Kappeln
Kappeln an der Schlei · Kappeln Hafen
54°39.8'N 09°55.7'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for the Schlei pool at Kappeln in 2–5m of mud. Complete shelter in the inland fjord. The radius is larger here than at Arnis due to the bascule bridge (anchor clear of the bridge opening path) and the eel trap fishery.
About This Anchorage
Kappeln is the main town on the Schlei — 12km from the Baltic entrance and halfway to Schleswig. The town is famous for two things: the last working traditional eel trap fishery in Germany (the Kappeln Aalreuse stretches across the entire 120m width of the Schlei) and the bascule bridge that connects the two halves of the town. Kappeln also has an excellent smoked fish tradition — eel, herring, and sprats all smoked at harbourside smokehouses. The town (population 9,000) has good provisioning, fuel, and marine services — it is the last full-service stop before the increasingly shallow and narrow inner Schlei above Kappeln. The harbourside fish restaurants are among the best in Schleswig-Holstein.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW · W · NW
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (below bridge); harbour fee approx €12–16/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Bascule bridge opens on request (VHF 16) daylight hours only — bridge schedule posted at harbour; eel trap fishery — do not disturb the trap structure or fish passage; speed limit 9kt.
Hazards
- !Bascule bridge: bridge clearance 4.5m when closed — masts above 4.5m must request opening on VHF 16; daylight hours only
- !Eel trap (Aalreuse) structure in the Schlei — visible, well-marked, but do not approach too close; respect the fishery
- !Speed limit 9kt on Schlei
- !Above Kappeln, draught limit reduces to 1.8m strictly — do not proceed with more
Skipper's Tips
- →The Kappeln eel trap (Aalreuse) season (late summer/autumn) is one of the most remarkable traditional fisheries in Germany — the trap stretches across the full width of the Schlei; buy fresh eel direct from the fishermen at the harbourside
- →The bascule bridge opening is choreographed with road traffic — watch the signals, radio VHF 16 'Kappeln Brücke' to request opening; usually opens within 5–10 minutes of request
- →Kappeln smoked fish: the Räucherei (smokehouse) on the harbour front smokes herring, eel, and sprats daily in season; the warm smoked sprats (eaten from a paper cone, harbour-side) are outstanding
- →From Kappeln, the passage to Schleswig (28km up the Schlei) requires a full day — leave at 08:00 for arrival at Schleswig by 14:00; motor all the way (Schlei winds are unpredictable in the narrow upper section)
- →The harbour at Kappeln has the best repair facilities between Kiel and Flensburg on the Schlei — chandlery, hull repair, and fuel are all available
Facilities
Multiple harbourside fish restaurants and smokehouses. Supermarket 5 min walk. Fuel at the harbour. Best smoked eel in Schleswig-Holstein bought direct from the Aalreuse fishermen (in season).
Nearest provisions: Kappeln town (5 min walk) (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September
May–September. Kappeln is the essential provisioning and fuel stop for the Schlei passage. It is also the turnaround point for yachts with draught over 1.8m or air draught over 4.5m (bridge clearance).
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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