Sea rescue in the Salzhaff: Anchor slips in strong winds, solo sailor rescued

A night-time sea rescue off Poel has brought a solo sailor to safety in the Salzhaff. According to the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS), the man, who was travelling from Kirchdorf to Kühlungsborn, had dropped anchor south of the sandbank known as Kieler Ort to seek shelter from the increasingly stormy weather.

Shortly after midnight on 18 October 2026, the anchor of his yacht, which was about nine metres long, failed to hold. With gusts of seven to eight on the Beaufort scale, the boat drifted away. As rocks in the shallow water could have damaged the hull, the sailor alerted the sea rescue service.

Almost an hour and a half’s drive

The “Wolfgang Wiese” from the Timmendorf station on Poel set off at 0.40. Rough seas extended the journey, which normally takes around 20 minutes, to nearly one and a half hours. Once on site, gusts of wind and rain showers hampered visibility. It was initially not possible to tow the vessel free. A lifeboat moored at the bow grabbed hold of the sailor when the rescue boat briefly came close enough. The skipper then immediately backed away so that the “Wolfgang Wiese” would not become stuck itself. ​The Map section showing Salzhaff and Poel shows the anchorage area south of Kieler Ort and the port of Timmendorf, some eight nautical miles away. On Sunday, the sea rescue team also helped to free the yacht. The man was then able to sail his boat to a nearby port.

When the anchor no longer holds

The DGZRS’s statement does not explain why the anchor lost its grip in this instance. There is no information on the type of anchor or the length of chain deployed.

In general, when anchoring, the choice of anchorage, ensuring sufficient chain is out, and the controlled deployment of the anchor all go hand in hand. It is also crucial to consider whether the anchorage will still offer protection even if the weather develops as forecast. Wind shifts and increasing swell can change conditions overnight. These aspects and various manoeuvres are covered in our practical guide to Anchoring in different conditions in detail.

Webinar tip: You can find further practical information on choosing an anchorage, anchor gear and dropping the anchor in the Webinar on anchoring with practical guidance for use on board.

What experiences have you had with an anchor slipping, and how did you realise it was drifting?