MyWaterSessions.
HomeSpots › Kegnæs

Denmark

Kegnæs

Kegnæs · Drejet & Lillehav · 📍 Denmark

🌐 Dansk

🇬🇧 English

Kegnæs, Als (Denmark) — one dam, two bodies of water

Kegnæs is a peninsula in the south of the island of Als, connected to the rest of the island by a narrow dam called Drejet. Around 50 kilometres beyond the German border, with Sønderborg twenty kilometres away. For many German windsurfers this is the first foreign spot of their lives, and for a surprising number it remains the most important.

The reason is geometric and fits in one sentence: the dam has two sides with completely different water. To the west lies the Lillehav, a shallow inland body of water. To the east, Flensburg Fjord, open and deep. Here a rider switches between beginner flatwater and a shorebreak spot in a two-minute walk — something that barely exists anywhere else in the Baltic.

For families with mixed ability levels, that is the real headline. One person practises water starts in standing depth while another rides ramps two hundred metres away. Both can see each other from the water.

Scenically, Kegnæs is unremarkable: broad beaches, flat meadows and fields, small villages. If you want drama, drive somewhere else. If you want water, you stay.

How the spot works

Four launch points that need to be kept distinct:

Lillehav (west side of the dam). The heart of it. A very large knee- to hip-deep area with virtually no current and no waves. The wind window is broad. It works particularly well in onshore northwesterlies and in offshore southeast to east — then the water goes mirror-flat. Enclosed by land on three sides, which gives a sense of security absent on the open coast. There is also always someone here who will help.

Fjord side (east side of the dam). Park at the southern end of the dam, public toilet available. In easterly directions, medium-sized waves come in — a spot for experienced riders, not for day two. The beach is strewn with stones and, depending on the season, with anglers.

Bredsten. The peninsula's actual shorebreak spot, on the eastern side. In an easterly, the waves break cleanly over offshore sandbanks and get considerably large on good days. A popular destination for the Flensburg scene, so it can get busy. Rigging happens on a paid grass area behind the campsite.

Østerby. The overflow option when Bredsten is too crowded, and the better choice when the wind swings southeast: sideshore then, with ramps to jump off. Waves slightly smaller than at Bredsten.

Add Hørup Hav as a fifth option, a flatwater spot next to the marina with roughly 200 metres of standing area, free parking, a barbecue area and a rigging meadow. In SE wind, freestylers tack about 800 metres up to the spit from there: the wind comes over flat land, it gets deep quickly behind, and you practise on mirror-flat water.

The wind

Kegnæs is an easterly spot with a flatwater emergency exit. That is the defining property: almost any direction is rideable somewhere on the peninsula, but the good days are the easterly ones.

Direction Character Assessment
NW Onshore on the Lillehav ⭐ Lillehav works, flatwater with chop. The most reliable freeride day
N Sideshore Lillehav Rideable, Hørup Hav goes smooth
NE Onshore fjord side Waves on the east side, Bredsten wakes up
E Sideshore from the left, Bredsten/fjord side ⭐ The wave setup. Sandbanks working, can get big. Slightly cross-offshore, gusty
SE Sideshore Østerby, offshore Lillehav ⭐ Doubly good: ramps at Østerby, mirror-flat Lillehav for freestyle
S Diffuse Usable depending on launch, overall the weakest sector
SW Bump & jump on the east side of the dam Works, the wave breaks closer to shore and smaller than at Sønderkobbel
W Offshore on the Lillehav Lillehav stays rideable thanks to standing depth, but gusty

The weakness is well known and belongs in any plan: forecasts for SE wind are often very inaccurate at this spot, and the wind usually blows a notch weaker than predicted because thermal reinforcement is absent. If it isn't enough to plane, Vemmingbund is twenty minutes away and local thermals there strengthen easterly directions.

Wind strength and gear (indicative, approx. 80–85 kg):

Wind Sail Board Character
12–16 kn 7.0–8.0 115–130 l Lillehav, freeride, foil window
17–21 kn 6.0–6.5 100–115 l Sweet spot, freestyle on the Lillehav
22–27 kn 5.0–5.7 90–100 l Bredsten wakes up, wave gear makes sense
28+ kn 4.2–4.7 80–90 l Strong easterly day, the Baltic wave gets serious

Gear requirements are broader here than at a pure flatwater or pure wave spot: to use both sides of the dam you need freeride and a smaller wave setup. Tidal range is irrelevant; wind setup matters most on the Lillehav because of the shallow depth.

Conditions & levels

Kegnæs is one of the few spots where you can honestly award both 🟢 and 🟡 — because these are two separate waters.

