This position puts us outside the entrance to the Kiel Canal at Brunsbuttel

the tides in the Elbe can flow as much as 5kn so timing is everything.  we left Cuxhaven about 09.00 which was 30mins after low water and we still ended up stemming the tide for 1.5 hours, when it did eventually turn it gave us a good 2.5kn lift.

we had to wait about an hour to enter the lock to open. They let 2 large ships in first then it became a bit of a bun fight for everyone else.