Sailors planning a crossing between the North Sea and Baltic Sea in the coming weeks will have to rethink their plans: the popular harbour of the Cuxhaven Sailing Association is not expected to open until 10 April this year.
Anyone wishing to use the Easter holidays to move their boat from the North Sea to the Baltic Sea or vice versa will not be able to do so in the popular harbour in the Cuxhaven Sailing Association moor. The petrol station with bio-free diesel also remains closed. Weeks of ice on the Elbe have delayed the flushing work around the harbour. Now it's up to the members of the association to help.
Strategic stopover at the mouth of the Elbe
The Sailing Association's harbour has 150 berths for yachts of various lengths - boats over 20 metres can be accommodated by prior arrangement with the harbour master. The harbour's exposed location directly on the Elbe has established it as a popular port of call for boats travelling between the North and Baltic Seas.
Many crews use Cuxhaven as a strategic stopover to refuel with bio-free diesel, wait out the weather or the right tide before continuing through the Kiel Canal or out onto the North Sea. The infrastructure includes modern sanitary facilities with showers, a boat refuelling station with bio-free marine diesel (available around the clock via self-service), electricity and water connections as well as a children's playground and public catering close to the harbour.
The fight against silting
However, the exposed location at the mouth of the Elbe comes at a price: currents and tides cause constant silting up of the harbour entrance and berths. This is why the harbour has to be thoroughly rinsed every year before the start of the season - an essential measure to ensure sufficient water depths and safe mooring.
Flushing ship frozen in Hamburg
However, the unusually long period of ice on the Elbe this winter has now thrown a spanner in the works: the flushing ship required for the annual flushing work was frozen in Hamburg for weeks and was unable to carry out its mission as planned.
"The rinsing work is therefore about four weeks behind schedule, and without rinsing, operation is not possible," explains the club management. The rinsing dates are now scheduled for 1, 2 and 7 April. Only then can the swimming facility be brought into its final position and secured.
Personal contribution takes time
Unlike commercial marinas, the Sailing Association's harbour is run by volunteer members. The extensive preparatory work for the season - from positioning the floating docks to commissioning the petrol station - is carried out in-house, which requires additional coordination time.
The harbour and filling station are normally closed from 1 November to 31 March, during which time navigation is prohibited. Despite the four-week delay in the flushing work, however, the association is optimistic - and is rolling up its sleeves: as things stand, the facility should be ready for operation again from 10 April 2026.
Alternative: City Marina in the Schleusenpriel
Boats wishing to call at Cuxhaven before mid-April are requested to wait for the City Marina near the city centre to get out of the way. The City Marina offers 100 berths for boats up to 30 metres in length and four metres draught and can be used all year round. Unlike the harbour of the Sailing Association, it is not located directly on the Elbe, but in the Schleusenpriel behind a bascule bridge. Access is through the Old Harbour, the bascule bridge opens on request via VHF channel 69.
The marina has floating jetties, sanitary facilities and electricity and water connections.
Construction work on the quays - restricted areas
The harbour area is currently being Cuxhaven extended. The marinas are not directly affected by the construction work, but sailors in the area should still keep their eyes open and listen to the area radio: At the outer quays east of the Amerikahafen, unmarked restricted areas, anchor chains and construction vehicles are to be expected.
Ursula Meer
Redakteurin Panorama und Reise
