Picture essay: Danish South Seas - a summer in paradise captured in paintings
Lasse Johannsen
· 04.07.2024
Happiness is often close enough to touch - and yet for some it is forever away. If the island world south of Funen is too ambitious a destination for many crews at the weekend, they sail straight past it at the start of their summer voyage on their way to more distant climes. However, our illustrator Hinnerk Bodendieck found out once again during the last sailing season just how worthwhile a detour there is if you just take a little time for it.
The Sydfynske Øhav between Funen, Ærø and Langeland offers more than 55 large and small islands, peninsulas and headlands between which you can enjoy sailing and living on board. Picturesque anchor bays, secluded island harbours and picturesque harbour towns lie close together, and so in summer you can experience the contrast between peace in secluded nature and vibrant life from the cockpit in one day - because sailing visitors can usually moor in the middle of the town.
More great photo galleries:
The Danish South Sea is a challenging area
Geologically, the area, which covers around 480 square kilometres, is a flooded moraine landscape. This explains why large and shallow water depths often alternate abruptly and why the area, which is so protected according to the map, can get quite rough in the right weather.
According to tradition, the term "South Seas" goes back to the times when this navigationally challenging area was the scene of lively maritime trade. The numerous shallows that had to be navigated reminded the old sailors of the real South Seas.
Bodendieck was here on holiday purely for pleasure - and yet he couldn't resist reaching for his canvas, brush and palette from time to time to capture the happiness he had absorbed, as shown here in the cockpit of his "Beluga". Much to our delight, as you can see in the gallery above.
