⛵ Cuxhaven to Kiel 🇩🇪

After six months sailing around Europe alone, Barbara and Emma joined for the Kiel Canal transit. I had missed them and was super happy to pick them up Friday evening at Cuxhaven station.

The Elbe sail went fast with the noon tide Saturday. Gusty wind and favorable stream pushed us along while cargo ships overtook at regular intervals. At Brunsbuettel we called the lock on VHF and were directed to enter within minutes. Barbara’s first time handling dock lines—she positioned our small metal ladder against the shrouds and stepped onto the floating pontoon. The lines went on smoothly with no current or wind to fight. We set sails after exiting but the high vegetation on both channel banks blocked the wind completely. Motor on after ten minutes.

The canal dictates specific clearance times depending on season. We anchored near Dückerswisch Weiche just before the deadline. Emma needed shore access urgently, so we dashed ashore with the dinghy for an evening walk. Cargo traffic passing overnight created peculiar sounds through the hull.

Next morning we motored to Gieselau Lock, a quiet side-arm with only cyclists and cows for company. The place was too pleasant for just a lunch stop. We extended it to the following day.

Third night at Yachtclub Büddelsdorf brought shore power and immediate rain. We waited out the downpour, then explored the nearby town. Emma extended her snack collection from a local store.

Day four we reached the Kiel exit lock and called ahead on VHF for a twenty-minute wait with a small freighter. Two other sailboats arrived while we waited. Inside the lock a dockside speaker announced all sailboats should exit. Barbara and I immediately cast off and headed for the opening gate, passing the other boats who looked confused and told us to wait for the announcement. I wasn’t sure anymore but kept going. The moment the lock called “sailing boat” on VHF I assumed they wanted to reprimand us and responded instantly. They didn’t reply. Barbara still laughs about my panicked VHF response weeks later.

We motored to a nearby marina with dolphin moorings—standard in the Baltic, first time for us. The approach went slowly in calm conditions while we slipped lines over the outer dolphins. Emma whined from below deck the entire time, clearly annoyed at being excluded from the action. It went smoothly despite our nerves.

Weather Conditions

• Wind: Gusty on the Elbe, none in the canal
• Seas: Flat canal water
• Weather: Clear and sunny, once rain

Navigation

• Departure: Cuxhaven
• Arrival: Kiel, Stickenhoern
• Distance: 74 nautical miles (about 137 kilometers)
• Duration: 4 days (16 hours under power)

Notes

• Changed saildrive oil before departure due to ongoing water ingress concerns
• Oil levels remained stable throughout passage

Highlights

• Reunion sail after six months apart
• Our first lock passings —pleased with ourselves afterwards

Photos

Scale difference—container ship overtaking under canal bridge

Chilled canal motoring—Emma’s interpretation

Full crew at Gieselau Lock

Emma on foredeck duty in the canal

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