The fresh westerly breeze that was forecasted for Tuesday was downgraded quite a bit when I woke up in Holtenau. Once again a day alternating between sailing and motor sailing. The ferry line between German Puttgarden och Danish Rödbyhavn is going to be replaced by a tunnel, but is still some years in the future, so now there is an endless line of ferries coming and going, making it difficult to enter the harbour. When I was close to the entrance an outgoing ferry started to move, with no intention to wait a couple of minutes for a small sailboat. Just a blast with the horn, telling me to get out of her way. I wasn't tempted to argue, a sharp turn to port and circling a little outside, and then quick through the entrance before the next ferry.

I had been told on the phone to take a place in the outer harbour, which is a club marina where you go in between two poles and secure the lines and then with the bow against the dock. Which is not that difficult if you are three or four on the boat and there is not too much wind. But singlehanded and in a strong wind on the beam it is more or less impossible, and a very strong surge from the ferries throwing the boat first forward against the dock and then backward against the poles didn't make it easier. Despite an heroic effort from a local boat owner that tried to help me I had to give up and go into the inner harbour where I took a berth alongside the dock with no much problem. Honestly I don't understand why I tried between the poles at all, I hate this system for mooring. But it is quite popular in northern Germany, Denmark and Sweden, but after this experience I promised myself to never go into a marina like that. The problem would be very easily solved with strong, tight ropes between the dock and each pole but I have only seen that done by individual boat owners who has their fixed places. Then they also often have their stern lines hanging ready on the poles and just has to lift them off as they enter.