Proa Meeting 2024

This year we hosted our informal German proa and outrigger canoe meeting at our beach in Surendorf. Like the year before we had five canoes on the water:

On the first day we had a fresh onshore breeze with a little shore-break and choppy conditions. Sailing was a lot of fun. Below you can find a video of Lars and Reto racing around (other canoes parked at the beach to get the hands free for the drone):

First day with fresh breeze and choppy onshore conditions.

By the next day the wind had died completely. at least we managed to get all five canoes on the water at the same time for some fleet sailing (well, more drifting):

Second day, no wind at all

Downwind upgrade

Due to the rather small sail area (just 19 sqm) and the design of the sail (the shape only forms under wind pressure) Proasis has always been a bit slow in light wind from behind. We thought about getting an additional downwind sail for a while an now finally got hands on a good second hand asymmetric spinnacker. Finding one that fits our short mast was not easy but apparently we can conveniently use the sail of a Hobie 15. It’s just 6.5 sqm but gives a notable boost of thrust. It can be hoisted either on the leeward bow if the wind is blowing more from the side or to the windward bow if the wind is dead from the aft.

Downwind mode for wind right from the aft.
Regular mode for apparent wind from 90-170 degrees.

Midsummer sailing

Midsummer is a very special time in the northern hemisphere. It marks the summer solstice where the day becomes the longest day of the year and the night the shortest one. Although Kiel is not located north enough to experience midnight sun, the event is still quite impressive. The sun just dips behind the horizon and is visible as a golden light for the entire time between sunset and sunrise. We thought the best way to experience this magical night would be to sail Proasis through it. The weather was fortunately fair with light wind and a lightly overcast sky, turning this trip into a great adventure!

End of sailing season

Winter really kicked in recently so made the decision to use a lovely Sunday breeze and sail to our spot for the winter in Surendorf. It was a pleasant 4h sail in a light but freezing wind at -2°C. We actually ran into a couple of issues with our proa design because we never planned for ice building up here and there. Aside of making the deck slippery we initially couldn’t open the sliding hatch and fit the leeboard. The sheets and other ropes were stiff like sticks too, turning sailing into a hole new adventure.

Proasis is now on the hard for the next couple of months to protect her from the winter and to work on some improvements. Slipping her over the 200 m wide beach went smoothly, thanks to an electric winch and the support of our local sailing club.

Proa Meeting Flensburg

There are not many proas (boats with a long and a short hull) in Europe, let alone in Germany. It was a very pleasant surprise to see 5 of such rare craft sailing together for a meeting in Flensburg. Henrik sailed Proasis singlehanded up to Flensburg and was already greeted by smaller outrigger canoes when entering the fjord. The fleet spend a very nice weekend together, including sailing in nice warm summer weather, cold beer and camp fire. Hopefully there will be another meeting next year!

Denmark 2023

Initially we had planned to explore the Danish archipelago for at least a week but unfavorable weather shortened our trip to just 2 days. We left Kiel on Friday with a good easterly breeze and pretty awful weather for August. Fortunately the wind got lighter, the sky clear and the second half of the 30 nm leg to the island of Aeroe was more enjoyable than its start. Right in the middle between Germany and Denmark we found a weir orange object adrift. Turned out it was a humongous damaged drift buoy. We managed to pull it on board with much difficulties to free the ocean from the plastic waste. Our anchor dropped right next to the southern tip of Aeroe, next to the lighthouse. Because of the shallow draft of our canoe we could anchor so close to the beach that we didnt even need a dinghy to get to shore.

The next day brought cold and foggy weather with a stiff breeze. The morning was spent wing foiling, riding down the swell which bent around the cape near by. Around noon, the wind went down a bit to around 20 kn, the anchor was lifted and we started sailing back to keel with great speed. Shortly after the wind increased again, probably up to 30 kn, forcing us to put in a reef. Still doing 8-9 kn we were both holding on behind, staring at the huge waves and bracing for spray which would come over us every once in a while. These were not particularly terrible conditions in general, but the heaviest we have ever sailed proasis in yet. After this wiled ride the wind out of a sudden completely died once we entered the Kiel fjord and we had to use our electric engine for the last couple of miles. Eventually we made it home just before a heavy thunderstorm. We were only gone for two days but it still feels like a week worth of adventure!