Swinoujcie (sgen weesh chay)

Jacqui Crowe

An early start today because we hoped to arrive in Swinoujcie before any thunderstorms hit us. We were still 10 miles out when the light and sound show started over the land but we couldn’t escape it. We were the only customer for the first bridge opening at 0520. We were even earlier than the birds this morning who didn’t appear until an hour after we came through the bridge. The dawn. Chorus was given by a squadron (wedge) of flying swans. The first few hours of the journey required concentration so that we didn’t deviate from the Strelasund and Osttief channels taking us east over the shallow waters around Rugen and all the other islands and peninsular. We had 50 waypoints and a fair few other buoys to tick off before we reached open water and began sailing. Although there are working docks nearby, the marina is surrounded by greenery and woods and is charming. The beer in the marina bar is good.