Lauersoog - mooring risk

[johnalison]

On our way east we found the new outer marina at Lauersoog almost empty and moored alongside (and as the card machine wasn't working, a free berth). On our return a couple of weeks ago we tied bows-to on the pontoon and the stern to rings on a pole. We were more than concerned when SWMBO noticed that we were dangling from an aft line in the night, which luckily was releasable, due to there being insufficient travel to cope with a low tide.

Additionally, as you can see, the rings are capable of sticking at the bottom, being squashed ovals. If you plan to stay in this useful harbour - take care!

 

[AliM]

I think the marina (the one outside the lock into Lauersmeer) is new. I'm sure it wasn't there last year - there was nowhere to moor, officially, outside, just the pontoons for the lock and the forbidding fishing harbour. We saw it for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was very empty ( we were in the Lauersmeer one, which we've visited several times). There were a few quite big yachts moored.

It wasn't clear what facilities there were, for the new one though. What was it like?

Perhaps they'll sort out the piles as they begin to get more visitors. It's going to be helpful to have an all-tide marina without having to negitiate the lock there, because it's hard to get the tides right to go either west to Borkum or east to Nes if you are in Schermonikoog.

Where else did you get to?

 

[johnalison]

Lauersoog used to be very awkward as the lock stopped working at 7 o/c and as you say, you were left with having to tie up to a fishing-boat or whatever you could. The new marina is now up & running. The tally-card system is a bit clonky and the security gate has been disabled, presumably because people like us couldn't get a card from the machine which wouldn't accept cards from outside the country. The harbour-master was very helpful & friendly and unfortunately the machine accepted our card on our return, so we had to pay something like 18 euro for a 10 metre boat, plus electricity & showers if we wanted them.

It is, however, a very useful stop if coast-hopping or if going in or out of the attractive Friesland canals. The eastern approach from offshore is now quite shallow and can no longer be recommended in bad weather. I think we found less than 2m near low water, though our companions at the same time found over three.

For those from the East Coast this area makes a nice cruise if you have three weeks to spare and we once did it happily in a Sadler 29 even though our echo-sounder packed up. This year we passed by in both directions on our way to and from the Baltic where we enjoyed fantastic weather & some great sailing along the German and Polish coast.

 

[AliM]

That's useful to know - thanks.

If you are going into the canals, though, you do better to go through the lock (because you'll have to anyway) and using the marina just on the left. It's cheaper, has excellent facilities and helpful staff. We spent a week there when our prop had been disabled by a fishing net a few years ago, so we know it well!

We love the islands and the overland routes through the Waddensea and have been back for several years after initially discovering the area on the way to (and back from) the Baltic.

 

[bitman]

waddenzee / lauwersoog

We love the islands and the overland routes through the Waddensea and have been back for several years after initially discovering the area on the way to (and back from) the Baltic.

glad you like my previous sailing area where i was born

thanks,