Voyaging in Denmark

By Doug Owen

Twelve Corinthian couples met in Copenhagen, Denmark on August 2nd for a planned week-long voyage aboard three traditional Danish Schooners along the shores of the Isle of Fyn and nearby island ports. The trip was the brainchild of Peter and Jytte Birnbaum, and involved a lot of planning and preparation over a six month period on their part to make it all happen.

Sunday August 4th, we departed for our schooners, on a 1-1/2 hour bus ride from Copenhagen to Korsor, arriving just after noon. One vessel was about 120', and the other two were about 90' each. After settling in and having lunch, we got underway for a five hour (motor)sail to Kerteminde. We were on the largest vessel, with a crew of five, and six couples in our group. Each of the other two vessels had three couples aboard, and a variety of crew. In addition to our Captain, we had a mate/cook and three deckhands. We could participate in the sailing and running of the vessel as much or as little as we chose.

I could say after each port that we visited that it was "charming, quaint, picturesque, interesting and different from any other; but then I would have to say that seven times, and you'd get as tired of reading it as I would of typing it. Each place had its' own character and charm, its own history and reason for development. Some of the houses and shops dated back many centuries.

We sailed for anywhere from 3-9 hours daily, depending on where our next planned port was. The sailing was different each day, but overall was characterized by light winds, slow, relaxed sailing, lots of time to read and visit, cocktail hour upon arrival in port, (sometimes before!) and dinner aboard our vessel for all twelve couples nightly, since we had the largest boat. As to the sailing, there was friendly competition between the boats each day....it's hard to be in view of another sailboat and not be racing, just for the fun of it.

During the week, we sailed to Tronese, Svendborg, Faaborg, Aeroskobing, Marstal, Rudkobing and Nyborg. We had time in each location to walk the town, shop, explore, etc., and each town was really enjoyable. Our schooners were quite a point of interest to the townsfolk, and drew a lot of people to the quay when we arrived.....or was it us that was the curiosity? Hmmmm. The schooners travel this route quite often; maybe it was the silly Americans that they wanted to see!

On Sunday the 11th, we again found ourselves in Korsor, at the same dock from which we departed a week earlier; the same driver with the same bus picked us up, and drove us back to Copenhagen.

The thanks of all involved go to Peter and Jytte for their Corinthian spirit in making this memorable week happen; all of those present will never forget the experience!

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