61. Internationales Sundschwimmen

Saint Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of sailors, has watched over the Strelasund for centuries, his name enshrined in the oldest of the city's three major parish churches. Since its founding in 1279, this landmark has guided maritime traffic through the narrow channel between the island of Rügen and the mainland, a passage that once secured the immense power of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century, the city operated a fleet of 300 ships, turning this waterway into a hub of international trade and, inevitably, a theater of war. In 1362 and 1369, these waters saw naval clashes between the Danish King Valdemar IV and the Hanseatic fleet, conflicts that defined the regional borders long before the first swimmers took to the water.

The race day experience

Today, the 2300m course carries forward this maritime tradition as the oldest long-distance open water event in Germany. Swimmers gather for the annual event on the first Saturday of July, facing a 11:00 AM start time that demands focus and preparation. While the standard route traverses from Altefähr to the mainland, race organizers at DLRG Ortsgruppe Stralsund may adjust the course along the coast—such as a start near Parow—to account for prevailing wind or storm conditions. This logistical flexibility ensures the event proceeds safely, supported by the local volunteer network that manages everything from hydration points to the mandatory safety buoys.

Navigating the skyline

As you push through the water, the city’s profile remains your primary orientation. The most prominent feature is the tower of St. Mary's Church, reaching 104 meters into the sky. Between 1549 and 1647, it reigned as the tallest building in the world, a feat of engineering that served as a navigational beacon for sailors approaching the port. To the side, the silhouette of the Dänholm island emerges; this small landmass has long functioned as a military base and now serves as a central anchor for the causeway linking Rügen to the mainland. As you near the finish in the harbor, the masts of the Gorch Fock I, a training ship built in 1933, rise above the water as a final, tangible link to the city's deep-rooted nautical history.

From Prussian officers to 1,070 bibs

Reports exist of two Prussian officers swimming the strait as early as 1825. The first race followed in 1926, with Franz Wegner the first men's winner; the war cancelled it in 1940, and it was reborn in 1965 under the DDR water rescue service, passing to the DLRG in 1990. The course has stayed the same 2,315 metres from Altefähr on Rügen to Stralsund, and the entry list is capped at 1,070 — weather and cold water have claimed several editions, the pandemic two more.