The Mrs Dad's birthday is going down near Munich very soon. So, it's a family thing, not a windsurfari. However, her brother will be kind enough to lend us his motorhome wheels. And she understands TOW is medicine.
So the plan is to backpack the 5.4 wing with pump, buoyancy jacket, wetsuit, harness belt. I'll check that bag in, plus one or two more suitcases with clothes and 75cm aluminum mast with axis foil set.
Singapore airlines ticket says no more than 25kg, or pay. Multiple bags ok. For this reason, and ease of travel to and from airport, i am choosing not to take a wingfoil board and get a used one over there.
Will be there 6 weeks.
Upon arrival we visit Auntie at lake Ammersee which is a nice Bavarian lake where people sail i believe. There is a shop on the way to there called Surftools. I've messaged them to ask about a board, fingers crossed they understand my translated message.
After Ammersee we will spend time at Lignano Sabbiadoro northern Italy, probably visit Garda, possibly Trieste. Elba Island from Piombino seems like a plan perhaps.
Actually there is no plan, it is getting created right now while packing as far as TOW stops. Leaving next week.
I'd love to windsurf, but the gear is more dollars and more to handle so not sure about that yet.
It's going to be interesting to see the euro scene as i only got into sailing in Oz in 2020 so this is all i know, apparently it is more popular over there.
Any tips or advice 
Places to camp and sail?
Any must see venues close to route?
What's the cost, availability of fin kit roughly to rent along the way per day?
Will it be very windy at these places? 
I'd find the rental centres and pick those spots so you don't have to drag gear around and have the right gear (either fin or foil) for the conditions. It's probably worth the money and not even that expensive although long time since I've rented in Europe.
There might not be many rental options inland though so you can still bring some if you're really keen to sail in those locations.
Enjoy!
Here some places that can be ok along the route you have in your map in order of your tour:
1) Althm?hlsee / Grosser Brombachsee (approx 50km South of N?rnberg)
There is a rental place that has both Windsurf gear and Wingfoil at Altm?hlsee (www.surfcenter-altmuehlsee.de/) . Wind is a bit hit and miss at this time of the year. If there is a cold front coming in you can get 15-20 knots and equally if it's an Easterly wind period you can get similar strength otherwise it's mostly light wind. This used to be my homespot.
Grosser Brombachsee gets a bit better wind but don't know if there is a rental place there these days.
2) Ammersee (approx 40km South of Munich)
The best out of the 5 lakes. Wind is a bit better than the previous lakes. Best spot there is Herrsching. Awesome when it's either a westerly or "F?hnsturm" (unusual at this time of the year).There is a rental place there from memory but can't find the link at the moment.
3) Kochelsee / Walchensee
When it's sunny and warm the west side of Walchensee get's a thermal wind in the afternoon (approximately 15 knots). There is a campground with direct lake access in the town of Walchensee but it's busy during school holidays (I think spring holidays are coming up at the beginning of June.
Kochelsee can get super windy early mornings (6am - 9am). It needs a Southerly wind flow to work and get turbo charged when there is a F?hn wind blowing (low pressure South of the Alps / high pressure system north of the Alps) but again that doesn't happen too often in early summer.4) Gardasee (Lake Garda) (approximately 350km South of Munich)
Gets crazy busy during weekends and in school holidays when half of Munich invades the place. The sailing happens mainly in the North of the lake. Both Torbole and Riva have campgrounds. Torbole has the better wind / campground water access combo in my opinion. There are a few campgrounds along the East side of the Lake but don't go South of Malcesine as the wind get's too light.
Main wind directions are:
Northerly (Vento): Blows in the morning. Best when there was a thunderstorm in the hills behind Torbole over night or if there is a low pressure system in Southern Germany and high in the gulf Genoa. Best between Malcesine and Navene (East side) and at Capo Real (West side).
Southerly (Ora): Blows in the afternoons. There is no Vento in the morning and it's sunny. Best wind is between Hotel Pier and Riva along the cliffs. But can be good from Malcesine towards Torbole.
Westerly (Ponale): If there is a thunderstorm in the hills west of Lake Garda you usually get a squally storm pushing out onto the lake. Wind can often reach 50knts.
There are a few rental stations around the lake. There its a Dutotone Pro Center in Torbole at the yacht club and there used to be a rental at Hotel Lido Blu.
