Helgoland

In Travemunde until May 2020
Nick Pochin
Thu 20 Aug 2015 17:10
Position 54:11N 07:54E on the Island of Helgoland at the mouth of the river Elbe.A very strategic location in World War 11 with the German Navy coming into the N Sea from the River. Today it is a holiday resort which is duty free with cigarettes at £2 for 20 Rum at £6 a litre bottle and Bailey's £10 for a large bottle. It reminds me of Legoland or Tobermory with it's multi coloured houses. The weather was benign for the trip from Ijmuiden 190 n miles in 24 hrs. but the traffic was like Euston Station at rush hour. We had to navigate through two huge wind farms and several Gas platforms none shown on the charts! Then there were traffic separation zones which we had to cross at right angles with huge cargo ships intent on mowing us down! The longest ship was 1300 metres long! It was a long night with no sleep. One day here is enough and tomorrow we make our way to the Kiel Canal and the Baltic.