Our sailing trip begins in the heart of Hamburg, at the City Sport Harbour, right next to the impressive Elbphilharmonie concert hall. From here, we glide down the Elbe River, past the bustling port area, until we reach Cuxhaven and the vast expanse of the North Sea. A side trip to Germany's only high-sea island, Heligoland, is an experience we shouldn't miss.
From Heligoland, we embark on a multi-day passage across the North Sea. Since our draft prevents us from accessing the many small harbors of the Frisian Islands and the Wadden Sea, a true offshore passage awaits us. This section of the North Sea is known for its heavy traffic, and we will have to navigate precisely between numerous traffic separation schemes – a sailing challenge demanding the utmost concentration.
Weather permitting, we can flexibly adjust our route for a particularly diverse sailing trip. An optional detour to Amsterdam, for example, could take us through the locks to the heart of the city. Alternatively, in England, we could first visit charming coastal towns like Ramsgate or Chatham. From there, we could take advantage of a favorable tide to wind our way up the Thames, directly into London's vibrant city center.
During this multi-day passage, we sail continuously on a watch system, where each crew member is equally involved according to their skills. The watch system ensures balanced sleep management and a fair distribution of tasks on deck and in the kitchen. Several watch leaders assist in distributing responsibilities, so a pleasant routine of watches, navigation, and life on board quickly develops.
Our destination port is St. Katharine Docks, picturesquely situated right next to the world-famous Tower Bridge. Experiencing this iconic view from the water is an unforgettable highlight of our journey. After all, we also want to feel like we're discovering something new, both on the open sea and in the ports of call. The entire length of this passage is approximately 550 nautical miles.
