ADVENTURE SAILING EAST BEYOND THE BERLIN WALL
Shortly after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, I moved abroad from Germany. On the occasions I did return I rarely ventured further than Hamburg where my family lived. Yet now, here we were, sailing to a completely unknown country - the former East Germany. Our family, now based in Sydney, planned an exploratory cruise along the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - a state in the north-east of Germany.
The Baltic is renowned as a soft cruising ground without tide or major swells and is perfect for sailing between the months of June and August. Every few miles there is a marina with all the facilities to welcome sailors at a reasonable cost. Navigation in these more southern reaches of the Baltic is also quite easy.
EXPLORING UNKNOWN TERRITORY
Looking at the innocent sandy coast, I felt deeply for the many Germans who had been living in a communist state next door. More than 40 years ago, I had raced in a dinghy regatta nearby and recall trying to pinpoint the invisible East-West marine border. Our biggest fear then was to be swept across the Iron Curtain, arrested by hostile patrol boats, never to return home. More than 5,600 East Germans tried to flee the GDR across the Baltic from 1961 to 1989. They used surfboards, kayaks and lilos, but only around 1,000 people made it and many died.
I was joined on the cruise by my husband, John, and my teenage daughter, Lizzie. We set sail from Lemkenhafen on the island of Fehmarn where our classic Hornet 32 Dania had been stored during the pandemic years. A sail through the shallow Mecklenburg fairways would lead us to the natural beauty of the Bodden waters - small lagoons, many of them protected. Further on through the Stettiner Haff (also known as the Szczecin Lagoon) we would hopefully reach the Polish port city of Swinoujście and the surrounding area, which is steeped in ancient and modern history and said to be a stunning cruising ground.
Bu hikaye Yachting Monthly UK dergisinin July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Yachting Monthly UK dergisinin July 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Academy students build boats using 100% British wood
Two students on the current 40-week course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis are building boats using 100% British sourced timber.
VICTORIA 26
When the Comptons went looking for a cruising yacht with pretty lines, they lucked out with this barn find
ONBOARD CREATURE COMFORTS
Enhancing your yacht’s comfort isn't just about luxury – it’s about making your time on the water more enjoyable, practical and stress-free, writes Susannah Hart
Green Sailing
'The Atlantic taught me how to calculate a boat's carbon footprint.. Craig Simmons explains how you can reduce your impact & save money
ADVENTURE IN SEARCH OF BALEARIC BLISS
One trip and James Kenning was smitten with Mallorca and the Spanish islands. Several years later, he returned with his own boat
RYA Youth National Championships
Over 230 of the UK's top young sailors descended on Pwllheli for the 2025 RYA Youth National Championships.
Historic Thames sailing barge Lady Daphne goes home
A small crew from Kent set sail from Cornwall in April to return the historic Thames sailing barge Lady Daphne to her birthplace - the River Medway, some 400 miles away.
CRUISING CLINIC
If your boat has a new rig and new sails, but a tiller that still tries to wrench your arms out of their sockets, what do you do? David Harding investigates
CELTIC TRIANGLE RACE 2025
Ever wanted to try your hand at offshore racing? We take a look at the event and crews taking part in this entry-level offshore event
Danish delights
Detlef Jens enjoys sailing between Augustenborg and Aarø in the Baltic, one of the cruising grounds of his youth, which is still every bit as appealing today
