Summer 2011 9. From Skagen to Grenå

From Skagen to Grenå : different sailing with 84 miles of shallow sea in Kattegat.

We left our berth in Skagen with the help of the owner of a Danish boat that was next to us and motored to the fuel berth for diesel and water. Getting out of the harbour proved difficult as first one, then another, large fishing boat appeared in the entrance. Eventually it was clear so we headed out, only to have the engine die right in the harbour mouth. 

We had a fair westerly wind, so unrolled the staysail, then the jib to get clear. Up with the main and on our way. Investigation while under way seemed to indicate a blocked filter as the pump leak appeared to be fixed. Changing fuel filters while sailing in a fresh wind is not much fun so we carried on. 

Laeso Rende lighthouse , marking a large shallow area with depths of 2.5 metres between Laeso and the mainland.

I feel more comfortable with night watches and even enjoy some views with interesting boats passing by , despite very busy shipping routes in narrow stretches . 

Here are some pictures taken at dawn :

 

We tacked in between two shallow banks to within a quarter of a mile of Grenå yacht harbour, easily identified by the forest of masts and the regular appearance of boats leaving in the early morning. The wind was blowing straight out of the narrow entrance making sailing in very difficult so the main anchor was unlashed, just in case, and the engine started. We got to about 50 metres from the starboard pier end when the engine stopped, so down went the anchor in 3 metres of water. A few of the boats leaving waved, some looked puzzled, and others just ignored us.

Grenå with forest of masts !

We used this break to rig fenders and lines for mooring, then recovered the anchor and made a second attempt with the engine.  This took us about 150 metres and around the end of the breakwater pier, then silence. Anchor down in even less water and dropped back on the chain until the stern was just clear of the breakwater rocks – not a nice place to be. Inci started the engine again, and Sean switched over the fuel feed to the small header tank used to bleed the system, then recovered the anchor. We made it between a pair of piles directly ahead and achieved our first Baltic box mooring without too much difficulty. This time we stopped the engine!