Level What you get
🟢 Beginner On the Lillehav, one of the best beginner spots in the western Baltic. Standing depth, no current, no waves, land on three sides, a school on site. It hardly gets better
🟢 Improver Water starts and gybes on the Lillehav, then first attempts on the fjord side in moderate wind. The learning curve is steeper here than anywhere else, because two waters sit within walking distance
🟡 Advanced Bredsten in an easterly, Østerby in a southeasterly. Decent waves by Baltic standards and clean sandbank sections. Freestyle on the Lillehav in SE
🔴 Pro Becomes usable on strong easterly days, but it is no wave mecca. Cold Hawaii is four hours away

Sports: Wave ✅ (east side, in E–NE) · Windsurf ✅ · Kite ✅ · SUP ✅ (Lillehav) · Wing ✅ · Foil ✅ (Hørup Hav and fjord side; Lillehav too shallow)

Lessons & the local school

Surfers Paradise runs a watersports centre at Drejet with kite, windsurf and wingfoil courses in German and English. For German-speaking beginners that is the practical core of this spot: instruction in your own language, gear on site, flatwater directly in front. Accommodation exists at the spot, including tiny houses, so parking, rigging and lodging are all in one place.

Drejby campsite sits directly on the Lillehav. Parking there is chargeable, free outside the season. Beyond infrastructure, the site also offers something to do for non-surfers and family — which at a spot where you wait for wind is worth more than it sounds.

Unlike Løkken, then, there is genuine windsurf infrastructure here including rental. If you want to test whether the sport is for you at all, this is the right place.

On the beach — facilities & logistics

Parking and access. Three options: Drejby campsite on the Lillehav (chargeable in season), the southern end of the dam with a public toilet for the fjord side, and Hørup Hav marina with free parking and a barbecue area. Distances to the water are short everywhere.

Rigging. Meadows and grass areas at all launches. At Bredsten the grass area behind the campsite is chargeable. One source reports that the operator at Sønderkobbel has closed the car park and raised an earth bank — the current status is unclear, so don't plan blindly around it.

Supplies. Kiosk and snacks at the campsite. For a bigger shop, Sønderborg, twenty kilometres away.

Sønderborg. Historic town centre, harbour, castle. The region's best rainy-day destination and its supply base.

Island hopping. From Fynshav the ferry runs to Bøjden on Fyn and to Søby on Ærø. For a windless day with family, a better option than sitting around.

Best season
Period Wind Water temp. (approx.) Wetsuit Crowds
Nov–Mar Windiest, frequent lows 3–6 °C 5/4 or 6/5 + hood, gloves, boots Empty
Apr–May Good statistics, easterlies more frequent 7–13 °C 5/4 + hood Quiet, season starts
Jun Variable, thermally supported 16–18 °C 4/3 Filling up
Jul–Aug Weakest period, but easterlies still come 19–21 °C 3/2 or shorty High season, campsites full
Sep–Oct ⭐ Best balance 14–18 °C 4/3 Considerably emptier

May and September are the smart months. Easterly setups are more frequent than in high summer, campsites aren't booked out, and the water is still seventeen degrees in September. July and August work for families thanks to water temperature and infrastructure, but you share the spot with plenty of others.

Nearby alternatives
Vemmingbund (approx. 20 min west) — the answer to an easterly that's too weak: thermals there strengthen easterly directions. Onshore, standing depth, family-friendly
Gammelmark (approx. 25 min west) — sideshore, deeper water, more demanding than Vemmingbund
Mommark (approx. 15 min northeast) — deep quickly, current and chop, ideal for foiling. Wind window from north through east to SSW; mirror-flat south of the harbour mole in northerlies. Rescue equipment and a defibrillator on site
Nordals / Købingsmark (approx. 40 min north) — an enormous knee-deep area right of the jetty; in a storm a good wave builds on the reef. Predominantly W, N, NE. Little traffic, don't go out alone
Nordborg / Pøl (approx. 45 min north) — a steep Baltic wave in strong NW, access is awkward
Kragesand (approx. 30 min west, Broagerland) — remote, standing depth for 300–400 m in an easterly, variable current
German side of Flensburg Fjord (Habernis, Langballig, Wackerballig, approx. 40–60 min) — for westerly directions
Rainy days & flat days
Sønderborg — castle, old town, harbour promenade
Gendarmstien — a 74 km long-distance path from Høruphav to Padborg, signposted throughout, passing several spots
Fynshav–Bøjden ferry — day trip to Fyn
Fynshav–Søby ferry — Ærø, one of the loveliest islands in Denmark
Dybbøl Skanse — history centre on 1864, close to German history
Universe Science Park (Nordborg) — the safe bet with children
Good to know (safety first)

Don't confuse the two sides. The Lillehav is standing depth and harmless. The fjord side is open water with waves, stones and real depth. Learning your water start on the Lillehav does not qualify you for the east side.

