Embarking on a Journey of a Lifetime
I have been sailing for as long as I can remember. In 2017, I acquired a long-range boat, an Esslinger abt Van Der Stad 40. For 5 years, I worked on the boat to prepare it for an epic voyage.
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News & Updates from Aura-sailing--Sailing home
Setting Sail for Greece
On July 2nd, 2022, I embarked on an unforgettable adventure. Sailing from Denmark to Greece, my crew and I explored the beauty of the Aegean Sea.
Discovering the Wonders of Greece
While sailing along the Greek coast,
I encountered breathtaking islands, picturesque villages, and ancient ruins. Greece truly captivated my heart.
01. The voyage to Nyborg
On July 2, 2022 . At 2 pm,
Stine and I started sailing towards Greece.
First destination was Sejø, where we would spend the night and spend a day experiencing Sejø harbour.
Through Storeblæt in a storm.
After a few days, we had to sail from Sejø, as a new crew was coming from Nyborg. We left Sejø in 14 knots wind.
It went really well. We sailed over to the Funen side to get sheltered from land. Unfortunately, it turned out that we had to pass through the Storebælt Bridge at its highest point, as Aura's mast is about 20 meters tall.
Sailing from Nyborg to Kiel.
On a grey and blustery morning, we set sail from Nyborg harbour.
Our small crew consisted of just three sailors: myself, Henrick and my dear wife Stine. Unfortunately, Stine had suffered a severe backache and had to stay ashore. She had been looking forward to this voyage.
Our destination was Kiel channel. The wind nipped at our cheeks, and the waves crashed against the hull.
Skårupøre became our first stop, where we dropped anchor for the night. Henrik, the seasoned seafarer, knew the place like the back of his hand. He lived nearby and often let his thoughts wander out across the boundless sea.
The next morning, anticipation filled the air as we set sail for Marstal and onward to Kiel.
Aura, our faithful vessel, cut through the waves at about 7 knots. Marstal slipped by like a fleeting memory, and soon the Baltic Sea lay before us. The west wind gave us wings, and we flew along at 9 knots. It was as if the ocean itself pulled us forward, as if it held a secret to reveal.
Kielerkanalen awaited us like a gateway to another world. I spoke with my friend Michael on the phone as we sailed. He warned me of a boat slowly approaching us. It turned out to be a classic Dutch schooner. Its sails were like wings, and its bow sliced through the waves like a knife. It sailed faster than we could imagine, but by the time we reached Kiel, it had vanished like a dream.
We spent the night in Kiel, and the next morning, we navigated the lock to enter the Kielerkanalen. The canal seemed to open its arms to us, and we sailed into the unknown.
What awaited us on the other side?
Navigating the Kieler Canal: A Seafaring Adventure”
Early one morning, our vessel glided into the lock of the Kiel Canal. Towering cargo ships and tankers were granted passage ahead of us. Soon after, our turn arrived, and we, along with a flotilla of small boats like ours, entered the lock. Another boat positioned itself alongside ours, and gradually, the entire lock filled with vessels.
Henrik leaped onto the floating dock, securing lines and attaching fenders to the side of our boat, the Aura. Anticipation buzzed through the air as we wondered what lay ahead in the Kiel Canal.
Our rendezvous point was a quaint lockside haven called Giselau, nestled 32 nautical miles deep within the canal. Giselau exuded natural beauty and tranquility. The melodic hum of birds and bees enveloped the place in serenity.
Lene and Niels, fellow sailors from Frederiksværk, were en route to Amsterdam. We decided to sail together from Giselau onward. Meeting Niels and Lene in Giselau was delightful. Conversation flowed, and we toasted to our camaraderie with exquisite, flavorful bottles of red wine. It turned into a cozy evening.
The next morning, we set sail once more, bound for Brunsbüttel, where we would navigate the lock leading to the North Sea.
Navigating the Kieler Canal: Brunsbrüttel
“It was a bit difficult to leave Giselau, as it was idyllic and peaceful, but we had to go to Brunsbrüttel. We were accompanied by Lene and Niels, who sail in an Edership 38 motorboat. It sails faster than Aura but is very sensitive to bad weather. When we arrived in Brunsbrüttel, we found a berth, as we could only sail through the lock due to the tide. We had to sail out into the North Sea an hour before slack (the time before the current changes), and it would lead us out towards the North Sea the next day.”
We have spent a total of 12 months sailing around Greece, thoroughly enjoying our time in this beautiful country.
However, the moment has come for us to sail back home with our boat.
We've enlisted the help of some experienced sailors to assist us on this journey.
It's approximately 4500 nautical miles back home, and we anticipate facing various challenges along the way.
Our journey began on March 26, 2024, setting sail from Preveza. Among our crew is Tim, hailing from the UK.
Tim is a seasoned sailor with multiple Atlantic crossings from England to the Caribbean under his belt. His own boat bears a resemblance to ours.
Our first stop is Spartochori, where we bid farewell to an old man and his son. From there, we make our way to Bathy for provisions before continuing to Nicolas on Zakynthos.
Zakynthos was a memorable stop, where we enjoyed our final Greek meal before embarking on our homeward journey early in the morning on March 30th.
We set sail at 6:30 AM, just as the sun began to rise, dispersing the morning mist around the boat. With calm weather and minimal wind, we relied on the motor for a few hours.
Our destination was the town of Porto Roccella Ionica, though the wind direction surprised us. Instead of coming from the southeast as predicted by PredictWind, it shifted from the northeast. As we cleared the islands of Kefalonia and Zakynthos, the wind picked up to a pleasant 14 knots, providing ideal sailing conditions with Aura. However, as evening fell, gusts increased to 36 knots, creating challenging conditions. We took turns steering for three-hour intervals while Stine attempted to rest in the front cabin. Eventually, she gave up and sought refuge amidships, struggling to find peace to sleep.
We arrived near Porto Roccella Ionica in southern Italy around 11:30 PM on Sunday, March 31st. Navigating into the harbour presented its own challenges, with a reef just outside the entrance to starboard. Despite the difficulty, we were guided safely into port by the harbor master's instructions via VHF and mobile communication. Thankfully, the Navionics map proved accurate, guiding us to safety with precision. Upon arrival, we were greeted by four Italian officers who assisted us in docking the boat. Exhausted, we quickly retired for the night after emptying the tank of undrinkable water filled in Zakynthos.
