08 July 2010; Kieler Kanal.

The challenge with the southbound passage is that we have to start early in the morning, in order to have enough time left to get to Amsterdam on time. That meant being in the Holtenau Locks, at the East side, at 5 am in the morning to start the transit. To get to the Locks we need the Kieler Bay pilot and thus we had to pick him up even earlier. So by 3 am I was gazing at the Kieler Lighthouse while we were approaching it. The pilots have accommodation in the base of this lighthouse which stands in the middle of the approaches to the bay as a sort of traffic cop, while ships pass around it from several sides. We were exactly there at 4 am and then cranked the ship up again to full maneuvering speed to be in front of the locks before 5 am. There our first delay started as the lock chamber was still full with 3 cargo ships who only came slowly spilling out of it. Hence we were only inside by 05.15 hrs. The Kieler Bay pilot left us here, replaced by the Kieler Kanal Pilot with two helmsmen. Then we proceeded with the grand speed of 7 knots into the canal. This side of the canal is the narrowest part, and still comes closest to the way it was constructed back in 1895. On either side there is a lot of expensive Real Estate to look at, some from the 19th century and some from the late 20th century. So the guests who were up and about early, had numerous interesting things to look at apart from the canal .

Who are they ????

I reported last time that we had two people with a Dutch and an American flag waving at us from each ferry crossing along the road. They were there again……. from the first locks to the last. Racing with a small car from ferry crossing to ferry crossing and one time we saw them standing on top of a bridge while we sailed under it. I announced it of course to the guests and it became a sport for everybody to try to find them along the canal side. I honked the horn as well for them each time; as such dedication had to be rewarded. I am now starting to wonder who they are and what causes them to do this, as it takes a full day (from about 0500 in the morning until 2 pm. in the afternoon) to complete the canal in the same way as we are doing. If they are there again next time, I will lower a sign with my website and ask them to send an email. Anyway, they provided a lot of entertainment for the guests on board and our Canadians started waving Canada flags back at them.

A nice day in the Canal. Sunny and windstill.

In the meantime I was not a happy camper, as within the time span of 3 hours I was asked to stop twice to let opposite ships through. After the 2nd time I was 50 minutes behind my planned schedule. Then the new pilot (we change canal pilots halfway through) announced we had a free run to the last locks. Good news, but it did not last, as somewhere the Canal Traffic regulator had allowed a tug and tow to proceed and thus we had to wait again at another passing point. By this time I was a full hour behind schedule. Time I would be able to –just- make up in open sea but at great – fuel- expense.

So instead of 2 pm we were out of the locks at 3 pm. And with the Elbe River pilot onboard, we raced down that river to get to open sea as soon as possible. Luckily the river was ebbing and that gave us another two knots of speed with us.
Tonight we will sail above the German and Dutch islands that hug the mainland and then by 0500 tomorrow we will be at the pilot station of Ijmuiden for the 3 hour trip to Amsterdam. The weather looks glorious and it is going to be very warm and wind still.