Kitespot Heiligenhafen

In this article

1. Where can you kitesurf in Heiligenhafen?
2. Which wind works at Graswarder?
3. What to watch out for at the spot
4. Is Heiligenhafen good for learning to kitesurf?
5. Wrong wind? Fehmarn and Großenbrode

Where can you kitesurf in Heiligenhafen?

In Heiligenhafen you can only kite at Graswarder. That is the stretch of beach east of the pier, right behind the marina. The town set it aside for kiters so swimmers, windsurfers and kiters stay out of each other's way.

Kiting is banned at Steinwarder, the western beach on the peninsula. In west wind you will see windsurfers in the waves there, but no kites. The Binnensee is off limits too. The flat lagoon behind the marina looks tempting, but it is reserved for sailing and SUP only.

The sandy beach at Graswarder is wide, but rows of roofed beach chairs (Strandkörbe) leave little room to rig, launch and land. You need to handle your kite confidently in a tight space here.

Which wind works at Graswarder?

Graswarder works best in west to northwest wind. The wind then comes in side-onshore, and small, steep waves build over the sandbar just offshore. From the shallow shore you have enough run-up to hit them, and there is usually room for a turn on the way back.

East wind turns it into a different spot. The wind is sideshore, and because there is too little distance between Heiligenhafen and Fehmarn for waves to build, the water is mostly flat. That is your day for jumps, new tricks or the foilboard.

In south to southwest wind, the wind blows from the land out to sea. Leave the kite in the bag and drive to one of the neighbouring spots.

Windfinder's former station in Heiligenhafen measured an annual average of around 14 knots, with gusts around 22 knots, mostly from north-northwest. Those figures cover 1999 to 2016, so for your session the current forecast is what counts. Which kite size you need in which wind depends on your weight: work out your kite size here.

What to watch out for at the spot

Before you launch at Graswarder, know where the obstacles are on land and in the water, where the pier's wind shadow starts and where the kite zone ends.

The beach is lined with beach chairs. Find a clear patch to rig and launch with enough space downwind, and get someone to help you launch and land. In the water there are wooden groynes, which can be hard to see depending on the water level.

On top of that, the remains of an old jetty stick out of the water in the middle of the bay. With a kite and more than 20 metres of lines, you get hooked on them faster than you would like. Memorise where they are before you head out.

The pier is to the left of the spot, seen from the beach. In its lee the wind gets gusty and unpredictable. Do not ride into it and do not launch too close to it.

Graswarder is also a nature reserve. Follow the signs on the beach and if in doubt, ask locally where the kite zone ends.

Is Heiligenhafen good for learning to kitesurf?

No, Heiligenhafen is not a place to learn kitesurfing. The pier, the beach chairs on land and the wooden groynes in the water leave no room for beginner lessons along the shore. If you ride here, you need to launch, land and hold your upwind line with confidence.

To learn, head a few kilometres further, over the Fehmarnsund bridge to Gold on Fehmarn. Take lessons there with a kite school that teaches you the safety system and the right-of-way rules before you go out on your own.

Once you ride confidently, you will find small waves in Heiligenhafen in northwest wind. They are too small for real wave sessions, but they are a good first step into riding waves.

Wrong wind? Fehmarn and Großenbrode

When the wind in Heiligenhafen is offshore, the alternatives are only a few kilometres away. In this corner of the Baltic, the wind direction rarely decides whether you ride, only where.

On Fehmarn, the island's shape means almost every wind direction works somewhere, and Wulfener Hals in the south has standing-depth water. In Großenbrode, the west beach is the best-known launch. You will find every spot with wind direction and level in our overview of kitesurfing spots in Germany.

Where can you kitesurf in Heiligenhafen?

In Heiligenhafen, kitesurfing is only allowed at Graswarder, the beach right behind the marina. Kiting is banned at Steinwarder and on the Binnensee.

Which wind direction is best for kitesurfing in Heiligenhafen?

Graswarder works in west to northwest wind with small waves and in east wind with flat water. South to southwest is offshore, so on those days you are better off heading to Fehmarn or Großenbrode.

Is Heiligenhafen good for beginner kitesurfers?

No, Heiligenhafen is a spot for experienced riders. The pier, the beach chairs on the beach and the wooden groynes in the water leave no room for beginner lessons. Gold on Fehmarn is a better place to learn, ideally with a kite school.

Where do you park for kitesurfing in Heiligenhafen?

For kitesurfing in Heiligenhafen, park at the catamaran centre at Graswarder, right behind the marina. Follow the signs for "Graswarder" and "Yachthafen" in town. There are toilets there too.

Can you kitesurf on the Binnensee in Heiligenhafen?

No, kitesurfing is not allowed on the Binnensee in Heiligenhafen. The lagoon is reserved for sailing and SUP only. For kiting, head to Graswarder.