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Kiel to Copenhagen - Leg 1 of our tour of the Baltics
10-day beginner to intermediate offshore sailing expedition with WavySail
29 May - 7 Jun
£3,495
6 spaces available
10-day beginner to intermediate offshore sailing expedition with WavySail
29 May - 7 Jun
£3,495
6 spaces available
Leg 1 of the Wavysail Baltic Explorer starts in Kiel where modern sailing history was made. Home of Kieler Woche — the largest sailing regatta in the world — and gateway to the Baltic through one of Europe's great deepwater fjords, it is a fitting place to begin an expedition. Departing from the Kiel Fjord, you leave a city shaped by the sea and head north into waters that have carried merchants, Vikings, warships, and racing fleets for a thousand years. The passage to Copenhagen is approximately 280 nautical miles, depending on the route we take through the Danish islands. The Baltic is a sailor's sea with its own distinct character: negligible tides, wind-driven currents, and weather systems that can shift faster than the charts suggest. In June, the prevailing wind tends to run from the southwest, which sets up beautifully for a fast reach toward the Danish straits — though the Baltic has a habit of doing things its own way, and Nigel Parry, with close to 200,000 miles in his logbook and years operating these waters, is very good at working out what that way is. The route north takes us through some of the most rewarding cruising ground in Northern Europe. The South Fyn Archipelago — a network of small islands, narrow channels, and hidden anchorages between the Danish islands of Funen and Langeland — is the kind of sailing that reminds you why you came. Tight navigation, changing depths, and the occasional ochre-painted fishing village appearing around a headland. We plan to stop here: time ashore, time to explore, and a proper Danish dinner before the passage continues. As we push northeast and into the Øresund — the narrow strait that separates Denmark from Sweden — the sailing changes again. The Øresund is busy, atmospheric, and historically charged. Elsinore (Helsingør) sits on the Danish shore, Kronborg Castle rising directly above the water — Hamlet's castle, though Shakespeare almost certainly never saw it. A mile across the water, Helsingborg answers from the Swedish side. At its narrowest, the strait is less than four kilometres wide. The current runs hard here. Ships queue. And if the light is right, the whole passage feels like sailing through a painting. Copenhagen arrives the way great cities should — gradually, from the water. The Øresund opens, the city skyline builds, and you begin to pick out the old naval harbour, the copper rooftops, the church spires. We enter through the same channels that Danish warships and trading barques have used for centuries, and tie up in a city consistently ranked among the best in the world. Copenhagen rewards time on foot: Nyhavn's coloured townhouses, the Latin Quarter, Torvehallerne market, the world-class restaurants tucked into what feels like every second backstreet. This is a leg that delivers proper offshore sailing alongside the kind of destination arrivals that stay with you. Hands-on from the first day — helming, trimming, keeping watch, and learning how the Baltic thinks — with Nigel alongside you every mile of the way.
Why We Love This Sailing Expedition
Kiel to Copenhagen via the South Fyn Archipelago and the Øresund Strait is 280 miles of proper offshore sailing through some of the most historically charged waters in Europe. Skipper Nigel Parry has close to 200,000 miles in his logbook and knows the Baltic intimately, which means you're in the best possible hands to learn how this unpredictable, tideless, utterly distinctive sea actually works.
Start of Leg 1 on the Baltic Explorer
4.9/5•25 ReviewsOUR STORY A passion for the open ocean Driven by a passion for the open ocean, Wavysail Ocean Adventures are tailor-made sailing adventures all over the world. With a maximum of six places on each trip, we focus on providing hands-on sailing experiences led by some of the world's most experienced skippers. This approach ensures you have time to learn, and we have the flexibility to tailor each trip to the wishes of the group. Whether you have extensive sailing experience or none at all, we will look after you. By contacting every crew member before the trip, we adapt the itinerary to ensure you get everything you want out of the adventure.
Small groups, real adventure and authentic sailing. Their trips head to lesser-explored waters and are led by some of the world’s most respected and experienced skippers. If you want to push your sailing, explore further afield and learn from the very best, these trips are for you.
Your specific vessel is assigned based on your selected dates. All vessels meet our high standards for comfort and safety.
Baltic - 51
LOA: 51ft (15.52m)
Beginner
No sailing experience required. Perfect for newcomers.
Intermediate
Some sailing experience helpful. Comfortable on the water.
Advanced
Significant sailing experience required. Challenging conditions.
Active Crew Member
Full participation in all sailing activities.
Optional Involvement
Participate as much or as little as you like.
Passenger
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Yes
Sharing the cooking & washing up
18
Kiel to Copenhagen is a passage of contrasts — fjords giving way to open Baltic crossings, sheltered island channels opening into wide bays with real fetch. This is leg 1 of our 30 day tour of the Baltics. Skipper Nigel Parry, with close to 200,000 miles in his logbook and years operating these waters, will have you involved from the first tack: helming, trimming, keeping watch, and learning to read the Baltic's particular brand of weather while navigating through some of Northern Europe's most storied sailing waters. A hands-on offshore passage run by Wavysail, award-winning Adventure Sailing Operator of 2025.
No optional extras
Tried and tested sailing experiences, from our pick of the world's best operators
EXPERT-LED SAILING ADVENTURES
All our trips are led by qualified skippers and sailing instructors
TRIED & TRUSTED
We only work with the most reputable sailing operators and yacht providers
SOLO & GROUP-FRIENDLY SAILING
Perfect for solo sailors looking to join a crew or groups wanting to charter
WORLD-CLASS CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our team is on-hand 24/7 to help you before, during and after your adventure
From £3,495 GBP per person
Secure your place today from £699 GBP
Prices shown in USD are approximate conversions, using today's conversion rate. This trip is priced by the operator in GBP and payment will be taken in GBP.