A Personal Guide to The Baltic
Nicholas Hill
Leba
Leba (pronounced 'We-ba') is a holiday town and fishing port, although, as elsewhere, the fishing is dying out. It was among the first of Polish harbours to construct a purpose built marina. As a holiday town, it is a little more upmarket than its neighbours to the east.
The marina is well equipped and up to date, but is on the wrong side of the river for the town. It is quite a walk down to the bridge and across to find a shop that sells even the most basic of supplies.
Leba lies along a long, featureless coast, and, as with all these harbours, is easiest to find by the tall radio aerial and defunct watch tower.
The breakwater has been extended recently (charts in pilot books may now be out of date), with the western breakwater curving out and round to protect the entrance from onshore swell [see below for the new extension]. Even so, in F6-7 onshore winds, there was still some surge in the marina.
There are no real offshore hazards. Both the entrance and the channel behind are relatively narrow, without a great deal of room for manoeuvre.
berthing and facilities
The marina lies in a basin to starboard, around two to three hundred metres from the entrance. It seems to have silted up, possibly from the sand which blows about in strong winds. My shallow depth alarm (set to 2m) was beeping almost constantly, and I couldn't have been far from going aground at my berth in the centre of the marina.
As you might expect, facilities are good. The gate to the pontoon is opened by a card (RFID?), there is internet access in the bosman's office, and a washing machine. Hot water did seem to be lacking for the showers, however.
Google Earth
Not very good resolution.
Move your mouse over the numbers below to see the photograph in question
| 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Leba entrance | - fishing boat entering ... | in rough weather ... |
The marina. Prospero can be seen on the far left
All photographs copyright CNH/COH. Please ask if you wish to use them and please acknowledge the source.