Świnoujście
The westernmost of the Polish Baltic Sea ports - Świnoujście, formerly Swinemünde - can even be reached on foot from the neighbouring seaside resort of Ahlbeck: a cross-border beach promenade connects the two parts of the holiday island of Usedom at this point.
The best guest berths are available in the modern Port Jachtowy, the marina on the western bank of the Świna (Swine), the middle of the three connections between the Szczecin Lagoon and the open Baltic Sea. The marina has floating jetties and is located around 500 metres from the town centre, which is surrounded by green spaces and has good amenities.
Kamień Pomorski
Around 35 kilometres further east, the marina Kamień Pomorski, which is also still quite new, awaits guests. The modern floating dock on the northern edge of the small town (German: Cammin) is located on the eastern shore of the Camminer Bodden between the island of Wolin and the mainland ( www.marinakamienpomorski.pl ).
The open Baltic Sea is only a few nautical miles away here too: the way there leads via the Dziwna (Dievenow), the eastern exit of the lagoon.
Kołobrzeg
For centuries, the medieval cathedral church in brick Gothic style has been the landmark of Kołobrzeg (formerly Kolberg). After the Second World War, it was joined by the lighthouse - also made of brick - at the harbour entrance, whose curved piers reach out into the Baltic Sea. In the meantime, however, the harbour lives more from tourism than from fishing. The numerous new wellness hotels behind the pine belt of the spa gardens are evidence of this development. Guest yachtsmen are accommodated in the Solna Marina (with floating jetties and a modern service building). www.marinakolobrzeg.pl
Ustka
Another seaside resort with a relaxed atmosphere along the endless sandy coast of Pomerania is Ustka, formerly Stolpmünde. Here, too, you are centrally located just a few hundred metres upriver from the pier heads, but alongside the harbour wall. www.ustka.pl
Łeba
Massive shifting sand dunes, tranquil moors and floodplains: The Slowinski National Park to the west of the town of Łeba gives an impression of what it used to look like along the southern Baltic coast. The modern marina (four 70-metre floating jetties, service building) is a good starting point for exploring the area by bus or on-board bike. port.leba.eu
Władysławowo
Poland's largest fishing harbour is located behind high concrete breakwaters and is characterised by its rugged charm. However, thanks to the sandy beaches and the nearby seaside resorts, this place (German: Großendorf) is now also earning money from tourism.
Hel
Hel (formerly Hela) may once have been a sleepy fishing village: Today, this town at the eastern end of the peninsula of the same name - a 34-kilometre-long spit - is also firmly in the hands of holidaymakers. Guest moorings are available at the floating jetty in the modern marina between the outer and central jetties. www.gohel.pl
Gdansk
The old Hanseatic city in the south of the Bay of Gdansk is the easternmost port of call for boats on the open Polish Baltic coast. A rich history and famous monuments such as the Crane Gate, Town Hall and St Mary's Church make the Baltic metropolis a highlight in the region, as do the cultural programme and colourful nightlife.
cultural programme and the colourful nightlife. The perfect starting point for this is a spot on the floating docks of Marina Gdańsk within sight of the old town. www.visitgdansk.com
REVIER
The Pomeranian coast of Poland is particularly suitable for the outward journey as part of the "small" or "large Baltic Sea round trip" (to Stockholm, Helsinki or St. Petersburg). On the approximately 200 nautical mile route from the Szczecin Lagoon to the Bay of Gdansk, the harbours are located at regular intervals of around 25 to 30 nautical miles. The nature of the coast hardly changes, the sandy beach with a flat hinterland (and correspondingly shallow coastal water strip) remains practically uninterrupted. Sections with steep banks (such as west of Łeba) are the absolute exception.
NAVIGATION
Navigation along the coast is largely unproblematic during the day; at night, its course is marked with a chain of orientation lights, approaches are usually marked with directional or leading lights, pier heads and harbour entrances with peat lights. Caution: As most harbours are located on the banks of rivers and access is via their estuaries, strong onshore winds in the area of the barre must be reckoned with. Particularly in shallow areas, the depths outside the fairways may not correspond to the chart data. Two traffic separation schemes are designated off the coast south of Stolpebank in the area between Ustka and Łeba and in the Bay of Gdansk and must be observed.
SEA RESCUE
In Poland, the SAR service at sea (Morska Służba Poszukiwania i Ratownictwa) is the responsibility of the state: there are 14 rescue centres in total, which are equipped with either rescue boats or cruisers. The MRCC Gdynia (Gdingen) and the subordinate MRSC Świnoujście (Swinemünde) are responsible for coordinating the operations. The alarm is raised via VHF channel 16 (working channel: 11) or by telephone: +48/58/620 55 51 (MRCC Gdynia), +48/91/321 59 29 (MRSC Świnoujście). www.sar.gov.pl
RUSSIA
The maritime border between the EU and Schengen state of Poland and the exclave of Kaliningrad (Königsberg), which belongs to the Russian Federation, runs along the eastern part of the Bay of Gdansk. Navigation in Russian territorial waters within the 12 nautical mile zone is only permitted on designated shipping lanes. At the latest when entering, it is compulsory to report to the Russian border troops on VHF channel 16 to inform them of your intentions. In the harbour of Baltiysk (Pillau), mooring is only permitted at the border control jetty; a valid visa must be available for each crew member when going ashore in Kaliningrad.
