Wednesday 9 May
The only remaining urgent matter is to obtain diesel, as my tanks are close to empty for sailing purposes. The yacht harbour across the way was happy to take our card, but no fuel was forthcoming, so we motored across the bay to Brøndby, where Skipper very impressively manoeuvred me into a berth just long enough, alongside the fuel quay. A kind local explained the vagaries of this pump: self service, but only if you understand how – no instructions displayed, not even in Danish.
Due to the price (VAT is 25% here), only one tank was filled, but this was just as well as we had to make a quick getaway to avoid a yacht being craned into the water just where I was moored. Not only was the morning’s goal fulfilled, it also proved a useful exercise in looking at neighbouring harbours, for where we might come back to in August, to spend more time in Copenhagen with a distinguished guest. The city marinas are prohibitively expensive, and the two we visited today are not large; so far Ishøy’s looking favourite – it’s attractive, friendly and comfortable.
Having escaped our berth of the last two weeks, my crew was determined to find somewhere new for tonight, but with only the afternoon available it had to be reasonably close…so we went to Sweden. Just 21M across Copenhagen Bay, past the Øresund Bridge and wind farm, lies the small port of Skänør, on the edge of an area of nature reserve. It was already busy by the time we arrived, and the visitors’ berths were occupied by a large work boat. Fortunately a friendly local guided us to the last available box large enough for me, and several helpful yachties helped us in: we still haven’t quite got the hang of ‘Baltic berthing’. We were soon settled and supper served.