Our position is 54:19.105N 13:05.594E

Distance covered 1.6Nm

The day after the party was the first day of the Cruising Association rally and we needed to move to the main harbour at Stralsund. We had originally planned to go through the 12.20 bridge to arrive at lunchtime, but on the previous day had toyed with going earlier to give ourselves time to go shopping. Because of the late night there was no chance of getting up early so just before 12.20 we were waiting at the bridge along with a couple of other boats flying the rally flag. We all had to wait while many boats came through the other way, including a big sailing barge and, just when everyone on our side was surging forward, a large river cruise boat, hooting as he went.

Approaching the bridge with other rally boats tied to posts

Barge and cruise ship coming the other way

On arriving at the North Marina there were many other rally goers lining up to take warps so we were soon tied up safely in our box. We sallied forth to the shops but as it was Sunday they were closed so we had a light lunch on board in anticipation of the restaurant meal planned for everyone in the evening.

 Rally boats on Pontoon 9

The evening was very sociable with drinks on the pontoon preceding an excellent meal and good company. We were able to pick up a lot of useful information about possible places to lay up in Germany, where it is considerably cheaper than Sweden. Fortunately we didn’t go on for drinks after dinner as just as we got back to the boat the heavens opened and there was a ferocious thunderstorm, but we went to bed and slept through most of it.

 Graham making a welcome speech at the dinner