Poel Island
Insel Poel · Kirchdorf/Poel · Poel Hafen
53°59.3'N 11°26.6'E
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for the Kirchdorf anchorage in 2–5m. Draught limit 1.8m for approach via Poeler Strom. The mud and sand bottom gives good holding — set firmly and check.
About This Anchorage
Poel is a small island (36 km²) in the Wismar Bight — connected to the mainland by a causeway road but only accessible by sea via the buoyed Poeler Strom channel. The island has 2,500 permanent inhabitants and 17km of sandy beach. Kirchdorf is the main village and harbour — a cluster of traditional fishermen's houses around a small harbour and the island's only church (St Nicholas, 14th century). The beaches on the west and south sides of Poel are the finest in the Mecklenburg area — backed by meadow and reed with no buildings visible. The island has a quiet, unhurried character — the summer visitors come mostly by car via the causeway, but the sailing approach gives a completely different perspective. The mud flats around the island are important wading bird habitat.
Protected From
N · NE · E · SE · S · SW
Exposed To
W · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (approach); harbour fee approx €10–14/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Approach from east (Poeler Strom) only for draught over 1.5m; west and north approaches very shallow — do not attempt without dinghy reconnaissance; nature protection areas on beach and mud flat habitats; speed limit 8kt in island approaches.
Hazards
- !Very shallow approaches from west and north — do not attempt; approach via Poeler Strom from Wismar only for draught over 1.5m
- !W and NW exposure across the Wismar Bight — in strong westerlies the anchorage is uncomfortable
- !Mud flats extend significantly around the island — approach with care and follow the buoys
- !No fuel — arrive from Wismar with full tanks
Skipper's Tips
- →Poel's beaches (west and south sides) are accessible by dinghy from the Kirchdorf anchorage — row around the south tip of the island to the open beach; pristine, rarely busy, backed by meadow
- →The St Nicholas church (Kirchdorf, 14th century) is the quietest and most serene country church on the Mecklenburg coast — simple whitewashed interior, ancient floor tiles, and the smell of centuries
- →The island circuit by dinghy (in calm conditions) gives a complete picture of Poel's ecology: mud flats, reed beds, beach dunes, and the occasional grey seal hauled out on a sandbank
- →From Poel, the passage to Travemünde (22nm west) makes an excellent day's sail with the prevailing SW/W winds — plan to arrive in the Trave before the ferry traffic peaks in late afternoon
- →Poel is best on weekdays — the island is reached by car via the causeway and the beaches are busy at weekends; Tuesday/Wednesday arrivals guarantee quiet
Facilities
Kirchdorf: small restaurant, café, bakery. Beach kiosks (seasonal) on Poel beaches. Nearest fuel: Wismar (7nm).
Nearest provisions: Kirchdorf village (Poel) (0.4nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August. Poel is primarily a beach and nature destination — the sailing approach and beach landing by dinghy are the highlights. Outside June–August, the island is very quiet.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In the Mecklenburg Bight, Baltic swell and open coast exposure make overnight anchor monitoring important. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
Download Free for iOS