Windsurfing in Kiel

Sandy beach with grass dunes and T-Jetties. Deep water 20 to 30 m out, so check the current before you go in.

Water and wind: the beach is white sand with grass dunes and T-Jetties. Can get rough when it is wavy, and there is some current. Deep water starts about 20 to 30 m out, and there is no standing area. The best wind is NW to N and O to SE, sideshore to side-onshore. It needs to be quite stormy to build decent waves, but then they break nicely for jumping and a few turns just outside the jetties on the sandbank. Offshore wind is gusty. Expect seaweed in summer and late summer. Who it suits: riders who are comfortable in chop and current, at intermediate level. On the beach: parking is paid. Do not park next to the street, as it is not allowed and the dune protection service does not like it. There is a restaurant. There is no surf school and no security. In summer the beach is busy with bathers, but once it is windy enough it usually empties.

Written from riders' notes, edited by NP7.

Open Baltic beach between groynes: side-onshore in north-west and east wind, small chop to moderate surf.

Heidkate is on the open Baltic coast of the Probstei, just outside the Kiel Fjord. Windsurfers launch between groynes 4 and 6, in front of the surf school and the little lighthouse. Kiters stay west of groyne 4: kiting is not allowed between the groynes in front of the school. Rig on the grass on the dyke, then it is a short walk to the water. The bottom is sandy and shallow, with a few stones at the entry. West to north-west and north-east to east blow side-onshore, and it gets good from about force 5. West-south-west to west gives small chop with jumps further out, north-west a run-up of about 200 m with moderate surf, and east to east-north-east sails well too. Park in the large pay car park behind the dyke on the Strandweg in Wisch; no overnight stays in campers. Toilets and a beach kiosk open in season. In summer the guarded bathing beach starts at groyne 6, and the dog beach is between groynes 2 and 4.