Last night, it flashed and thundered, like crazy. Our division of labor: Dietmar schläft und Katja steht senkrecht im Bett 🙂 Es war tagsüber unglaublich schwül und in der Sonne kaum auszuhalten. Especially not with a screwdriver in his hand, with a new holder had to be fitted for the two tankers. A very nice trip to the city of Cuxhaven has directed but everything again. Once again a beautiful spot, where we immediately felt very comfortable. Great architecture in an excellent state of maintenance and nice people, dwell therein. And by the way, we are beguiled, to take two fleet folding bikes on board. At noon today we pick up the Renner. Fun in the bike to explore the surrounding area and as often as possible, to engage in sports, also belongs to the new way of life. Vorher waren es ja eher jede Menge Pferdchen unter der Haube 🙂
We were also active in other areas. The routes and scheduling for the cruise to the South-East coast of England is.
Our goal is the Marina “Suffolk Harbour”, because not far away in the town of Felixstowe our dear friend Tom lives with his wife Ann. With “Uncle” Tom bin ich 2012 sailed together from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. We got along very well and our friendship is carefully maintained.
So now for the cruise:

We will see, whether we have calculated correctly with the tide tables. Optimal wäre es 2 Einzulaufen hours before high water in the River Orwell, so that we have enough water under the keel. Between the tides are at least 3,50 m difference.

In 20 Minutes we will leave our mooring in the marina Laboe. It is a beautiful morning with lots of sun and balmy temparatures. It is then about. 1,7 Nautical miles northwest direction until we reach the entrance. Our SUMMER supposed to have tonight for the first time salty North Sea under the keel. The first piece is our dear friend Helmut ride with us. About 7:00 we have arranged to meet for breakfast on board, we want to take before the lock Holtenau. Before the lock we will create and go on hold. If the lock keeper then The light signal “White interrupted” shows means it then free entrance to the old Nordschleuse.
Tomorrow morning we will then report. Muss jetzt schnell noch unter die Dusche 🙂

09:25 Exit lock Holtenau North:-) Helmut takes on the first watch, and the control. We are now running 6 Nodes and are very happy, that we have mastered our first lock together. Nature is truly spectacular in your diversity. We encounter very many geese, Comoranen, Swans and anglers. In Sonar not only a big fish was under the boat between 6 to see and 10m depth. But fishing is not in it for the speed and the ship traffic. This is located on the crossing to UK certainly change but. Cordial greetings to this point in our professional angler Michael from Manching! All in all a very nice canal tour.
12:30 Helmut goes ashore just because not every day is a Saturday for him! Thank you also for your commitment (in every sense!), for the lovely gift and much success in your business appointment!

17:00 In gut 2 Hours we will reach Brunsbuttel. Thank goodness the sun has fallen somewhat, it was very warm under Tags. Katja controls diligently the thick pots and I finally allowed them to doze a little below deck. Auf meine Capitana ist eben Verlass 🙂

19:00 Creation in the Marina Bruhnsbüttel directly in front of the entrance to the lock. In ca. 100m driving the huge ships passing us. This will probably go on all night. At our SUMMER still has a 37 Fuss “Janneau” made up alongside. This is called seamanly “in the pack” lie. On the boat Fabian is an instructor with his 4 Fellow sailors just come back from Helgoland. The joke of the matter, we met in Flensburg in the Marina Sonwik a few days ago!
Katja and I then have quickly turned a lap through the city and nibbled a spaghetti ice. Tomorrow it means to get up early because we want to drive to the Elbe flood in downstream direction Cuxhafen.

22:00 Katja is already asleep and I'm enjoying the new life to the fullest on deck paired with nice phone calls just like with my dear friend Reiner from Minga. Life is wonderful and there is still so much to discover. We look forward, unseren Freunden einmal ein Stück davon live irgendwo auf dieser Welt zu zeigen 🙂 Mit Freunden gemeinsam Schönes zu erleben macht doch doppelt so viel Spass!

