Fallen trees, flooding, cancelled rail services and at least two deaths - while the hurricane "Nadia" caused some serious damage in northern Germany at the weekend, harbours and boat owners apparently got off lightly for the most part. According to YACHT information, there have only been isolated reports of devastation or destruction in marinas or winter storage facilities.
In Laboe, a yacht broke free from its mooring, but was quickly secured again. A sailing boat in Rostock was hit harder, as the NDR in a report reported on the consequences of the storm. The boat had apparently been pushed against the quay wall by the storm, sprung a leak and sank. In some winter camps, tarpaulins tore loose from covered ships. In Kappeln, the DGzRS had to rush to the aid of a kite surfer who had drifted away. However, nothing is known - yet - about further damage or operations in connection with water sports enthusiasts.
The storm hit the North and Baltic Seas. The highest wind speeds of 157 kilometres per hour were measured at the Hiddensee lighthouse. In the western part of the German Baltic Sea coast, the water levels fell sharply at first, before high tide set in hours later. In Flensburg harbour, some ships were temporarily aground before the water returned with a vengeance. The water levels reached a good one and a half metres above the average water level.
Some ferry connections were also disrupted, and the shores of some towns and numerous marina jetties were flooded. Around 16 nautical miles off the coast of East Frisia, a freighter drifted in the heavy seas for several hours after an engine failure. It was secured by tugs.
In Wilhelmshaven, a naval frigate broke away from the pier. It too was quickly moored again by the crew. In Hamburg, an inland waterway vessel got stuck under a bridge over the Elbe; the salvage work is continuing. Some of the German North Sea islands have suffered heavy sand losses; the storm surge has eroded parts of the beaches. And a small lorry overturned on the Fehrmarnsund Bridge, forcing the bridge to be temporarily closed.
Nadia" is not yet completely over. Three more storm surges have been announced for the German North Sea coast over the next few days.
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Pascal Schürmann
Editor YACHT
