A Danish sailor had to pay 500 Danish kroner because he had not set the anchor ball, which is also mandatory in Denmark, while anchoring.
Expecting nothing bad, he had anchored his two-master on the Danish side of the Flensburg Fjord behind the Ox Islands when a civilian rubber dinghy manned by three police officers came alongside and collected cash. The Danish police are not normally present on the water. The three hard-working officers had organised a boat especially for this operation.
While this offence is only penalised with 10 euros by German (F) fines, the Danes have to pay the full amount for this minor offence. The reason: 500 crowns is the minimum charge in the Danish catalogue of penalties. Nothing goes below that.
It is therefore advisable to return to the old virtues of seamanship in Danish waters. It is worth it.