Two days before the start of Flensburg from the direction of the Kiel Canal, we have today received a very nice video from Yacht Service Gutowski. It is the same to me 2 in full use as I have gone even a shiver down the spine and the endorphins were seen in our SUMMER ride. There are not many occasions his ship in “wild” to see. Thank you at this point to Jan Gutowski, and cinematographer Hinnerk Klopp for these beautiful pictures in front of the harbor entrance Grömitz.
Link to the video:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9idkz38d43ypyzx/AACY0n1TFCpdl6GGuSLDercXa
On Monday, it's finally happening early with the aim of, for the first time to have on Wednesday night North Sea water under the keel. But until then we have to get still a good way behind us. The tingling starts already at the thought of, that we have many new experiences and task ahead of us, we want to tackle together. But one thing is already certain, that the departure of our beloved sailing friends here in Sonwik is us at the dock F difficult. We had a very nice time together here and also a great “Männerabend” mit Martin, Uwe and Piet on board the yacht Ganesha from our friend Martin.
Later plus more. I have to go and meet my responsibilities at home. Sonst gibt es Mecker von Katja 🙂

It is a rainy Saturday afternoon in the Flensburg Fjord. After three busy days in the marina, the best opportunity to make the last week briefly pass in review. After an extremely warm welcome of the Harbor Master Marina Sonwik, Herrn Holt, and our sailing friends Violetta and Martin from the SY Ganesha we felt from the first minute to well. What a contrast to the disappointing adoption of the Harbor Master in Grömitz(down to a more casual spoken “Have a nice trip” there was really no kind words). In Holt has us even 2 Hours before entering into a Sonwik “Welcome” sent by e-mail. That was a great feeling! Last Sunday we received the news, that my mother passed away unexpectedly for us. Of course, it was a depressing feeling to get such a message on the day, where we have cast off the lines in our home port and started our journey. This one but once again more aware on the other side, that life is a gift and we should try to make the best of it. The fulfillment of our dream has only further more get more weight and the family also is behind.
Martin is an experienced sailor and equips his ship also just for the trip to Portugal in July this year from. For this reason, and because he is a good guy, he gave us the best boating equipment “Skipper Paradiese” :-), Presented workshops and Violetta and his sailing friends. The result: Stainless steel fittings for the rear anchor, new linkage for the Bimini, Rettungsboje, 2 AIS transponder times if one of us falls overboard, an ingenious 2,4 KG 'heavy Shimano fishing reel (Endstufe!) for the thickest marine fish, various maintenance products and an invitation to a birthday party on Saturday evening. Yesterday evening there was already a small foretaste. After four bottles of delicious wine with Violetta, Martin, Uwe, Dirk + Woman and very entertaining “Doktor Gorch-Fock” Stories we were against 00:30 back on board with us. Today I was allowed for repair our broken toilet onboard to compensate. Einer der sehr wenigen Gelegenheiten an denen ich meine ansonsten blühende Fantasie und bildliche Vorstellungskraft zwanghaft unterdrückt habe 🙂
Was soll`s, the thing works again. In 20 Minutes we will be met and, therefore, is it a day.

Endlich Wind 🙂 Motiviert machen wir uns auf den Weg nach Flensburg, where we still want to spend a few days with friends in the port Sonwik. The 35 Nautical miles we sail with a fair wind from behind in just six hours. While Dietmar diligently cares the boat, I have a quite a hangover and slept through most of the day. Good, that we can rely on each other each other. When next time Dietmar can then relax and I'll take care of everything else.
In Flensburg, we are already expected and fast moored on our new berth. We feel right at home and we look forward, To spend time here. Tomorrow we will probably explore the city and of course perform work on last boot. Tonight it goes but first Italians to right on the harbor, to let the evening end comfortably.

