On the Schlei

The hot weather and blue skies had departed this morning when we crawled out of the forepeak. It was grey and damp and time to leave Kiel. 

First, we telephoned marinas in Flensburg where we hope to leave the boat for a month when we go back to the UK at the end of this week. One was full,  but the second could fit us in. Inga with a broad Scots accent told us all we needed to know. So we are booked in, all being well. 

We set off north from Kiel up the wide and deep waters plied by tankers and ferries and endless yachts.  And today, there were half a dozen serene tall ships, some carrying full sail in what was patchy easterly wind. They sailed in our direction.

We didn't expect to sail on this our first day in the Baltic Sea, (little wind forecast) but wonder of wonders, the breeze strengthened enough for us to sail for a whole hour. Then the wind died off and the engine was back on. 

It rained for much of the trip and we were wrapped up in waterproofs and sea boots.

We decided to spend the night on the Schlei, an area that reminded us of Strangford Lough in northern Ireland with its narrow entrance and expanse of shallow waters inside. In the marina at Maasholm of course it was yet another tricky box mooring, fraught with new challenges and potential mishaps. We managed though.

Alongside the harbour masters office and the fishing boats we found a fish bar and snacked on chunks of fried fish laced with bacon! Very German. Later we had a bowl of pasta on board and a small sherry to celebrate our first day actually sailing in the Baltic.

Tomorrow, who knows, we may be in a new country.