Rettin
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Rettin is a small Baltic Sea kitesurfing spot near Neustadt in Holstein, characterized by clean water and a shallow, standing-area setup that tends to feel safer than open-coast conditions. Reported wave action is generally small to choppy rather than surfy, with a sandy bottom. Wind is most consistent in spring through early autumn, with best months running from April through October. The workable wind directions span roughly NE through SW (with common success on NE/ENE/ESE/SSE/S), aligning with a strong onshore-oriented pattern for getting planing on relatively sheltered water. In warmer months, afternoon thermal effects can reinforce the wind locally, though the spot-level guidance emphasizes that conditions are still variable enough to warrant planning around forecasts and wind direction. Safety at Rettin centers on the interaction of wind sports with a busy swimming zone in summer and the presence of regular stone groynes along the beach. Kitesurfing is restricted to a designated zone—especially from mid-May to mid-September—so riders need to stay within the allowed area. The beach can also be quite narrow, and groynes can become more exposed as the tide drops, increasing risk during launch and landing. Amenities are oriented around the nearby coastal camping and village promenade, with access via the A1 motorway and parking available close to the shore. Rescue is described as limited at the spot level, but regional DLRG monitoring is seasonal, and emergency medical support is available via local hospital services. Overall, it’s a well-regarded local-style training and freeride option during its main wind season, with an emphasis on careful zone compliance and obstacle awareness.
- Shallow standing area that can extend roughly ~200 m out
- East-to-Southwest wind directions work in the main season
- Seasonal swimming-zone controls for kitesurfing
- Large shallow standing area (reported around ~200 m out) makes many wind and water sessions more approachable
- Wind works across a wide set of East-to-Southwest directions (NE through SW) in the main season
- Typically clean water and generally mild currents
- Narrow beach and regular stone groynes (Buhnen) require careful launch/landing control
- In summer, riding is restricted to a designated swimming-protection zone
- Shallow areas can create local hazards for waterstarting/foil users
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Sources describe kitesurf winds as thermal/gradient-driven, with strong seasonality.
- Reliability
- Moderate; relies on frontal systems moving through the Baltic Sea.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Reported as light gusts; winds are generally more usable than highly turbulent spots.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach with stone groynes.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small wave activity; mostly flat to choppy.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Flat to choppy water reported.
- Launch
- Small — Narrow sandy beach with multiple stone groynes; space can be limited at high tide or peak summer.
Through the year
Highest in July and August; quiet during spring and autumn weekdays.
Autumn (October/November) often brings the strongest storm depressions.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A shallow, standing-area type beach spot with flat to choppy water. Works best with East to South-East through South-West wind directions in spring to early autumn.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Freeride-friendly with a large standing area; entry is easiest between groynes.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Good learning potential due to shallow water, but riders must walk out past the shallowest sandbars to avoid hitting the foil.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foils are reported as friendly here if you manage the shallowest section.
- Min Depth
- 0.8m
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Rettin in the full forecast view.
Rettin wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–28 ktsGusts 45 kts
- Direction
- SW223°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2528 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.9 m2s period
- Temperature
- 8–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Rettin is forecast for daytime winds of 5–28 kts, peaking around 28 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 45 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–0.9 m with a period of about 2s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Swimmers in summer
- Ships
- Buoys
- Wave breaker
- Stone groynes (Buhnen)
- Wooden stakes
- Slippery rocks on groynes
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard/DLRG activity during summer.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited at the spot level; regional coastline is monitored by DLRG with seasonal boat patrols from May through September.
- Emergency Info
- Local DLRG station is active during the summer season; medical emergencies are served by Schön Klinik Neustadt; emergency number 112.
Rules of the spot
Kitesurfing is restricted to a designated zone, especially in summer (May to September) to protect the swimming area.
- No kiting in designated swimmer zones
- Seasonal restrictions apply from May 15th to September 15th
- In summer, only ride in the designated zone and keep the kite fully under control around the narrow beach.
- Watch the tide: when water levels are low, groynes can be more exposed and dangerous.
- If using the shallow standing area, keep an eye on the Buhnen for safe launch and landing.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Lübeck
- Nearest Town
- Neustadt in Holstein
- Nearest Airport
- Hamburg Airport (HAM) ~100 km; Lübeck Airport (LBC) ~40 km
- Parking
- Paid parking is available close to the beach and at the nearby camping grounds.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via Deutsche Bahn regional rail with a station in Neustadt in Holstein, plus local bus lines serving the coastal resorts.
- Access
- Take A1 and exit north of Neustadt, then follow signs to Rettin or Pelzerhaken. Access via the camping ground or south of the big camping ground (Strandweg).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping (Campingplatz Rettin) plus various holiday apartments in the village.
- Food & Drink
- Several small bistros and cafes are located along the promenade.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at nearby Pelzerhaken; no major rental shops directly on Rettin beach.
- Gear Storage
- Generally not available outside of camping ground facilities.
- Gear Repair
- No direct repair at the spot; nearest repairs in Pelzerhaken or Neustadt.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Rettin?
The best overall months at Rettin are May, June, September. The best wind months are April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Which wind directions work at Rettin?
Rettin works with NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Rettin?
Recommended equipment sizes at Rettin: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Rettin suitable for?
Rettin suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Intermediate.