Schwansee
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Flat, Shallow, 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Schwansee is a Baltic-side wind spot near Kalkhorst featuring mostly flat to slightly choppy water, a medium-sized stony/pebble shoreline, and a large standing area that helps with equipment setup and recovery during sessions. Water quality is described as clean, but the bottom is rocky/stony with slippery stones and underwater hazards such as groynes. Wind is characterized as frontal, with the most consistent months typically falling in spring and fall (March through May, plus September through November). Available wind directions include west through north sectors, and reported wind speeds commonly fall in the low-to-mid teens up to the mid-20s knots. Reliability is described as moderate, with conditions depending on passing weather systems and frontal activity. For kitesurfing and windsurfing, the main appeal is the standing area and freeride-style potential when the frontal winds arrive. Wingfoiling is also described as feasible, but only after moving past the initial shallow stony zone; minimum depth is noted as improving after the first stretch away from shore. Cold water is a constant theme: multiple sources indicate roughly 5–20°C water temperatures across spring-to-summer and that a wetsuit is necessary nearly all year. Safety emphasis is placed on avoiding stones/groynes and keeping away from protected shoreline zones near the cliffs; 112 is the emergency number, and no lifeguards are reported.
- Frontal wind timing: spring and fall
- Large standing area supports freeride and progression
- Clean water, but stony/rocky bottom with underwater groynes
- Large standing area for practicing and for freeride/foil-style sessions when winds arrive.
- Water quality described as clean.
- Best wind season in spring and fall, with a clear cold-water wetsuit requirement.
- Paid parking is available relatively close to the launch.
- Stony/rocky bottom and slippery stones increase foot/launch risk.
- Groynes can be submerged, creating underwater hazards.
- Moderate wind reliability depending on frontal activity.
- No lifeguard presence reported.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, WNW, NW, N, NNE, NE
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Frontal wind regime at Schwansee; best in spring and fall.
- Reliability
- Moderate; depends on passing low-pressure systems and frontal activity.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- March, April, May, September, October, November
- Shadow Zones
- Southwesterly winds can be gusty and turbulent due to nearby cliffs/land mass.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Shallow, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Pebble — Pebble/stone shoreline described; mixed sand-stone also mentioned.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Small — Small waves noted; moderate wave potential at west is also described.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Flat water with chop/small-wave conditions described.
- Launch
- Medium — Grassy or natural launch area suitable for equipment preparation.
Through the year
Can be moderately busy on windy weekends; generally quieter than closer commercialized areas.
Storms most frequent from October to February.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A primarily flat-water/standing-area spot with frontal winds in spring and fall. Stony/rocky bottom means safer footing and a careful line choice—groynes can also be present under water.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Freeride and bump-and-jump style conditions are described, with a large standing area that can suit progression depending on bottom familiarity.
- Sail Sizes
- 5–7.5 m²
Wingfoiling is described as feasible on the standing water once past the first shallow/stone zone; recovery is helped by the shallow standing area.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes
- Min Depth
- Approximately 1.2 meters after the first 50-100 meters.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Schwansee in the full forecast view.
Schwansee wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–24 ktsGusts 40 kts
- Direction
- SW221°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2524 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–1.0 m3s period
- Temperature
- 8–15 °C
Over the next 7 days, Schwansee is forecast for daytime winds of 5–24 kts, peaking around 24 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 40 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.1–1.0 m with a period of about 3s. 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
- Ships
- Stones
- Wooden groynes (Buhnen)
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional sea rescue coverage referenced for the wider area.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospitals referenced in Wismar or Lübeck; emergency number 112.
Rules of the spot
Avoid riding too close to nature reserve (Naturschutzgebiet) zones near the cliffs.
- Stay clear of designated swimming zones in summer.
- No specific seasonal closures found (per available info).
- Neoprene boots are highly recommended due to the stony bottom.
- Keep an eye on groynes as they can be submerged during higher tides.
- If you are on a very bumpy road made out of slabs, you are on the correct route leading to a parking lot close to the beach.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Kalkhorst
- Nearest Town
- Kalkhorst
- Parking
- Paid parking about 200–300 m from the stony beach (parking at Parkplatz Groß Schwansee referenced).
- Access
- From Hamburg on the A1 north, then A20 toward Rostock. Exit to Schönberg, take L01 to Dassau, Kaltenhof, Wilmstorf, Neuenhagen until Kalkhorst. In Kalkhorst, turn left at 'Am Sportplatz', then into 'Neue Reihe' toward Gross Schwansee. At the end, turn left and follow to water; a slab-made bumpy road leads to a parking lot ~200 m from the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Holiday apartments and guest houses in Kalkhorst and Groß Schwansee referenced.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and cafes referenced in Groß Schwansee.
- Equipment Rental:
- Rental equipment referenced via water sports centers in the wider bay (kiting/windsurfing/SUP).
- Gear Storage
- Storage facilities typically provided via water sports schools or seasonal arrangements.
- Gear Repair
- Basic sail and kite repairs referenced in the wider area; availability may depend on local shops/schools.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
A quieter Baltic coastal area with nature-focused shorelines and straightforward cultural day trips in the surrounding region.
A 290-meter long pier offering panoramic views of the Baltic Sea.
Baroque palace complex in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Baroque palace (Schloss Bothers / Schloss Bothes).
UNESCO World Heritage site known for medieval layout and Brick Gothic architecture.
Coastal cycling path traversing the Klützer Winkel region.
Local Mecklenburg cuisine served in a traditional rural setting.
Open-air museum showcasing reconstructed Stone Age dwellings and crafts.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Schwansee?
The best overall months at Schwansee are March, April, May, September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Schwansee?
Schwansee works with W, WNW, NW, N, NNE, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Schwansee?
Recommended equipment sizes at Schwansee: Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Schwansee suitable for?
Schwansee suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate to Expert · Windsurfing: Intermediate to Expert · Wingfoiling: Intermediate to Expert.