St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake)
- Freestyle, Freeride
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Beginner-friendly windsurfing and wingfoiling access is supported by extensive shallow water (sand and gravel) and a large rigging meadow. Winds are most reliable during late spring through early autumn, when West and Northwest directions are favored and gusts are possible. For safety, the shallow-water environment and summer swimming zones/bathers should be respected, and kitesurfing is prohibited on the entire lake.
- Large shallow standing area (hip-deep zone) for controlled practice
- Grassy rigging meadow and easy launch access
- On-site lido facilities and food/drink nearby
- Winds commonly align with West/Northwest in the May–September window
- Beginner-friendly windsurfing environment with extensive shallow standing area
- Large grassy rigging meadow with straightforward launch access
- Good on-site infrastructure (toilets/showers/changing area and food options)
- Winds most consistently available in late spring to early autumn
- Gusty winds can occur
- Shallow-water conditions require caution (especially when carrying gear)
- Can get crowded on sunny weekends and busy/windy days
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- W, NW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Best described as West/Northwest thermal breezes in fair weather; gusty conditions reported.
- Reliability
- Good in summer (May–September) with occasional wind in autumn; lower reliability can occur mid-summer.
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Shadow Zones
- Small wind shadows close to shore possible from nearby trees.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Sand — Sand beach with a sand/gravel entry described.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Flat
- Launch
- Big — Large grassy rigging meadow with lawn; entry into the water via sand/gravel.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy
Through the year
Very crowded on sunny weekends in summer; bathers in summer and windsurfers on windy days.
Storms are most frequent in late autumn and winter; late-afternoon thunderstorms are reported for July and August.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Beginner-friendly windsurfing with flat water and a large shallow standing area (sand and gravel). Winds are best with West/Northwest thermal periods (May–September). Gusty conditions can occur but the launch/setup environment is described as easy.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.8–7.5 m²
Very suitable for beginners/intermediates due to flat water and minimal hazards; however, one source notes wingfoiling may be restricted by the long walk in shallow water before reaching sufficient depth.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Reported as feasible but sometimes restricted by shallow-water access.
- Min Depth
- 0.8 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Possible on a frozen lake in winter, depending on snow cover and ice safety.
- Snow Conditions
- Powder
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) in the full forecast view.
St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–13 ktsGusts 28 kts
- Direction
- WSW256°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2413 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Temperature
- 3–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–13 kts, peaking around 13 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 28 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. 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
- Shallow-water conditions
- Gusty winds
- Marked swimming zones/bathers in summer
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is mixed in provider data: one source reports no rescue availability at the spot, while regional lake rescue coverage is maintained around the lake with most active coverage during summer and weekends.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital: Starnberg. Emergency services: 112.
Rules of the spot
Kitesurfing is strictly prohibited on the entire Starnberger See. Respect marked swimming areas and environmental protection zones.
- No kitesurfing on the entire Starnberger See
- Summer swimming zones
- Best results are reported with West and Northwest winds.
- Parking can fill quickly on windy weekends; arrive early.
- Consider the shallow standing water when planning your launch/setup—it's beginner-friendly but still requires caution.
- Watch for overcrowding on sunny weekends in summer.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Starnberger See
- Nearest Town
- Starnberger See
- Parking
- Paid parking lot at/near the Strandbad St. Heinrich; may close on weekends in high season due to overcrowding.
- Access
- Access via Lido at Buchscharnstraße 10, 82541 Starnberger See. Strandbad facilities with a large rigging meadow.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Nearby camping and guesthouses around Münsing; accommodation described as near.
- Food & Drink
- Lido cafe/restaurant directly at the spot; bar/restaurant available.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available for windsurfing and SUP (local school / on-site services).
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage reported as available, but details on capacity are not specified.
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 St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake)?
The best overall months at St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake)?
St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) works with W, NW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake)?
Recommended equipment sizes at St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake): Windsurfing: 4.8–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) suitable for?
St. Heinrich (Starnberg Lake) suits these riding levels: Windsurfing: Beginner · Wingfoiling: Beginner · Snowkiting: Beginner.