ARRIVAL
For most of the charter crews travelling here, the journey is by sea: They sail over from Flensburg, Kiel or Heiligenhafen in one long stroke. In fact, the longer journey along the Danish mainland or even via Beltbrücken and Co. northwards to Danish charter bases is usually only worthwhile if you want to go far north, for example to Aarhus Bay or Anholt. Those who want to do this usually travel by car, alternatively there are train connections to Odense or Copenhagen. The latter can of course also be reached by car ferry or aeroplane.
CHARTER
The fleet on offer in Denmark directly is very limited, as there are so many large and much cheaper providers in Germany. However, there are quite good fleets in Dyvig on the island of Alsen, in Kerteminde and in Ebeltoft, near Aarhus. This is essentially limited to the three established companies Jim Søferie, Larsen Yachtcharter and Scansail. There are individual owner charter offers at other locations, but these have not always had a good reputation in the past. The prices directly in Scandinavia are considerable due to taxes, but also because some providers have specialised in very high-quality yachts, such as Jim Søferie, which offers a pure Hallberg-Rassy fleet.
WIND & WEATHER
Summers in the Danish South Sea are just as capricious as in Germany. If a Scandinavian high prevails, there can be plenty of sunshine and stable, albeit weaker, easterly winds for weeks on end. If the lows from the west prevail, it usually becomes more unstable and wetter. In terms of wind distribution, the monthly charts clearly show that the easterly and westerly winds balance each other out in spring, with a stronger shift to the west in the Danish South Sea in summer. In the centre, it then blows from there at an average of around 9 knots. The west/east dominance of the wind directions makes sailing from the German coast to the Danish South Sea sometimes pleasant, and half-wind courses or lay-ins are often possible.
Nevertheless, for summer cruises on the Baltic Sea, crews need to be prepared for everything, a few strong wind days are likely, and oilskins are also part of the luggage. Incidentally, many connoisseurs swear by the Weather forecasts from the Danish meteorologists at DMI which are particularly good at predicting the small-scale conditions between the islands. A special feature of these, however, is that they indicate wind speeds in metres per second, which is unfamiliar to many sailors. Others use the Forecasts from the Norwegian Weather Service. However, the majority of crews now also simply use the common and good weather apps when sailing in the Baltic Sea, such as Windy or Windfinder.
NAVIGATION & SEAFARING
The waters around Funen and especially the Danish South Sea to the south of it are also named after the partly turquoise-coloured water. This is of course also due to the sandy shallow water areas and beautiful beaches that can be found there. Accordingly, you have to navigate carefully; various passages between the small islands are often only passable along marked fairways. However, the marking of these in the area is very good and the sports boat charts are probably the best in Europe thanks to the diverse competition from providers.
Some of the passages between the islands lead through narrow channels, which can also carry a lot of current in strong winds. As in a bathtub, strong westerly winds push the water out of the area, while easterly winds force it in. Then it flows through the narrow sounds, sometimes with force, and in Svendborgsund it can be up to three knots after strong south-easterly winds. However, values of one to two knots are more common. Such effects occur from time to time, for example in the fairway from Marstal to Æroskøbing, in the Little Belt near Middelfart and also in the Great Belt.
The current is one side of the strong wind, the water level the other. If the effects described above occur, the sea level can rise or fall by one to one and a half metres. Crews must take this into account when choosing anchorages and harbours, otherwise the keel may be stuck in silt - or sand, which is common in the area - the next morning.
Crews should watch out for fishermen's nets when sailing, especially near the shore. These sometimes reach surprisingly far out into the water. There are also nets marked with buoys, which must be avoided accordingly.
There are various bridges over the Little and Great Belt in the area. Due to their high clearance heights, they are usually no obstacle for sailors. However, anyone wishing to cross the Great Belt Bridge with a yacht over 15 metres in length or 15 metres in mast height must report to the area control centre before passing. There are only a few relevant bridges, the most important being the Christian-X-Bro at Sönderburg in Alsensund, as it is the bottleneck when rounding the island. It opens for the first time in summer at 06:38 and then every hour later until 21:38. A display board indicates the next opening.
HARBOURS & ANCHORAGES
The Danish harbour network has lagged behind the level of German marinas for years, and spoilt crews have to accept cutbacks. The problem with many harbours is that clubs and local authorities often cannot afford luxurious service upgrades and extensions because the season is so short. Harbour masters are often only on site temporarily, doing their rounds in the morning and evening to collect mooring fees. An unusual service for newcomers to the area: in some places, such as on the island of Lyø, sailors can order bread rolls from the harbour master for the next morning. As far as the fees are concerned, there are also vending machines at the harbour where sailors have to pay themselves.
