Ipswich to Berlin

[ii337]

Hello fellow cruisers......
I am planning a trip in February from Orwell to Berlin and wondered if anybody had any experience/ advice with this route?
Especially the Elbe and German kanals.
Most especially is a tip for the best place to unstep my mast.
I have a Nic 32 by the way.......
All the best,
Lee

[Tellus]

ELWIS, the german Waterway info system
https://www.elwis.de/mvc/main.php?mo...n=selectManyWs
I switched on the waterways you could use. From River Elbe, Magdeburg crossing, Elbe-Havel-Kanal, Havel.
Map and Guide:
Berlin West / Lower Havel Waterway / Havel-Canal | Gemany | european-waterways.eu: Description of waters, Facilities, Travel Information

HanseNautic - Deutsche Binnenwasserstraen 4 Deutsche Binnenwasserstraen 4 37424

Lower down mast in Hamburg, Yachthafen Wedel Willkommen im Hamburger Yachthafen

Have a nice trip

[ii337]

Thank you very much indeed ! Have you done this route? And did you enjoy it?

[Tellus]

No, did only from Channel via Elbe river, Kiel Canal to Kiel and back.
Don´t like motoring. It´s boring. And in Berlin we use public transport.
Do you want to go further Baltic direction?

[ii337]

I am goimg for a job on a river cruiser in Berlin and want my boat there. Agreed it can get boring on a river but beats an office anyday!
I have heard great things about the Baltic so no doubt one day it will happen......
This will be my first major voyage sea wise so one step at a time still I think :-)

[Tellus]

Don´t know about licences you need on inshore waterways. In Germany there are differents for Sea and Inshore.
On River Rhine and Lake Constance (Bodensee) f.e. you need special licences.
I get three, but no Rhine Licence. So may skipper on Danube but not on Rhine.

Baltic Sea is my prefered area, not only if I live there. It´s simply great.
No tidal, beautiful landscapes and coastlines, fine food and nice people.
You´ll love it.

[ii337]

I am translating my licences right now, I have to for the job anyway. I am really looking forward to it so I reckon I will love it yes! :-)

[Pete7]

Lee,

I used to run along the canals in Germany and they were often frozen in winter. How far are you hoping to get during the winter as you might have to be prepared to hole up for a few weeks during a cold snap.

Pete

[ii337]

Pete,
Yeah, that is a concern.
My cousin is also a Cpt in Berlin and he is nervous about the ice. He reckons it gets broken up but then he is nervous about the ice packs thus created. I want to get to Berlin as soon possible from around mid January so I guess I am going to encounter something! I am more laid back than my cousin and say " well if I get stuck I moor up till it eases".
Do you have any advice?
Cheers,
Lee

[Tellus]

Hi Lee,

here is a river guide of Berlin and around, from ADAC biggest german motorclub.
Draft of your Nic is 1,7 - 1,8m, right? For some waterways could it be too much,
in add to bridge clearances a problem.
http://www.adac.de/_mmm/pdf/Berliner...0www_57407.pdf

Guess it might be a good idea if you first check possiblities and later put the boat to Berlin.
The weather there can be tricky and waterways can be frozen till early spring.
The area of Berlin and its waters are great but it´s continental climate often with strong winds from Sibiria.
regards Tellus

[Tellus]

Just read in a german forum that in Berlin and waters around draft max. 1,60m are used.
One said his 505 with 1,60 has problems to go in prefered areas.
daggerboard or swingkeel are prefered types, or small sailing dinghy.

cheers

[ii337]

According to my cousin those depths are for a canal in the centre, one I wont be going through. My Nic is 1.7m . Thanks for that guide, really appreciate that, i am studying it now :-)