It was a fairly noisy night in Helgoland's Sudhafen with a strong southerly breeze blowing right into the unprotected harbour and slopping the waves against the boat. It was quite a relief when the alarm went off at 6.30am although it was a slightly marginal decision to set off on today's passage. The forecast for German Bight was S5-6 but we would only be cruising in the very south easterly corner of that sea area and would be unlikely to experience the worst conditions so close to the weather shore. The harbour master and pilots were not very forthcoming with local knowlege so we ventured out with half a mind to turn back if it proved too rough. As it was, the conditions were worst in the shallow waters just outside the harbour entrance with 1-2 metre waves making our helm seats fly up in the air. Fortunately the waves were coming at us head on - the easiest angle for the boat to ride a rough sea.

We were soon skirting the Outer Elbe anchorage and crossed the shipping lane to the south side of the Elbe approach channel. We kept just inside the channel buoys as we made our way upriver, despite the pilot book's advice, unimpressed by the choppy seas created by the shallow waters over the sandbanks. As we got further inland the sea calmed right down and it was a comfortable passage to the Oste estuary where we joined the cross-channel to the Brunsbuttel lock approach.

We hoisted the N flag as we approached the lock which apparently in these parts signals, "I would like to go through the lock" but with the advent of VHF technology this seemed somewhat superfluous and the lock controller seemed to think so too as he answered our radio call and happily locked us through.

The yacht hafen at Brunsbuttel did not really appeal and so, as we were still feeling enthusiastic, we decided to press on the 30 or so miles to Rendsburg, an attractive stop two-thirds of the way along the canal. All the bridges on the canal have a clearance of 42m so the only thing to watch out for is three red lights signifying a large vessel approaching, and the ferries which cross at regular intervals.

The yacht hafen at Rendsburg lies right at the end of the Obereidersee, a back water of the main canal. The detour is worthwhile as the harbour is well-equipped with water, electricity and diesel (€1,23/litre out of interest but we didn't need any). We dined at the on-site Riverside Cafe Restaurant where we asked for "etwas typisches aus der Region" and were rewarded with a very agreeable dish of whole soles with salad and the very typical fried potatoes.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 89 nm

Total to date: 639 nm

Avg Speed: 8 knots

Duration: 11:15 hours

Diesel: 178 litres

Wind: S3-4

Mooring: €13/night

Electricity: Included

Water: Included

Bridges

Brunsbüttel (42m)

Hochdonn (42m)

Höhenhorn (42m)

Grünental (42m)

Rendsburger (42m)

Locks

Brunsbüttel

Charts

BSH 3014