December Baltic Delivery - Gdansk to Kiel

[GuyBottomley]

I am about to undertake a delivery on a prima 38 from gdansk to kiel (and then maybe on to amsterdam) and would really appreciate any advice that anyone with experience or other would be willing to send my way. Thanks

[Joefloki]

In December on Baltic ?

You would need most probably an icebraker !

[barnakiel]

It is a no-no.

Jan can be better as there are sometimes long calms in Jan.

Find a quiet moment then motor like hell. You will have harbours along the coast but avoid them in bad onshore weather - many of them are on rivers.

Wx forecast is pretty accurate there - much data coming from stations further out West. yr.no, icm.edu, etc all good.

Take super duper clothing - thermals and waterproofs; it may be cold; very, very cold at times.

Start the engine often if going under sail - keep the engine warm. They can be damn hard to start in those climes.

b.

[barnakiel]

PS There is also a good fishing wx forecast on the radio but their warning comes pretty late compared to what on can gather from the Internet today.

b.

[nigel1]

I'm in the Baltic at the moment just to the east of Bornholm. Its been blowing SW 35 to 45 kts last 3 days, easing to 25kts today, and to 20 kts tomorrow, back up to 30 kts plus later in week. Last week we recorded a gust of 79 kts.
Was here the same time last year, can say that this year, December has been milder than last, not dipped below freezing so far.

[MacG]

I know how the weather is in Holland right now. I just finished a trip from the south of Holland to my new mooring at Weesp (close to Amsterdam).
Two gales force 10, hail, rain and a very cold environment. It could be done, but double your time of travel. Make sure you have on board heating. And skip the North Sea for the moment. Wind is now prematurely SW - a very undesirable direction for coastal travel.
Take the Kieler canal and from there the inland waterways to Amsterdam.
If you require the specific route and locktimes just ask.