes a good overnight stop if you don't need to push on. While there are some scenic bits, and out in the country the wildlife can be interesting, there are some long stretches which can be a bit tedious, but there is usually something to look at - plus we used the time puttering along to give the boat a good scrub and tidy-up to get rid of the wear and tear of passage-making. And the big ships coming and going make life interesting, too! I would definitely urge you to get hold of and read carefully the Canal regulations, PARTICULARLY the lights and signals used along the canal and at the locks, since obedience to these is mandatory. We copped an on-the-spot 50-euro fine because we followed some Dutch yachts into a lock at Brunsbuttel against a signal. And sailing in Denmark (and the Baltic generally) is pure joy.

 

[Skylark]

It’s almost 20 years since I went through but I still have very fond memories of the experience. We anchored overnight in one of the pools. I have a picture somewhere of my boat at the fuel berth moored next to a huge passenger liner.

 

[LadyInBed]

If you don't have this info, these are handy
http://montymariner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/CEVNI-PBO1.pdf
http://montymariner.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/CEVNI-PBO2.pdf

 

[Lightwave395]

The Kiel canal is surprising attractive and interesting in places. It is some years since we did it, and it’s true that the weather can be dodgy, but not always. The water is a peaty colour and there is even one swimming area with mooring posts that I have not dared to try. The ten or so hours of transit can be a bit tedious so we usually broke it at Rendsberg for a night and a good meal at the club, though there are several other options. A typical plan for us was Cuxhaven-Rendsberg; Rendsberg-Laboe. Just occasionally you can be kept waiting outside the locks for an hour or more, and attention needs to be given to the signs indicating the safe distance to the shore.

Did a delivery to UK of a 50' Hanse a few years ago, we too stayed overnight in Rendsburg and enjoyed it (even though it was early April and very cold)

Only problem I had was the water level floating platform in the Kiel lock and the absurd freeboard of the boat, had to abseil down !

 

[johnalison]

Did a delivery to UK of a 50' Hanse a few years ago, we too stayed overnight in Rendsburg and enjoyed it (even though it was early April and very cold)

Only problem I had was the water level floating platform in the Kiel lock and the absurd freeboard of the boat, had to abseil down !

True, even with our modest freeboard, though the platforms are wide and secure. It is not possible to fend off them effectively and I have always relied on the wood being too soggy to mark my hull.

If you stop at Rendsberg, which is a nice little town, a short cycle ride to the transporter bridge is interesting. There is a cafe for people who want to watch the ships going by and the man in the kiosk gives a running commentary, with the ship's carge, destination and statistics for those interested. He sometimes plays the ship's national anthem and we once had this done in our honour. There is a similar commentary at the old harbour in Cuxhaven, where there is a rare chance for lubbers to see ships going at speed.