Winter semester (sailing theory)

A theory course is offered during the winter semester's lecture period. The course is aimed at anyone interested in learning the basics of sailing and seamanship. The course covers the theoretical principles of sailing and motorboating, navigation, laws, meteorology and knots. The theory course is not a ‘pleasure craft certificate course’, but is closely based on the content of international certificates for operators of pleasure craft

Participants of the theory course can take advantage of early registration for beginner sailing courses if a practical course is on offer (at the end of the following teaching period in the summer semester). Those taking part in the theory course will be notified of this in good time.

Summer semester (sailing practice)

The range of practical sailing courses on offer can only be announced at the end of March/beginning of April (for the teaching period) or mid-July (for the non-teaching period) (see the online course offers at University Sport). This depends on the availability of instructors and the courses they are offering. There are usually three types of sailing courses (safety is provided for all courses in the form of an inflatable rescue boat):

1. For beginners: The beginners' course is aimed at anyone who would like to learn about the sport of sailing. The course aims to teach the basics of sailing and its manoeuvres (classes on wind, tacking, gybing, luffing up, man overboard). Active participation and a willingness to face the elements of wind and water are important here. Taking part in the theory course is not mandatory for participation in the practical beginners' courses. The practical course is structured as follows: weeks 1-3: theory and dry training; weeks 4-13: practical sailing.
    
2. For advanced sailors: The course is aimed at anyone who already knows how to sail (courses on wind, tacking, luffing up). A safety boat with an instructor accompanies the dinghies. The sailing area is the Dänische Wiek, but also parts of the Greifswalder Bodden.
    
3. For intermediate sailors: The intermediate course builds on the beginners' course and offers the opportunity to practise and consolidate what you have learned or to learn new skills. Short trips towards the oil rigs are also possible.

Sailing clothing is not provided. Everyone taking part in a course must bring a windproof and waterproof jacket and trousers. Even if it is not raining, spray or waves can get you wet. It is also important to wear non-slip, hard-wearing footwear without thick treads.

Our sailing boats...

...are good-natured Ixylon dinghies, which only capsize when heeled very heavily – this can also happen. The boats have two centreboards and are a class of boat that was designed in the former GDR.

Beginners' course – a report by Philipp Wilkening, course in the 2021/22 winter semester and 2022 summer semester...

‘Nicole's sailing course is awesome! After the theory course in the winter semester and weekly bike rides to Wieck on the cold and rainy evenings, we finally got to go out on the boats in the practical course in the summer. Always in pairs on a dinghy, the first few weeks we also had a ’tutor" on each boat who could guide us and help us in an emergency. Before setting off, Nicole always explained what she had planned for us this time on a white board. Tacking, gybing, courses on the wind – anyone starting to sail should be prepared to study the theory as well. But all this is rewarded with an incomparable experience on the water, the feeling of moving forward without engine power and (almost) without muscle power. During the course, you learn the necessary manoeuvres, commands and procedures step by step, while Nicole stays close by with her motorboat, herding her students across the water like ducklings. And after the course you will know every little centimetre of the dinghy. A barbecue with all the participants concludes the course, and I am already looking forward to getting back on the water and hoisting the sail. Thanks to Unisport and especially to Nicole for this experience!"

Please refer to the current course offer page [de] of University Sport's course programme.

University Sport does not offer courses for obtaining certificates for operators of pleasure craft. However, participants in sailing courses can have what they have learned tested here in Greifswald-Wieck at the end of the course (course period April-July) by the ‘Examination Board for Official Pleasure Craft Certificates and Radio Certificates Mecklenburg-Vorpommern' [de] as part of an official pleasure craft certificate examination (International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft in Inland Waters).

Information on official certificates for pleasure craft is available online, for example, from Mecklenburg Vorpommern's Examination Board [de].

Dinghies can only be used for the courses – they are not available for hire.

If you would like to hire a dinghy in Greifswald, you can do so at the ‘Segelschule Greifswald' [de] sailing school.

It is not possible to store sailing boats on the premises of the boat house for sailing.

It is not possible to hire canoes. However, from the 2024 summer semester onwards, we will be offering independent canoe training, where you can paddle independently at bookable training times outside of a regular canoe course.

It is not possible to hire rowing boats and there are no plans to offer this service.

Storage of equipment is not possible.

The courses offered depend primarily on the availability of instructors. Furthermore, University Sport is not able to provide some sports, such as kite surfing.

Unfortunately, we were forced to adjust some course prices as of summer semester 2022. Our goal remains to keep water sports affordable for students on a budget. Instructed sailing lessons are still available for less than €10 per hour.

Nevertheless, for financial (covering of internal costs) and tax reasons, we have to charge different prices for some courses.

However, the fees are still subsidised by the University, the Students' Union and the State, in some cases by up to 50%.

In particular, for all persons who neither study nor work at universities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (referred to as external participants in the programme), we have to charge the full cost, as they are not legally entitled to benefit from internal subsidies.

We ask for your understanding and wish you lots of fun and wonderful experiences.