The Kiel Canal

The canal is a very impressive feat of engineering. Only a little wider than the Thames in London, it is some 20m deep and can take very large ships. We motored along at a steady 5 knots with larger vessels passing us as they kept to the maximum 8 knot speed limit. The canal has km markers to keep track of how far along you go. There are many ferries darting across, in front and behind. You pass small groups of houses, then larger villages, many of which appear quite new. There are a few bridges across, either road or rail. One rail bridge had a ferry suspended from it. As we approached Rendsburg, we saw a hugh railway bridge. Looking at the map, we saw that the railway line takes a circle through the town as it gains the height to cross over the canal.

There is good mobile phone contact along the canal. One of Phils' friends in Cardiff found a web cam on the bridge at Rendsburg and emailed him a photo of Pegasus passing under the bridge. Such is modern travel.

Diggory decided to see whether we could stop in Rendsburg for the night. There is a cut from the canal into the town. We motored down it and found a yacht harbour at the end. We circled around looking for a place to moor. Then we spotted someone waving at us and directing us around, behind a line of yachts, to a mooring long enough for the 56ft Pegasus (with the bowsprit, she does need a long space). However, to get there, and be ready to get out again in the morning, Diggory needed to reverse her in, not easy for a boat designed to go forwards. It was good to see how this is done - with patience and based upon a lot of practice. We moored up and stopped the engine which had now been running continuously for some 57 hours. The silence was lovely.

We had done some two thirds of the canal. When sailing to places that you have never been to before, you never know what you might find. This time we were in luck. The Yacht Club in Rendsburg is a little gem. Small, very neat and tidy, with friendly people. Nice hot showers and cool beer! We ate our first meal ashore for a week and slept in the quiet.