The lowest section of the Elbe measures around 55 nautical miles from its mouth to Hamburg. However, for many sailors travelling between the Hanseatic city, the Kiel Canal (NOK) and the North Sea, this part of the river is often just a transit route. Yet the Lower Elbe itself has enough to offer for an entire trip: a vibrant harbour atmosphere, cosy fishing villages and secluded moorings in idyllic natural surroundings. Historic ships, lighthouses, old towns and maritime museums provide plenty of starting points for extended shore excursions.
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In Hamburg harbour, sailors share the fairway with crossing ferries and container giants. The swell is sometimes considerable. But so is the sight of the self-proclaimed "most beautiful city in the world". The lively hustle and bustle in the City Sports Harbour, spectacularly located between the Elbphilharmonie concert hall and the Landungsbrücken jetties, is something you are happy to put up with. If you prefer something a little quieter, Finkenwerder on the other side of the Elbe is the place for you. Further down the Elbe, you will pass wide sandy beaches and the magnificent villas of Blankenese. The side channels on the back of the Elbe islands offer sheltered anchorages. However, some of these are only safe to navigate around high tide.
The constant change between high and low tide makes the area attractive - and navigationally challenging. Knowledge of tidal sailing and the tidal calendar on board are mandatory. Above all, you need to plan your departure downstream so that the ebb current pushes. At up to four knots, this is much stronger than the flow speed of the river. The landscapes shaped by the tide, such as the Fährmannssander Watt upstream of the Wedeler Marsch, offer a unique experience of nature. A good starting point for exploring the largest freshwater mudflats in Europe is the Hamburg marina in Wedel.
The tributaries, which meander picturesquely through the landscape and are well worth a detour, are noticeably calmer than the sometimes choppy Elbe. On the Lower Saxony side, after just four kilometres on the Schwinge, you reach the historic old town of Stades with its 1,000-year-old Hanseatic harbour.
On the right bank of the Elbe, on the other hand, you can get your first taste of the North Sea at the Glückstädter Matjes or learn about the history of the Kiel Canal at the Brunsbüttel Canal Museum Atrium. The "Windstärke 10" wreck and fishing museum in Cuxhaven, where you can experience the extremes of seafaring on dry land, is also well worth a visit. Here, at the transition from the Lower Elbe to the Outer Elbe, it is already 18 kilometres from shore to shore. From here, the sea takes over.
Stations along the Lower Elbe
1 Hamburg
More spectacular than in the City sports harbour you can hardly find a better location in Germany. Nestled between the Speicherstadt warehouse district, the Elbphilharmonie concert hall and the St. Pauli landing bridges, all the major sights of the Hanseatic city are within easy reach. Tip: Explore the wide world in miniature at Miniatur Wunderland and experience maritime history on nine "decks" at the International Maritime Museum. Afterwards, head to the "Portuguese Quarter" for an evening of tapas and Mediterranean holiday flair or to the lightship for dinner.
The City Sporthafen Hamburg is a guest harbour with around 80-120 berths for ships up to 50 metres in length. The draught of the yachts can be between 2.50 and 4 metres. As a rule, free berths are available for yachts up to 20 metres in length. The harbour is protected from swells and has modern sanitary facilities with showers. Electricity is available at every berth. The land access to the harbour is locked at night, but guests can obtain a code for the locking system from the harbour master. Information: Phone: 040/36 42 97, city-sporthafen-hamburg.de.
2 Finkenwerder
The small Hamburg district in the southern Elbmarsch was long an important pilot and fishing village. Finkenwerder is also located in the neighbourhood of the Altes Land, the largest fruit-growing region in Europe, perfect for a country walk where you can pick your own apples. If you are really hungry, you can stop off at a rustic restaurant for Finkenwerder Scholle. The Rüschkanal, where there are several tide-independent club harbours with places to stay, can be approached day and night. To the east of the Airbus factory, a red steel tower marks the entrance, which carries the tidal beacon and also serves as a lookout tower. The Marina Rüsch offers space up to 15 metres in length. Minor work can be carried out by the Feltz shipyard. Information: marinaruesch.de (Tel.: 040/607 72 03 60).
With the Boatyard Heuer There are around 150 pitches with electricity available at the Schlengel facility. Fresh water can be filled up and faeces extracted centrally. Information: bootswerftheuer.de (Tel.: 01578/060 47 80). A passenger ferry departs from Finkenwerder every 15 minutes in the direction of Hamburg Landungsbrücken.
3 Stade
The Hanseatic city of Stade, its picturesque old town and the oldest harbour on the Lower Elbe - 1,000 years old - are worth a detour to the Schwinge. Tip: A visit to the museum in the Schwedenspeicher and a visit to the historic coaster "Greundiek". All harbours are tide-dependent. The red and white striped Stadersand front light is used to approach the mouth of the Schwingemündung. The entrance to the City harbour is narrow; there is a beacon with a cylindrical stop sign on the causeway. Pay attention to the tidal current and give a sound signal. The road bridge on the Schwinge opens on request between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., waiting jetties are available (Tel.: 04141/23 17). There are 160 metres of floating jetties where you can moor alongside. Packs form at weekends. (Tel.: 0151/15 04 04 95).