After a relaxing night at anchor we were woken up at half past seven in a hell of a noise, came directly from our bed box. The generator was jumped J Nice, if the technology works, but it could also may be an hour later.
Our first morning at sea, we started with a hearty breakfast. Then we all left our cozy anchorage and sailed westward. All over the Bay of Kiel large area target practice of the Bundeswehr were sold today. For safety's sake, we made a big bow around it. Nevertheless, we were able to observe on the horizon the great warships and hear the shots.

In the afternoon we had to stop because of strong nachlassendem wind sailing and arrived at eight clock red herring in the loop with motor.

As Dietmar today despite "Fish Finders" had no luck fishing, there was for dinner only rice with Chinese vegetables (but was still tasty J) Let's see, if happiness is hold him tomorrow. So a fresh cod would have fit well on our menu. Tomorrow we will continue to Flensburg.

In ca 1,5 H It is time. Family and friends will be the same on the web. We are pleased and spend tonight in a bay off Fehmarn anchor. Let the Show begin 🙂
16:40: After a windy first passage we have before 40 Minutes reached our anchorage. We are sheltered south from the north-west winds on the island Fehmarn. Katja has successfully run today her first mooring buoys maneuver and since my Capitana not only good tax, but also can cook, issue it after feasting as a delicious noodle soup. The two nice girls from our favorite cafe “BEACH BLISS” in the marina have Grömitz goodbye an incredibly delicious eggnog cake (natural homemade :-)) given. Many thanks to your great crew! It was always a pleasure to have breakfast with you and then for coffee a piece of delicious cake, Almond croissant or just to eat pot pie! In general, the last two days were fantastic and moving. We have spoken with so many nice and love people, New Cute Bekantschaften closed and get a lot of nice wishes on the way. Thanks for that!
Yesterday we still had some great experiences. In the morning jan brought from Yacht Service Gutowski professional cameraman Hinnerk to us on board, to view a video about our SUMMER and the work carried out by his company conversions for his website, to rotate. The recordings will probably have become sensational. Especially beautiful are the exterior shots of the SUMMER have become sailing. We are curious if we will see the result for the first time. In the afternoon we were going to my old friend Christian on his motorcycle past. His visit was totally unexpected and I was looking forward twice, I prior to Christian's sailboat 23 Years have endeckt the love of sailing and really like him as a human also. Last but not least, we also have with Katie's mother Beate our first guest on board had.

Thank you for your visit and the beautiful adoption in Grömitz! It was a lot to us, that yours today “Tschüß” You said.
Morning is to rotate the wind south-west, and then we will have a quick pass to our next destination port in Flensburg.

The last few days we have continued to be used diligently, to prepare for our Summer piece by piece. My Capitana has called for further clothes hooks in the bathroom, so that we can hang our towels and our rain gear to dry. The pain was great, as I made clear the drill, to spared in the hitherto immaculate walls of holes and, To put holes for the screws. Nach dem 4.ten Kleiderhaken und der 8.ten Bohrung hat es dann auch gar nicht mehr weh getan 🙂 Das Ergebnis war am Ende aber perfekt und die fiesen Perforationen somit für mich entschuldbar. Even the forward cabin, which was almost hopelessly filled with all kinds of equipment a few days ago up to the ceiling, was thoroughly cleaned. The specification of the Capitana stood namely, that my mother in law by Beate 3. to 4. May, be on board with us as a guest and for the bow is prepare habitable. Done!!!

Tuesday morning, 9:00 Clock was a test drive to check the machine and electrical systems on the plan. The sea was calm and pleasant temperatures it went out into the Bay of Lübeck. After the engine to operating temperature was, it was then “Lever on the table” and at full throttle for 5 Minutes full speed ahead. If the screw already drops or the engine dies, then it should happen please now, not at a critical control. Drive, Radar, Fishfinder and autopilot have passed the tests behaved and no abnormalities. To conclude our preparations that was a nice confirmation of all troubles and clean work from YACHT SERVICE Gutowski. Thank you!!!
Thus, our departure date was fixed. At the 4. May around noon we want to leave Grömitz Flensburg. Our parents want us again personally “Tschüß” say and dismiss us in our adventure. A beautiful feeling! If we were worn in Bavaria, the web would certainly have been well packed. Aber erstens hat Bayern keine offene See 🙂 und zweitens haben wir uns ja bei unseren Freunden gebührend verabschiedet. Katja is now down again to Leverkusen on Wednesday and is on 1. Celebrate May your mother Beate's birthday. Also not easy for a mom, when the beloved daughter of the man only to Bavaria and then follows with him, wants to sail around the world. But we will do everything, that we will return back safely and thank our equipment, can the two communicate with each other as usual, continue every day. Beate has set out with us the Panama Canal, the connection between the Atlantic and Pacific, to pass through. Na dann kann ja nichts mehr schief gehen 🙂