The connection of harbours to tourist infrastructure on land, as is often the case in Germany, is also the exception in Denmark. As a result, popular destinations such as Marstall, Svendborg or Æroskøbing are usually packed in July and August. This means that the boats moor in several rows parallel to each other and those on the outside have to climb over the decks of those on the inside.
Otherwise, however, you are moored quite centrally, especially in the city harbours, often on jetties with stern piles. As is usual on the Baltic Sea, you have to buy a code or key from the harbour master for the sanitary facilities; hot showers cost extra in the form of key cards or tokens. Sometimes electricity and water are also charged in this way.
For fans of anchoring, on the other hand, the Danish South Sea is a paradise. There are plenty of perfectly sheltered spots in beautiful natural surroundings that are not overcrowded even in the high season. If the wind shifts unfavourably, it is usually only a stone's throw to the next sheltered spot. Due to the shallow water and often sandy bottom, the iron usually holds very well. However, you should keep an eye on the depth due to the aforementioned water level fluctuations. In some places, there are yellow anchor buoys from the Danish Touring Sailing Association. German crews are only allowed to use these if they are club members - in other words, charter crews are never allowed to use them.
LITERATURE & NAUTICAL CHARTS
Cruising guide: Jan Werner: Denmark, Vol. 2, Delius Klasing, many good aerial photos! Harbour Guide Denmark to Southwest Sweden, Edition Maritim. Tom Logisch: Charter Guide Danish South Sea, Edition Maritim.
If you buy a set of pleasure craft charts, you will always also receive a booklet with harbour plans, regardless of the provider. Nautical charts: Delius Klasing Set 1, Bay of Kiel round Funen, NV-Verlag: Series 1, Round Funen, Bay of Kiel, Series 2, Bay of Lübeck-Bornholm. The chart yard. Bay of Kiel and Little Belt. The chart sets generally differ in terms of the area sections, so skippers need to check which one suits their planned destination. All charts are also available as a digital version and as a bundle with a free app.
TERRITORY CHARACTERISTICS
For many German sailors, a trip to the neighbouring region to the north is the perfect short break: you can be there in just a few hours and the clocks immediately seem to slow down. Beautiful old half-timbered villages with brightly coloured houses and thatched roofs, secluded anchor bays off bright white beaches, small or even tiny islands with lots of greenery and a few farms. Dealing with a foreign currency like in the old days, cosy locals who can't be put off by anything, odd harbour masters. In the harbour, enjoy the obligatory pølser (hot dog) or fishcake with fadøl (draught beer), preferably from Bendixens Fischhandel directly on the yacht jetty in Svendborg. Locals offer freshly harvested fruit and vegetables from the garden; there is a cash register for payment, which is often not even locked.
Only Denmark can do that - or more precisely, the inhabitants of the Danish South Sea. A sea of medium-sized, small and tiny islands, sometimes inhabited, sometimes hermitages, sometimes deserted. You can always find a great anchorage or a cosy little jetty downwind of an island: Troense, Marstal, Æroskøbing, Dyreborg, Thunø - the list of idyllic little harbours is long, and the best spots are loved dearly by those who know the area and are visited again and again. Many places have plenty of maritime history to offer, such as Marstal or Svendborg; museums and shipyards bear witness to this history.
Over the years, the area has won the hearts of many charter crews. If you ask about the number one destination in the German charter centres, the Danish South Sea is right at the top. One reason for this is the short distances. Once you have made the 20 or 30-mile beat into the area, the next worthwhile island or pretty town is never more than two or three hours' sailing away. If the wind is stronger, there are sheltered corners everywhere, and the swell usually remains low in the lee of the islands.
Despite the many advantages, fans of the area also turn a blind eye to its weaknesses. The harbour infrastructure, which is in need of an overhaul in many places, high prices in restaurants and supermarkets, the often somewhat remote marinas, which have little to offer apart from a Pølser stall, take some getting used to. But if that doesn't bother you, you'll find a natural, family-friendly sailing area that won't get boring even on the fifth trip. And it becomes downright unforgettable when you catch a stable summer high.
The most common routes for crews are via Marstal or Bagenkop into the area, then sailing anti-clockwise through Svendborgsund and on to the Little Belt via Faaborg or Lyø. Crews starting from Flensburg sail via Alsensund to Lyø and then complete the round trip in a clockwise direction. The circumnavigation of Funen can only be completed in a two-week trip, but even then, many people take a leisurely pace and sail from bay to bay and harbour to harbour, staying south of Funen - as is best suited to the spirit of the area.
