Crossing shipping lanes in the middle of the night and burning car ships on the way to Cuxhaven!

29.07.2023

150 nm leg in 24 hours!

The weather forecast is very good, so we decide to take a real dive. We leave Vlieland and head out to get clear of the sandbanks, before we turn north. It gets a little more than moderately exciting when the depth gauge moves down to 0.5 meters far out from land, but luckily it goes well.

We have almost no diesel left so we sail almost the entire way. Encountering burning car ships, dolphins, gas platforms and wind farms on our way and listening to an audiobook.

Darkness is gradually creeping in, which makes it extra challenging to cross the shipping lane to Bremen and Hamburg in pitch darkness - we didn't know there were so many large ships on the way in the middle of the night!! Fortunately we have AIS and radar, but even with that, sometimes uncertainty spreads in the boat - are we clearly ahead or not?

Arrive in Cuxhaven when it has started to get light, and fortunately quickly find a long side seat for a few hours of sleep.

A total of 150 nm and 24 hours en route, two sunrises and one sunset - no wonder we are tired but proud when we arrive at 7 in the morning!