Kühlungsborn
Kuehlungsborn · Kühlungsborn West/Ost
54°08.8'N 11°45.2'E
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for the open beach anchorage in 3–7m on clean sand. Good holding when set but open coast — this radius must be monitored actively. In any northerly above F3, weigh anchor and enter harbour or depart. The 80m is a minimum — increase to 100m in any residual swell from north.
About This Anchorage
Kühlungsborn is Germany's largest Baltic beach resort — a classic seaside town (population 8,000, swelling to 60,000 in summer) stretching along 5km of fine white sand beach backed by forest. The town was developed as a resort from the 1920s and has preserved its Bäderarchitektur (spa town architecture) — white villas, grand hotels, and the elegant promenade. The Molli narrow-gauge steam railway connects Kühlungsborn to Bad Doberan (12km inland, the most important Cistercian monastery in the Baltic region). The open Baltic anchorage is beautiful in settled conditions — 3–7m on clean sand with views of the resort promenade from the water. The harbour itself is small but adequate for yacht berthing. The main attraction is the resort atmosphere and the Molli railway.
Protected From
S · SW · W · SE
Exposed To
N · NE · NW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (open beach); harbour fee approx €12–16/night
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Open coast — leave in any northerly conditions above F3; swimming beach — anchoring only outside the designated swimming zones; speed limit in harbour approach; no camping on beach.
Hazards
- !Open coast — exposed to N, NW, NE across the Mecklenburg Bight; leave in any northerly above F3; Baltic swell from NW can build quickly
- !Swimming beach: anchored vessels must stay outside the designated bathing zones (marked by yellow buoys); violation risks collision with swimmers
- !No fuel — plan from Warnemünde or Wismar
- !Summer crowds: the beach and town are packed July–August; the anchorage is quieter but the resort noise carries over calm water
Skipper's Tips
- →The Molli (narrow-gauge steam railway, 1886) from Kühlungsborn to Bad Doberan is one of Germany's finest heritage railways — take it to Bad Doberan Münster (extraordinary 13th-century Cistercian monastery, free entry) and return; 1 hour each way
- →The best conditions for the beach anchorage: S–SW wind, flat calm, arrive after 18:00 when the beach crowds have left — the resort promenade from the water at dusk is beautiful
- →Kühlungsborn West harbour (smaller) and Ost harbour (larger, with better facilities): radio VHF 16 for berth; the Ost harbour has a small yacht club with showers
- →The promenade (Strandpromenade) of Kühlungsborn is one of the finest in Germany — the preserved 1920s–1930s Bäderarchitektur (Kurhaus, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten) and the elevated boardwalk above the beach
- →In settled summer conditions, the open anchorage off the main beach gives a unique perspective on the resort life — watching the beach from the cockpit at anchor is quintessentially German Baltic sailing
Facilities
Full resort town: restaurants, cafes, ice cream parlours along the promenade. Supermarket in town. No fuel — Warnemünde (22nm) or Wismar (15nm).
Nearest provisions: Kühlungsborn town (Strandstraße) (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
June, July, August
June–August only — open coast requires settled conditions. The beach anchorage is weather-dependent: do not commit to this anchorage without a confirmed 12h settled forecast.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In the Mecklenburg Bight, Baltic swell and open coast exposure make overnight anchor monitoring important. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously.
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