Learn to sail at Lake Neusiedl! At our Surf- und Segelschule Nordstrand in Podersdorf am See, we offer professional instruction in sailing. Our certified instructors have extensive experience in watersports and are eager to share their passion for the sport and expert knowledge with you.
We provide courses for all skill levels and ages—whether you’re a beginner, refresher, intermediate, or already advanced. Lessons are held in German or English, either in small groups or private (one-on-one) sessions, ensuring you receive individual attention and make rapid progress. We teach on our Ixylon or RS Quest dinghies. Students who want to practice outside of class times can take advantage of our special discounted boat rental rates.
Dates & Schedule
April – June: Courses take place on weekends and public holidays.
July – September: Courses run daily.
Private classes can be scheduled daily from April to September.
A minimum of four participants is required; otherwise, classes are shortened or held as private lessons.
Course Participation & Registration
You can join a course at any time with prior registration. To ensure a smooth process, please register in advance by emailing info@nordstrand.at or by calling/messaging us on phone, WhatsApp, or Signal at +43 676 9337552. Please note that swimming skills are required for participation in all our courses.
The meeting point is our Surf- und Segelschule Nordstrand, located inside the beach area. We’re situated between the E1 and E2 beach entrances, and you can use either entrance to reach us. The beach entrance fee is not included in the course price and must be paid separately.
What to Bring
Don’t forget to pack sun protection, non-slip sports shoes suitable for water activities, and comfortable sportswear that can get wet. If you plan to use a wetsuit, bring swimwear as well as a towel. If you wear glasses, we recommend bringing a glasses strap to keep them secure. Life jackets are provided for all students, and wetsuits are available on cooler days if needed.
School Sports Weeks
We offer special school sports courses for class groups—an ideal way to introduce children and teenagers to the joy of sailing at Lake Neusiedl. Find more details in our School Sports Brochure.
April – September
This course is best suited for beginners who want to learn the basics of sailing. Its focus is on the practical aspects of sailing and basic sailing theory. You will learn how to set sail, basic maneuvers such as the tack and jibe, holding on to a directional course and sailing knots. Courses start on Mondays or Saturdays. The course is offered either as a 16-hour program from Monday to Thursday, over two weekends, or alternatively as a 12-hour intensive course held over a single weekend.
The course concludes with the Basic Sailing Certificate. Certificate holders are qualified to sail dinghies independently. Participants under the age of 12 receive the Junior Basic Sailing Certificate upon successful completion of the course.
- € 359,- (excluding examination fee)
- Examination fee Basic License € 29,-
- Examination fee Junior License € 25,-
REGISTER
April – September
Trial Course: A 2 hour practical course oriented course. The course gives you your first insight into what sailing is about. You get familiar with the dinghy and you gain your first sailing experience.
Courses can be started daily with prior registration.
Price: € 89,-
REGISTER
April – September
You already have basic sailing skills, but it has been a while since your last sailing experience and you don’t feel confident enough to sail on your own? Our Refresher Course is ideal for regaining confidence in your sailing abilities and getting back on the water safely.
The course includes 4 hours of instruction plus an additional hour of free practice with our Ixylon dinghies, allowing you to consolidate what you’ve learned in a relaxed and practical way.
Course schedule:
10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00. The course can be started daily with prior registration.
Price: € 179.-
REGISTER
Dates 2026 upon request
With the BFA-Binnen you can rent and sail sailing yachts in inland waters. The knowledge acquired in the basic course is perfected and extended in 23 classes. Maneuvers such as the man-overboard-rescue and the yacht jibe are learned and sail and weight trim are practiced. The theoretical part prepares you for the final exam.
Required reading for the exam: Der österreichische Segelschein – BFA-Binnen (Wendelin Schaar, Stephanie Usunova), or alternatively: Segeln: Der neue Kurs – Zielorientiert zum A-Schein (Peter Günzl)
Schedule: Monday to Friday, with the final exam on Saturday, or as an intensive course over two weekends, with the final exam on the third weekend.
Pre-requirements: basic-sailing license, ability to swim, minimum age 14
Price:
- € 399.- (excluding: literature, examination fee, exhibition fee)
- Examination fee € 35.-
- Exhibition fee of the OesV (Austrian Sailing Association) € 30.-
REGISTER
Acquire your BFA sailing license in just 8 days. Dates for 2026 are available upon request.
This intensive sailing course runs from Saturday to Saturday and prepares you for the BFA license within seven course days. The final exam takes place on the eighth day. No prior sailing experience is required. The course is suitable for complete beginners as well as for those who want to refresh their basic sailing skills before beginning the BFA course.
During the first two days, you will acquire or refresh basic sailing skills and become comfortable with the boat handling. Over the following days, the focus shifts to all BFA-required maneuvers, including man-overboard rescue, yacht jibing, and correct sail and weight trim. The course includes 30 sailing lessons, with additional free practice time available after classes on each course day to consolidate your skills on the water.
The theoretical part of the course thoroughly prepares you for the final examination and complements the practical training on the water. Examination-relevant literature is: Der österreichische Segelschein – BFA-Binnen by Wendelin Schaar and Stephanie Usunova, or alternatively Segeln: Der neue Kurs – Zielorientiert zum A-Schein by Peter Günzl.
Participants must be at least 14 years old and able to swim.
Price:
- € 599 (excluding: literature, examination fee, exhibition fee)
- Examination fee € 35
- Exhibition fee of the OesV (Austrian Sailing Association) € 30
REGISTER
April – September
If you would like to schedule lessons flexibly according to your needs, focus on specific maneuvers, or prefer a more individualized training approach, private coaching is an ideal choice. Lessons are available anytime upon request and are suitable for all ages and skill levels.
Price: € 89.-
60 minute practice oriented sailing class, including boat rental. For additional participants we charge a fee of € 15/ person, including boat rental, for additional participants we charge a fee of € 15/ person
