9 September 2017 - Marstal to Burgstaaken

Given the forecast for lots of windy weather over the next week, this seemed like a good day to get all the way back to our winter base. A shame to have you rush, but better than getting stuck somewhere for several days. Started with good sailing under full rig - finished with good sailing under one reef. In between it rained a lot and the wind went light, so we motored for a while. Our route crossed the ship route from Kiel to the Eastern Baltic, so we saw several ships. None were monsters as they don't fit in the canal. We did not need to avoid any of them.
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Sailing in the rain

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No wind

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Better weather coming from the W, possibly with wind.

8 September 2017 - Marstal

Too windy to go anywhere today, as expected, so we sat around all morning and then took a short walk in the afternoon to watch the kite surfers enjoying the wind in the shallow sheltered water just outside the marina.
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Hopefully we have a weather window to move on tomorrow. If not then we may be here for ages. Good swimming bridge. Shame about the conditions.

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Marina from the other side of the lagoon

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We probably have some more pics somewhere. Hope to add them

7 September 2017 - Fåborg to Marstal

Fåborg was a little disappointing in that a lot of things seemed to have closed for the season. However it does have the best swimming place of any harbour we have visited this year. We did not fancy using it in the cool windy conditions.
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The period of settled weather seems to have gone and the forecast now shows a number of days when it looks to windy for us to go sailing, so we are planning our return to Fehmarn. The first step is to head towards Marstal at the end of Ærø. The channel near Marstal is the only way through the shallows between Ærø and Langeland.
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Rather a stressful downwind passage finding the way through the islands outside Fåborg and the narrow channels leading to Marstal. The open water in between was straightforward but we were glad we had put 2 reefs in. 2 big Dutch sailing ships left at the same time (Good to see we are not the only late starters) with full sail.
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Dutch ship leaving Fåborg

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Boats from the maritime museum

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Marstal's shipbuilding heritage old and new.

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The marina has that "End of season" look

6 September 2017 - Ærø to Fåborg

Grey and wet as forecast so we had our first rainy swim. Rain stopped after breakfast and we had a reach most of the way to Fåborg. A few miles before arriving the forecast rain and stronger wind arrived so we took the mainsail down to find out way more slowly with Genoa only. Very soon the wind dropped away and the sail went back up. Moored in the marina.
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Today's disappointment: the recommended "All you can eat fish buffet" closed on 12 August. They still do takeaway stuff but it's not the same.
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Arriving at Fåborg

5 September 2017 - Ærø

It was just warm enough for a pre breakfast swim but the beach is too far to bother.
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There is a good free (yes you really don't have to pay) bus service here, so we took our bikes on the bus to Sørby which is the small ferry port near the N end of the island. Then we cycled back on the well marked cycle routes, mainly minor roads. Pretty but not spectacular countryside looking like the other big Danish islands.
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Moved to the anchorage S of the harbour.
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Pics may be added...

4 September 2017 - Djerø to Ærøskøbing

The place where we anchored is called Skorvens Vig. Vig means a wide bay, which in Shetland is called a Wick. It only gives shelter from some wind directions and feels like anchoring in the middle of the sea, so is a fine weather option.
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Brief trip ashore as there was not time yesterday. The island is small enough not to bother taking the bikes. We found it similar to recent islands but on a smaller scale. The village contained several traditional style old farm buildings but everything was rather quiet, with the shop not opening until the afternoon. The scoop of the day was finding a roadside self service stall selling honey, so we bought a few jars. You would not think they get much passing trade as during our walk we only encountered 3 items of traffic: 1 tractor and 2 bikes.
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Good downwind sail to Ærøskøbing which is on the island of Ærø. It seemed a shame to waste a good wind on a short sail, but we wanted to visit this island and also to return the opposite way to Fåborg in a day or 2. Not happy with the anchoring options so berthed in the marina.
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Grain drying island-style

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Old houses in village

3 September 2017 - Avernakø to Drejø

A rather idle day. The fine weather continued - wind a bit cool but sun made up for it. Lazed around in the morning waiting for wind. Then sailed slowly to the nearest island, about 5 miles of which we motored the last 1.5 as the wind went completely. Could not be bothered to row ashore as it's about 0.2nm although we are anchored in less than 3m. Had another swim instead. Maybe we'll go ashore tomorrow.
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Sorry no photos. Haven't done anything interesting or appropriate to photograph. However here is a pic of us taken the next day. For explanation of the sort of bay please see 4 Sept.