Dear readers,

the well-researched article by my colleague Andreas Fritsch about the reported Seasonal closure of the marina in Damp is causing a stir on our Facebook channel.

The incomprehension and anger at the supposed inaction or even incompetence of the harbour owner, leaseholder and the state politicians in Kiel are joined by voices calling for "the church to be left in the village". And that's a good thing!

As annoying as it is for the 300 or so permanent residents who will have to stay ashore this season unless they can get one of the rare alternative berths on the Baltic Sea, the world will not come to an end. In places where wars and natural disasters not only cause material damage, but also unbelievable suffering for the people living there, the world looks very different.

Can we really expect every conceivable lever to be set in motion so that we can pursue our favourite hobby, sailing, while the world threatens to end left and right? It's all very well for me, as not only did my boat survive the storm surge of the century, but my berth on the Flensburg Fjord is also secure.

Of course, I would also be annoyed and probably go overboard in my frustration if my planned sailing holiday fell through. And nothing is better for escaping everyday worries and crisis reports than your own boat. But at the end of the day, it's a privilege that we should be aware of even during a possible forced break.

Looking at other harbours such as Kiel-Schilksee, where heaven and hell have been set in motion to somehow save the season, can certainly generate envy. But they sometimes have different conditions and possibilities. Nonetheless, hats off to these feats of energy and willpower! But Damp is not alone with its worries. Things also look bleak in Mommark on Alsen in Denmark and in Hesnæs on Falster. Whether sailors will ever be able to moor there again is still completely up in the air.

Speaking of other harbours: A sailing boat from Damp has already been spotted in Hooksiel on the North Sea, where it has a permanent berth. A marvellously beautiful area that is probably still unknown to many Baltic Sea sailors. A change of area, a season at anchor, charter trips or a refit project - perhaps there is still a way for the stranded permanent berth holders to get out on the water or at least bridge the time well. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Morten Strauch

YACHT editor

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