The largest charter fleet on the German Baltic coast can be found on both sides of the Fehmarn Sound: several providers have yachts stationed in Heiligenhafen, Großenbrode and Burgtiefe. What makes the towns interesting as starting harbours is their central location: depending on your wishes or the wind, you can head east from here to the Bay of Lübeck or Mecklenburg Bay, west to the Kiel Fjord or north to the islands of Denmark. All of this adds up to a compact but surprisingly varied sailing area. Longer sea legs are included as well as short distances in sheltered fairways.
The episodes of this mini-series:
- The ideal week on the Baltic Sea
- The ideal week on the Adriatic
- The ideal week on the Aegean
- The ideal route in the Caribbean
Week cruise: Our recommendation
Our one-week cruise example - almost a classic - starts in Heiligenhafen and goes clockwise around the Bay of Kiel. With a total distance of around 150 nautical miles spread over six legs, there is no need to eat up the miles. Not even if the distance sailed increases on some days due to headwinds. In this case, the cruise plan can be easily adapted if necessary thanks to the numerous harbours available - another advantage of the area.
Week trip: Day 1 and 2
After taking over the boat, we set sail on the morning of the first day on a west-north-westerly course for Kiel Fjord. There are several possible destinations there, including Laboe. The harbour is well protected, the wide beach is right next door and the fjord ferry line F1 takes you comfortably into Kiel city centre. The next day, the route follows the coast to the Schlei. Kappeln would be an option here. However, an overnight stay in Maasholm saves a little distance and - in addition to a larger number of moorings - also offers the opportunity to go ashore.
Week trip: Day 3 and 4
Further north, the course leads past the exit of the Flensburg Fjord and across the Little Belt into the neighbouring country. On the agenda is the first island of the Danish South Sea, or to be more precise: the island sea of South Funen. We choose the picturesque Avernakø and its marina. Neighbouring Lyø also attracts visitors with its pure nature and tranquillity. If all the berths in the small harbours are taken, which is often the case in the high season, you can go to Faaborg in the south of Funen or to Søby on Ærø. At the end of the fourth day of the cruise, urban flair is once again the order of the day: the yacht reaches Svendborg via the buoyed fairway of the Svendborg Sound between Funen and the smaller Tåsinge. With just under 30,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest municipality on Funen. There is a pretty historic centre with many restaurants and cafés around the Torvet.
Week trip: Day 5 and 6
The final destination of the trip is the old seafaring metropolis of Marstal in the east of Ærø. From Svendborgsund, the stage runs around Tåsinge and through Rudkøbing Løb, which is also buoyed and lighted throughout. If you are in Marstal for the first time, you should not miss the Maritime Museum there before returning from the Danish South Sea to the Kiel Fjord on the last day of the journey. Passing Fehmarn, the journey takes you back to the charter base in Heiligenhafen.
The trip in compact form:
- Day 1: Heiligenhafen - Laboe The first stroke leads to the Kiel Fjord 33 nm
- Day 2: Laboe - Maasholm Along the coast to the Schlei 20 nm
- Day 3: Maasholm - Avernakø It's off to the Danish South Seas 26 nm
- Day 4: Avernakø - Svendborg Continuing on buoyed fairways 13 nm
- Day 5: Svendborg - Marstal One last day between the islands 18 nm
- Day 6: Marstal - Heiligenhafen Back to the charter base 37 nm
- Total distance 147 nm