Alternative : The Stade Motor and Yacht Club is located on the right bank of the Schwinge near the railway bridge. It cannot be approached at low tide. Smaller boats can moor in the lower harbour, ships over ten metres in length are recommended to call at the upper harbour. Information: myc-stade.com. (Tel.: 0170/520 65 77). The Mooring of the Stade Sailing Club at the Schwinge barrage in Stadersand (about five kilometres to Stade) is partially dry. The damming times of the barrage sometimes cause considerable current downstream. Bicycles are available free of charge for guests and visiting children. Information: Tel.: 04141/73 05, seglerverein-stade.de.
4 Fronds
With around 2,000 berths, the Hamburg marina Wedel is the largest tide-independent marina in northern Europe. Public transport is available two kilometres away. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to Wedel. There is a lido with a playground nearby and a beach club in summer. Tip: Art lovers will get their money's worth in the "Reepschlägerhaus", museum lovers in the local history museum and fresh air lovers in the adjacent 80,000 square metre riparian forest. The guest areas are marked in green. There are cranes, a slipway, boatyards and a petrol station on site. All moorings are equipped with electricity and fresh water connections. Disposal facilities for oil or contaminated bilge water are available in the harbour, as are modern sanitary facilities and a harbour restaurant. Information: Phone: 0171/276 63 00, hamburger-yachthafen.de.
5 Glückstadt
The most popular place to wait for the water to come in on the way to Cuxhaven is Glückstadt harbour. This is also because the visit is really worthwhile: Dutch canal charm and boutiques can be found on a stroll along the Fleth. Afterwards, enjoy a matjes or crab roll in the "Nettchen" café at the harbour head. The outer harbour is independent of the tide. The moorings at the Glückstadt Sailing Association are suitable for yachts up to 13 metres in length; larger vessels must moor at the waiting sluice to the north of the lock entrance. A strong current must be expected at low water, as an inflow into the basin is then drained via sluices and pumps. This is indicated by a yellow flashing light. Sanitary facilities and the harbour master can be found on the north side of the inland port in the clubhouse.
The Inland harbour is located close to the city centre and offers quiet spots, but can only be accessed around high tide. The barrage opens in summer and on request with one day's notice two hours before high water for around two hours. Information: Phone: 0173/806 12 87, sv-glueckstadt.de.
6 Brunsbüttel
While the canal harbour is mainly used by pleasure craft as a waiting harbour for entering the Kiel Canal, the still almost untouched tidal Old Brunsbüttel harbour also invites you to stay a little longer. In the Atrium Canal Museum, you can learn about the impressive technology of the lock and the history of the world's busiest artificial waterway. Guided tours of the locks are offered from April to October. Tip: There are two maritime adventure playgrounds for children here. On the play deck, directly on the lock promenade, they can let off steam and watch ships at the same time. The highlight is a water feature that imitates the way the locks work.
The Old Brunsbüttel Harbour is ideal for overnight stays before or after NOK passages. There are around 95 berths from April to September. The harbour facility operated by the Brunsbüttel Sailing Association (which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year) has been extensively modernised. Even deeper keelboats can enter the harbour without any problems. Guest berths are located in front of the pumping station on the west side of the harbour and at the places marked with green signs. Information: Tel.: 04852/839 19 09, svb-bru.de.
7 Cuxhaven
The city at the mouth of the Elbe has a long list of maritime sights. Tip: Hike across the mudflats to Neuwerk, listen to the dangers of the sea in the "Windstärke 10" museum and follow the route of hundreds of thousands of passengers on the Hamburg-America Line in the Hapag Halls. And then, of course, to the beach. Also worth seeing: Ringelnatz Museum, Semaphore, Kurpark, Fort Kugelbake and the lightship "Elbe 1".
The Marina of the Cuxhaven Sailing Association slightly north of the old fishing harbour is independent of the tide and offers 150 guest berths. Pits for boats up to 15 metres, boats 15-20 metres as alongside berths. A strong current runs across the entrance; it is advisable to pass the harbour entrance under motor. Diesel filling station directly behind the harbour entrance (self-service, credit and debit card). Information: Tel.: 04721/341 11, svc-cux.de.
The City Marina offers guest berths for boats up to 30 metres all year round. The entrance is through the Old Harbour. The bascule bridge opens every half hour from 5 am to 11 pm on request (VHF channel 69 "Cuxhaven Lock" or phone: 04721/50 01 20). The pilot quarter borders directly on the harbour basin. The Deichstraße with restaurants, bars and pubs and the city centre are just a five-minute walk away. Information: Tel.: 04721/667 71 39, citymarina.de.
