The Library
Captain's Log
Battles, shipwrecks, legends, and real passages. Read before you sail — or while you're at anchor with no signal.
39 stories found
From the Lights of Bifröst to the Dawn of Ionia
The Mediterranean Coast: Spain, France, Italy to Greece
1. Spanish coast (Costa del Sol, Valencia, Barcelona) 2. Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca) 3. South France (Côte d'Azur—Monaco, Cannes, Nice) 4. Corsica/Sardinia (Italian islands) 5. Italian coast…
Gibraltar: The Gateway to the Mediterranean
Marina: Ocean Village Marina, Queensway Quay
Galicia to Lisbon: The Iberian Atlantic Coast
Character: Galician city, Tower of Hercules (Roman lighthouse, oldest working lighthouse in world), seafood capital
The Bay of Biscay: The Atlantic Gauntlet
Character: WWII evacuation (Operation Dynamo), beach, memorial
Belgium to the English Channel
Character: Beach resort, fishing port, mussel heaven, Belgian beer
The Dutch Coast: Maritime Superpower
The Netherlands is LOW. Flat. Windmills, dikes, canals everywhere. Historic maritime power.
Brunsbüttel to Cuxhaven: Into the North Sea
After exiting the Kiel Canal (or sailing down the German North Sea coast), you'll head southwest toward the Netherlands.
Samos to Kusadasi: Arrival at Ephesus
Character: Turquoise water, pine-covered hills, ancient Lycian/Carian ruins, gulets (traditional wooden boats), hospitality
Kos to Samos: The Final Greek Island
From Samos, it's a short crossing (1-2 hours) to the Turkish coast.
Symi to Kos: Hippocrates' Island
Coordinates: 37°19'N, 26°33'E Anchorage: Skala (main port, limited space, often crowded) Berth Cost: €40-60/night Character: Sacred island, UNESCO, Monastery of St. John, where Book of Revelation was written
Rhodes to Symi: Neoclassical Harbor
Marina: Kos Marina Berth Cost: €40-65/night Character: Birthplace of Hippocrates, ancient ruins, beaches, close to Turkish coast
Karpathos to Rhodes: The Colossus
Manos Fish Restaurant - Family-run, excellent seafood, €35-50
Crete to Karpathos: Remote Island
Finally, Suleiman offered terms: Leave with honor, or die.
Mykonos to Crete: The Long Crossing
Quick provisions: Supermarkets near New Port Fuel: Available at marina
Monemvasia to Mykonos: The Aegean Crossing
Distance: Approximately 1,200 nautical miles (depending on route through Greek islands)
Gedser to Kiel: The Canal Begins
Route Character: Open water crossing; moderate exposure; well-traveled route
Dragør to Gedser: The Southern Departure
Route Character: Protected archipelago passage; one of Denmark's most beautiful sailing areas
Copenhagen to Dragør: The Cute Sibling
Route Character: Sheltered Funen (Fyn) south coast; relaxing after Little Belt
Helsingør to Copenhagen: The Capital
Navigation: Øresund (the Sound) - Narrow, busy, ferries everywhere, stay alert
Samsø to Helsingør: Sound and Dues
Route Character: Approach to Little Belt (Lillebælt) strait
Aarhus to Samson: Island Rest
Route Character: Sheltered fjord passage; scenic
Ebeltoft to Aarhus: Denmark's Second City
Route Character: Bay crossing; sheltered from west, open to east
Grenå to Ebeltoft: Danish Perfection
Route Character: Sheltered coastal passage along Djursland peninsula
Sæby to Grenå: The Danish Coast
Distance: - From Frederikshavn direct: 45 NM (too long for 5-hour rule; split via Læsø or Anholt) - From Læsø to Grenå: 28 NM
Skagen to Sæby: The Kattegat Coast
Route Character: Sheltered coastal passage south along Denmark's east coast
Hånstholm to Skagen: The Graveyard of Ships
Route Character: Coastal passage around Grenen (northernmost Denmark)
Egersund to Hånstholm: North Sea Crossing
Note: Most sailors stage from either Egersund or Farsund (Norway) for the North Sea crossing to Denmark. Both ports are suitable; Farsund slightly better positioned for crossing angle to Hirtshals.
Farsund to Egersund: The Lista Gauntlet
Route Character: Very exposed south coast; most challenging leg so far
Kristiansand to Farsund: The Lista Approaches
Route Character: Transition from archipelago to more open coast
Arendal to Kristiansand: Sunshine City
Route Character: Sheltered inner archipelago
Risør to Arendal: Tyholmen's Merchants
Route Character: Sheltered archipelago route
Kragerø to Risør: The White Town
Route Character: Mixed inner archipelago and outer coast
Fredrikstad to Kragerø: Where Munch Found Light
Route Character: Inner archipelago route; sheltered and scenic
Hvaler to Fredrikstad: Star-Shaped Defense
Route Character: Open Skagerrak coast; exposed passage
Son to Hvaler Islands: Summer Perfection
Route Character: Outer archipelago; more exposed to Skagerrak swell
Oslo to Son: The Fjord's Silence
Departure from Oslo through the Oslofjord to Son Marina — the first leg where crew rhythm and coastal judgment begin to settle in.
Oslo to Egersund — The Viking's Wake
The opening chapter of a 5,800-mile voyage from Norway to Turkey. Fjords, skerries, Viking history, and the long northern prelude to open water.
Norway to Kiel Canal — Through the Sound
Crossings, Copenhagen, and the narrowing waterway into continental Europe — the Danish section as a continental hinge.
Brunsbüttel to Kuşadası — The Ocean Path
The Atlantic option — a parallel destiny for crews who want the same ending by way of wind, swell, and sea-room.
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