Crowds at the ship crane in front of the 1. More. The last boats go to water

It was a quiet last night in our comfortable “Kingsize-Bettchen” Leverkusen. Katja is sitting together with our family doctor and can advise regarding vaccinations in our future travel destinations. By the time we end Europe 2015 will leave, , the subject of important.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting in the living room and still waiting for the parcel service, is supposed to bring some important spare parts for on-board toilets. Hardly imagine what happens, wenn die Pumpen ausfallen sollten 🙂
Katja will soon again “home” go and do things familar. For me, it is today a farewell and at the same time a new beginning. I'm going to live from now permanently on our SUMMER. Last night I had the feeling short “get cold feet”. Funny actually, where I have this moment but more than 1000x desired and presented in a dream…. I have been told, das sei normal 🙂
Nevertheless, the joy and curiosity is large. A little proud I am to Katja and me, that we have our dream realized so consistently. It is and remains a magical moment, when you see, that the air castle of yesterday is real in front of a suddenly!
The next few days we will see yes, how it feels like, if a “Vacation Ship” a barge is. One thing is certain: Das Bett wird nie wieder so ruhig stehen wie in der letzten Nacht 🙂

After 6 Ordinary days, physical work and organizational excellence, Katja through sensible storage of 8 full packing boxes laid with equipment of the day, are now almost all the cabinets and lockers be carefully assigned. At the beginning of the week we were from a true chaos in the form of tools, Spare parts, Seekarten, Books, Linen, Pump, Dishes, Engines and paraphernalia surrounded. In the salon and in the so-called “Owner's cabin” has everything stacked and distributed on tables and floors. The challenge was, to capture every part in lists, to label and then be stowed so, that you can find things again later, if needed. We have discovered in the employee of the Yacht Services faces a twinge of pity, as we have brought at last our diving compressor for filling scuba tanks and a farther outboard on board, the aim was also to stow below deck. Difficult to understand for ordinary Baltic sailors, has to fill in the rule so only the refrigerator and the on-board bar. We have divided the large cake into small bites and then executed systematically. According to this method, we have also worked successfully earlier in professional life, when it was, to handle a large workload of challenges. Mit einem klaren Ziel vor Augen geht es auch viel einfacher 🙂

Amazing findings have also arise: 1. To feel a nice feeling once again, that Katja and I complement each other wonderfully and function as a team. 2. Evening, tired and happy to drop a satisfying feeling with a slight soreness in the arms in the bunk. 3. Very pleasant, to indulge every day plenty of delicious cakes and other culinary excesses, fat without (because of the physical activities) zu werden 🙂
Today, on the Saturday before Easter, we then leave Grömitz, to the multitudes of “Oster-terrorist” to escape this weekend. First, however, we still have some work to be done transferred to the Yacht Service Gutowski. It must still installed gas detectors, Are wooden shelves and Plan prepared and connected electrical equipment. We are very pleased with the results this week, because we left a tidy ship and our start times are come a great deal closer again. Until our return we will be at home, Doctor and vaccinations perceive and our “Family-Office” continue to prepare for our upcoming trip. I do not want to forget to mention, that we are truly excited about the many, sehr netten Mail, Were pleased guestbook entries and congratulations from friends. So kann es gern weiter gehen 🙂