As Germany's largest island, it is obvious that Rügen offers plenty of excellent windsurfing spots. In addition to wave areas on the open Baltic Sea, the Bodden, the numerous bays and inland waters, are particularly popular spots. Suhrendorf on the small offshore island of Ummanz is particularly perfect for intermediates. Here, Germany's largest standing area boasts ideal conditions on the water and great infrastructure on land. A curiosity on the side: Ummanz is home to "Ummaii", the first and only windsurfing state in the world.
Travelling to Rügen & Ummanz
The best way to reach Rügen is by car, even for excursions in calm weather you can hardly avoid having your own car. If you want to get to Ummanz, you first have to head towards Stralsund, where the bottleneck of the Rügen dam or Rügen bridge awaits. This is where things can get tight, especially on typical arrival and departure days in the high season. Once on the island, the journey continues towards Samtens, Gingst and then to Ummanz. The name refers to both a peninsula and an independent island off the coast. From there you head to Suhrendorf. There is a campsite and the Rügen Surf Hostel right next to the spot.
Wind & Weather
Suhrendorf is located on the west coast and is therefore dependent on wind from westerly directions for ideal soaring conditions. The more north or south, the more sideshore it blows. In our climes, westerly winds usually bring with them a low-pressure system, which can pass through all year round. However, easterly winds are not uncommon, especially in summer, and can sometimes be amplified by local effects. In principle, it is also rideable, but only far out. Those who want to go upwind should take a few kilometres by car, as there are plenty of safe and shallow spots on Rügen for easterly winds too.
In the Bodden, the water warms up quite quickly due to the shallow depth, but even in summer you should bring at least a 4/3 wetsuit. In terms of hours of sunshine, Rügen can certainly keep up with Fehmarn. Cape Arkona, the northernmost point of the island, is also considered to be Germany's windiest spot. Even if most of these spots are a little more sheltered and can't quite keep up, there's hardly anything left to be desired for surfers.
Ummanz/ Rügen - the windsurfing spots
Hiddensee is located around four kilometres from Suhrendorf beach and shields the spot from larger waves, even during storms. Between the islands, the Schaproder Bodden is shallow almost everywhere, so that in case of doubt you can simply walk back to the beach or literally walk upwind. Only the ferry channel between Stralsund and Hiddensee is a small exception.
Access to the spot is via the campsite, and day guests also have to buy a ticket here. There is also a surf school that offers courses and camps as well as equipment hire. The only thing that could possibly spoil the surfing fun is the omnipresent seaweed. Especially in summer, almost nothing works without a grass fin, which is a must in your luggage.
If you want to discover even more spots, you'll find them almost everywhere on Rügen. We would particularly like to emphasise Dranske on the Wieker Bodden and Groß Banzelwitz on the Jasmund Bodden. Here you can work on jibing or your first glides in a safe standing area, even in easterly winds.
And in a calm?
Rügen is one of Germany's tourist strongholds, so no-one need be bored here even when it's calm. An excursion to Cape Arkona is always worthwhile, and in Bergen or Stralsund you can get a taste of the city air if required. Also interesting is the "Colossus of Prora", a building from the Nazi era with an eventful history.
Another top spot on Rügen is the Wieker Bodden. Info is available HERE .
