From Hörnum at Sylt to Esbjerg in Danmark.

09-07-2010



Today we are leaving Hörnum on the German island of Lyst for Esbjerg , the first stop in Danmark.
The island of Lyst is a 23 mile (nautical off course) long but narrow island with three “major” cities on it, Hörnum in the south, the capital city Westerland in the middle and Lyst in the north. Only Lyst and Hörnum have accessible harbours.
Coming from Helgoland, Hornum is the obvious harbour if sailing in daytrips. It has a nice club marina with good facilities and internet access.



View over Hörnum from the marina


View at Hörnum from the sea, the marina is on the right.


For the Germans Sylt is the holyday resort for the “rich and beautiful” A lot of industrials, actors and honourables have their holyday houses here. The prices are accordingly high and the number of expensive cars is quite astonishing for a small island.
Westerland in the middle is a small city with lots of hotels shops and
exquisite restaurants. From the sea it looks a bit spoiled because of the huge hotel buildings.


The island can only be accessed by train or airplane (and boat of course) . The train goes over a long dam that was erected in the past called the Hindenburg Damm. Cars are loaded on to the train and unloaded in Westerland again to drive all over the island.

We left Hörnum at about 8 o’clock because it’s a long trip to Esbjerg( 63 miles).
First you have to make a 10 mile detour to get to sea again. Also the approach to Esbjerg leads about 7 miles inland.
As seeming usual this summer the wind is almost absent. Later this day it totally gone so it’s a motoring day again.

No comments

Already from al long distance esbjerg can be seen by the tall power plant with its white pipe.


At the approach of Esbjerg you are awaited by four gigantic white statues that were erected years ago looking out over the sea. They look a bit as the “guards of Esbjerg “.

Esbjerg approach

The four guards

Arriving in Esbjerg it looks rather disappointing because you arrive in the industrial harbour area. However it has a nice pedestrian shopping area in the centre and a supermarket and petrol station for supplies is nearby the harbour. Also a pizza getaway shop is nearby.
Although there are some restaurants and “fish and chips” shops in the harbour area they all close at 18.00 for some strange reason.

For the facilities in the marina you will need
A key for the clubhouse of the “Esbjerg SjØsport” , which is supplied by the harbourmaster. However, sometimes it’s hard to find him! The showers cost another DKr 5/4min and the washing machine another 20DKr.
However when I tried to get internet access here I also discovered a cheaper option .
Although getting access to a hotspot it was rather problematic because I could not enter the wlan I paid for ( so better not go with "Skyline Danmark"!)I found a better possibility at the “International Seamens Center” later. Its located near the marina and has a local network which can be accessed freely if you are nearby (within 25 meters or so) the building. If contact the administrator in the building (Monday-Friday from 12.00 to 18.00) you also can get a token to have access to the toilet/shower/washing machine/dryer/sauna/fitness area, everything for free!
Inside you can also use your laptop with a very good receiving!

We plan to stay a day to do some shopping and cycling around.