Missunde

About This Anchorage

Missunde is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire Schlei — the point where the fjord narrows to just 60m, forcing the current through a narrow gap between steep wooded banks. The historic rope ferry (Gierseilfähre) has crossed at this exact point since at least 1580 — it is pulled across by hand on a rope stretched across the fjord. The narrows are dramatic sailing: mast height must be checked (the power cable overhead has limited clearance), and motoring through at the speed limit is the standard approach. Above the narrows, the Schlei broadens into the Große Breite ('Great Width') — a dramatic transition from narrow river to lake. The anchorage downstream of the ferry is one of the most sheltered and atmospheric on the entire fjord.

Hazards

• !Overhead power cable at Missunde narrows — minimum air clearance 22m; check before motoring through
• !DO NOT anchor in the ferry lane — the rope ferry crosses continuously
• !Speed limit 9kt strictly enforced; strong tidal variation in the narrows (wind-driven, not lunar)
• !Eelgrass throughout Schlei — anchor in sandy patches only

Skipper's Tips

• →Watch the rope ferry crossing from the cockpit — it has operated at this point since 1580; the ferryman pulls the boat hand-over-hand across the rope
• →The Schleimaräne (Schlei whitefish/Coregonus) is a local delicacy unique to the Schlei — order it at the Fährhaus if available; smoked or pan-fried
• →The view upstream through the Missunde narrows into the Große Breite is one of the finest in the German Baltic — early morning light is exceptional

Nearby Anchorages