Update! I’ve finally written a series of blog posts about my sailing voyage last May. It’s in 7parts, and you can read them by clicking here!
I’m gonna be on a boat!
In less than two weeks from today I’ll be sailing for 8 days on the Baltic Sea on a 110 y.o. two-masted schooner. The Abel Tasman is 40.5 meters /132 feet long, 6.6 meters/21.6 feet wide, and has a draft of 2.5 meters/8.2 feet. A 318-hp motor is available when we are becalmed and when maneuvering in port. Her 12 cabins can sleep up to 30, and passengers enjoy a full galley and lounge. This Dutch tall ship mainly sails the Baltic and North Seas and can be hired for day trips, weekends, and multi-day cruises.
The Abel Tasman is named after the 17th century Dutch seafarer and explorer who reached Tasmania and New Zealand.
Follow the Abel Tasman online:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/abeltasman.de/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tallshipabeltasman/
URL: https://www.abel-tasman.de/ (website is in Dutch and German)
How did I get in on this?
My friend, Frank, organized the cruise for his friends. Frank and I have known each other for 38 years. He was a German exchange student my senior year in high school, and we’ve stayed in touch and visited each other many times ever since. Frank was invited on one of these cruises last year and is hosting this year. I’m so excited to be able to join this one!
The crew and his friends speak both German and English, so communication shouldn’t be a problem in the event my German fails me.
The Cruise
We will be embarking from Eckernförde, Germany, which is between Kiel and Flensburg and only about 30 miles from the border of Denmark. We leave Saturday morning, May 13th, and will return on Sunday afternoon, May 21st.
Where we sail will depend on the winds and currents. We might sail near and around Denmark, or we might go east past Rostock and the island of Rügen, parts of former East Germany where I studied in 1989.
To follow our progress, you can pinpoint the precise location of the Abel Tasman using the Online Radar.
Under the guidance of the Dutch crew, all will take part in hoisting sails, securing ropes, and taking turns at the wheel. Meal preparation, cleanup, and entertainment will be shared as well.
On the open water, I will likely have no cell coverage, however, the plan is to likely spend each night moored in some harbor. There I expect to have cell coverage and hope to post updates. I’ll likely post pictures to my Instagram. I don’t expect to post blog posts until after the trip is completed.
I have dreamed of going on a lengthy sailing cruise, and I cannot believe it will happen in less than two weeks!
I expect to return with countless photos, videos, and stories.