Sea trials....Day one.

Day one proper, after being handed the reins we felt obliged to show the Germans we know what we're doing......10 minutes later we had managed to slip the dock at Weik Hafen and avoid all stationary vessels, 0-1 to England! The yacht dealer assured us not to worry about the shallow water, as it was common to run aground in Rügen, and so not to disappoint or show off we obliged about 1hr later whilst navigating our way out of the inner lakes, but a little huff & puff saw us through.

After an attempt to fill the sails in the first depth of water 2m + we decided the next harbour was calling.  We arrived at Kloster (rhymes with Gloucester) 20 miles west on the Isle of Hiddensee and addressed the harbour master and requested a berth. He asked for our beam width which I replied 4m, his response was I have one for you 4.2m between stern mooring poles, should be plenty we thought?! Not really, could have done with another .5m! (pic middle right).

After successfully docking, thanks to Tom at the helm, we sat back and enjoyed a well earned G&T and mused at the other yachtsman attempting the same task.....the Gin bolstering our smugness.

We met the first German of the trip with a sense of humour, so had dinner at his restaurant, not sure but think he had the last laugh.

Hoping for some real wind in the morning, and plan to sail out of inner lakes and head North, around and back down to the South East or Rügen and to Glowe, the party capital of Rügen ;)

Other than a few minor snags (windex & VHF that'll get sorted Monday) we're good to go.

Below left tied up at Weik before we set off, top right on route to Koster with little or no wind, middle and bottom left Koster Hafen.