Stones on the fjord side. The beach at the eastern end of the dam is strewn with stones. Booties are mandatory there, and the entry needs attention.

Anglers. Depending on the season, anglers stand along the eastern dam. Lines and rods are invisible from the water — keep your distance, that is their place as much as the water is yours.

Offshore easterly on the Lillehav. In E–SE the wind is offshore on the Lillehav. That's uncritical thanks to standing depth, but it remains offshore: gear failure means walking, not swimming — as long as you stay in the standing zone. Further out, that no longer applies.

Gustiness in an easterly. Easterly wind arrives slightly cross-offshore over land and is correspondingly gusty. Choose sail size conservatively.

Bathers in high summer. These are bathing beaches. In July and August, put your riding area outside the swimming zones.

Practical. Dogs on the lead 1 April – 30 September. The emergency number in Denmark is 112.

Honest limitations

The SE forecast is unreliable. This is the central weakness. Driving 500 kilometres on a southeast forecast means driving on a gamble. Plan B (Vemmingbund) should be in your pocket before you set off.

No thermal reinforcement. Unlike Sønderborg Bugt, the wind here isn't thermally boosted. Marginal days stay marginal.

High season is busy. Campsites are well filled in summer, not least with windsurfers. Bredsten can get tight on good days.

Scenically dull. Flat meadows and fields. If you're looking for dunes and cliffs, you'll be disappointed.

Not a big wave spot. Good by Baltic standards, second division by Danish standards. If you want size, drive to the North Sea.

The short advice

First ever windsurf contact: Lillehav, a course with Surfers Paradise, allow two to three days. There is hardly a better place for it within reach of Germany.

Improver: Northwest around 18 knots on the Lillehav for gybes and holding height, then a first look at the fjord side in a moderate easterly. Not the other way round.

Experienced: East from 22 knots at Bredsten, or southeast at Østerby if Bredsten is crowded. Bring the wave gear; with freeride you'll miss the day.

Freestylers: Southeast, Hørup Hav, tack 800 metres up to the spit. Mirror-flat, and you'll usually be alone.

With family and mixed levels: This is the reason the spot exists. Park at the dam, beginners west, advanced east, everyone within sight.

Country: Denmark Region: Southern Denmark, Sønderborg Municipality (Als / Flensburg Fjord) Water: Lillehav (flatwater, knee to hip deep) and Flensburg Fjord (open, deeper, stones) Type: Dam with two waters — flatwater west, shorebreak east Address: Drejet, 6470 Sydals (Drejby campsite, southern end of the dam, Hørup Hav) Coordinates: approx. 54.86° N / 10.00° E Best direction: E and SE (waves), NW (flatwater) School: Surfers Paradise (kite, windsurf, wingfoil, German/English, accommodation) Club: — Tide: Negligible, wind setup relevant in the shallows Lifeguards: no tower; rescue equipment not confirmed

Who is this spot for? Level: 🟢 Beginner · 🟢 Improver · 🟡 Advanced · 🔴 Pro Good to learn: ✅ Yes Water: 🌊 Two waters — flat lagoon west, open fjord east Wave ✅ · Wind ✅ · Kite ✅ · SUP ✅ · Wing ✅ · Foil ✅

⚠️ Orientation only, not a guarantee – conditions change daily. Check the forecast, ask local schools, and don't go out alone if unsure. The biggest danger is usually the current.

🌊 Open in the app
0Riders ranked
0Sessions logged

Live speed ranking

No ranked sessions here yet – be the first to put Kegnæs on the board.

FAQ – Kegnæs

Is it free to use MyWaterSessions at Kegnæs?

Yes. Rankings, the spot guide and the 3-day wind forecast are 100% free — no premium and no paywall.

Why riders choose MyWaterSessions

  • 100% free – no premium, no paywall. Every ranking, filter, the spot guide and the wind forecast are free. A genuine free alternative to paid GPS speed-surfing sites.
  • More filters. Rank by spot, year, board/gear, wind strength, rider weight and even foil/fin size – compare yourself with truly similar riders, not just one big list.
  • Better groups. Build your own crew, club or private group and compare within it – with a news feed for new records.
  • Not just for pros. A fair Performance Index (fast with little wind & a small sail) and a GPS trust score mean beginners and intermediates have something to chase too.
  • Five sports, one account. Windsurf, kitesurf, wingfoil, SUP and wakeboard.
  • Works with any watch. Record on a Garmin or connect your Polar account and it uploads automatically, or upload a FIT / GPX / TCX file from any other watch or phone (Apple Watch, Suunto, COROS, Strava export).
🌊 See the live ranking & forecast at Kegnæs

More spots in Denmark