Routing advice in Germany: Netherlands (Delfzijil) --> Elbe, Kiel canal

[parito]

Hi everyone,

We just arrived to Delfzijil (Netherlands) via Mast up route from the west. I am looking for advice from someone very familiar with the canals in the Germany.

So far we see these options to get to Elbe:

a) Sail outside back north, to North Sea via Borkum and then towards the Elbe. Not an option due to weather. We are very light and small.

b) Get to Bremerhaven via canals and then via Geeste-Elbe Kanal reach Elbe. What are our options to get to Bremerhaven?

So far I found in almanac we could go south via river Ems to Papenburg, and then via Kusten-Kanal to Elsfleth, and then north to Bremerhaven.

Or go via Ems-Jade canal (Emden to Wilhelmshaven). This looks much shorter and better way, however we cannot find a decent routing from Wilhelmshaven to Bremerhaven. Unless there's kanal connecting them (which is very unclear in the charts), we would have to go all the way north to the exposed north sea and then dive back to Bremerhaven via River Wesser.

Sorry if I am not wording this orderly, had to motor through too many bridges recently !

[MarinerJo]

Have a look at this,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFVoQxe4ahc

He went't through the Kiel Canal to the Elbe. Guido is also a member of this forum, perhaps contact him, Mel1970, I bet he has the information you are looking for.

[CarstenWL]

He went't through the Kiel Canal to the Elbe.

Check your geography ;-)

The poster is south (west) of the Elbe river .... Elbe - Kiel Canal is no problem. Delfzijil - Elbe is ...

Regards,

Carsten

[CarstenWL]

@parito:

What is your draught? Ems - Jade Canal / Hadelner Kanal is limited to 1.5m or so and of course you have to remove the mast on all these routes.

Carsten

[MarinerJo]

Originally Posted by CarstenWL

Check your geography ;-)

The poster is south (west) of the Elbe river .... Elbe - Kiel Canal is no problem. Delfzijil - Elbe is ...

Regards,

Carsten

Nothing wrong with my geography, merely suggested that since Guido has been through there, he may have information regarding the route in question.

[parito]

Originally Posted by CarstenWL

@parito:

What is your draught? Ems - Jade Canal / Hadelner Kanal is limited to 1.5m or so and of course you have to remove the mast on all these routes.

Carsten

Our draft is 90 cm and we have the mast down already

[parito]

Originally Posted by MarinerJo

Have a look at this,
He went't through the Kiel Canal to the Elbe. Guido is also a member of this forum, perhaps contact him, Mel1970, I bet he has the information you are looking for.

Thanks but it seems he went outside the Frisian islands, which in our case currently is not an option due to weather.

I will pm him though

[CarstenWL]

@parito:

Check these options:

- Ems-Jade-Canal to Wilhelmshaven
- Taking the Kaiser-Balje to Bremerhaven

or

- going up Ems River - in Dörpen take Küstenkanal
- than river Weser down to Bremerhaven
- Bremerhaven - Otterndorf thru Kuhkanal
- in Otterndorf put mast back on
- Otterndorf-Brunsbüttel and than thru Kiel Canal

Carsten

[parito]

Originally Posted by CarstenWL

@parito:

Check these options:

- Taking the Kaiser-Balje to Bremerhaven

Carsten

Could you elaborate on this? Appreciate your help.

Thanks

[Stu Jackson]

And here I thought all this was covered completely in "The Riddle of The Sands."

[CarstenWL]

@parito:

Here: http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/04/everesa2.jpg

Taken from Navionics Webapp

Is a shortcut but with 0.9m no problem ...

Carsten

[CarstenWL]

And here I thought all this was covered completely in "The Riddle of The Sands."

Great book - a must read!

Carsten

[parito]

Hey Carsten,

Yeah I've seen this route - I just could not find anyone to confirm it is actually in use and we would be able to cross it this tuesday/wednesday. We also Navionics, however we had some depth inconsistencies in between the frisian islands so we're not so confident anymore

[CarstenWL]

... I can double check on a German sailing forum ...

Will let you know asap but based what I read you should be fine.

Carsten

[parito]

Thanks - I appreciate it.