Helgoland

Helgoland is a tiny island in the southeastern North Sea, about 38 nautical miles off the German coast, and long known to mariners as a key navigational reference point when approaching the Elbe River and the port of Hamburg.

Rising steeply from the sea with its red sandstone cliffs, Helgoland is a natural landmark used for centuries by sailors to fix their position. Early nautical charts of the North Sea often marked “Helgoland” as a central reference for coastal navigation.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Helgoland played a crucial role in German and British naval operations. It hosted one of the first modern weather stations transmitting forecasts to ships by radio - data that helped captains plan crossings through the notoriously rough North Sea.

Today, it remains a waypoint for yachts sailing between Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, and a favorite stopover for North Sea regattas and offshore cruisers.

Sailor’s note: Helgoland’s lighthouse, rebuilt in 1952, emits one of the most powerful beams in the North Sea - visible for over 28 nautical miles.