On the westside there is Hotel Pier (great for Ora / ok for Vento) and Hotel Capo De Ramol (great for Vento / ok for Ora).
5) Italian Northern Coast
There are some good spots but rental places are far and in-between and I wouldn't go there specially for windsurf / foil holiday.
6) Lake Como
Gets thermal winds but not as good as Lake Garda.
7) Bodensee
Gets some good winds but only ever sailed there a couple of times.
RE motor home
It's worth mentioning that most lakes around Europe either completely restrict motor home parking (eg Lake Garda) or charge a flat rate per day / night (eg Altm?hlsee). Expect to find a lot of height barriers to prevent people from camping in parking lots at the lake. The barriers are often removed in Winter but in summer the expected to get a ticket if you park illegally.
RE taking gear. Only worth it if you go for a dedicated windsurf trip in my opinion. Good idea only taking a big wing / foil and buying a board locally. Don't expect the same level of used market we have here in Australia. Even though more people windsurf / foil the used market has always been seasonal and availability / range a bit hit and miss. Maybe try Marketplace before you arrive. Surftools is ok. There is also Surfstadle at Ammersee. Nuremberg has a couple of board shops and there are a ton at Lake Garda.
In Munich check out the Eisbach. There is a river surf spot with a standing wave in the middle of town. Google it ... not hard to find.
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..
Westerly (Ponale):
In Munich check out the Eisbach.
Heaps good info thank you.
Interesting that Ponale is a westerly wicked thing up there too.
I've seen the Eisbach situation before, love it. I could ride that thing rather than windsurf and surf and be happy probably. It seemed like a cool scene.
For a standing wave there has been alot going on there around it recently. www.surfertoday.com/surfing/resurrection-of-the-eisbach-river-wave-in-munich
They actually build a standing wave in Nuremberg back in 2022 (Fuchslochwelle) by diverting some of the water from a river and through purpose build funnel with a step. Good wave but the water quality is a bit questionable at times.
Bringing your wind sport gear while travelling around Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy is like a Swiss tourist bringing their ski gear on their trip to Australia. Yes, you'll get some TOW, but it's mostly not going to be as good as back home.
But there are lots of things that are better in those countries compared to Oz, e.g. hiking, climbing, mountain biking. You could add canyoning, rafting, paragliding etc. It's easier to involve the family in those too and keep them happy as well.
I've taken kiting gear to Switzerland before, only to turn up at their best spot Lake Silvaplana (it's close to your proposed route), where it was freezing cold, gusty and shifty wind and about 100 people out on the water in a small space. Decided to give it a miss and went on a spectacular hike in the surrounding mountains instead.
No sailing advice in that area but we liked Konstanz, which you look to be passing through. Near there we took a bus/ferry to Meersburg castle.
I also noticed the route almost going to Croatia. There are rentals there in some spots but I haven't been though I've always wanted to go. Mainly went to Zagreb and Split, but I think on Hvar and Brac there are rentals. I think water donkey?
Good wind is rare at the Bodensee. I've spent lots of days on the beach there waiting for wind😀. Konstanz a pretty little city, though. Lake Garda is even prettier, and you can rent windsurf gear there, if you don't mind the crowds. I used to live in Konstanz, but usually had to go to Lake Como or Lake Garda for high wind sessions, except for some fronts pulling through in spring or fall. Your end point in Italy is close to where you can take ferries to Corsica. That island is a good windsurf destination. I remember camping right next to the beach and getting blown of the water with my 3.7 m sail. Sardinia, the next island over, is even more popular for high winds, and has infrastructure for renting. The ferry ride may not fit well into the budget, but you may want to check it out, anyway.
I would suggest going to Germany In October ,I remember landing and taking off .but had a good time .😂
Select to expand quotestehsegler said..
It needs a Southerly wind flow to work and get turbo charged when there is a F?hn wind blowing (low pressure South of the Alps / high pressure system north of the Alps)
Mrs told me what your seabreeze name means 🤙🏽
The hairdryer wind was interesting to bring up with her as she's been in Oz last 15 years and had forgot. But she does know it from time in Munich.
Her memory is she got headaches when it was cranking. Temp increases of 14 degrees?!
Chinook winds, Santa Ana, Adiabatic dreaming...I've heard about but never experienced these kinds of winds. Only ever sailed Oz east coast sea breeze.
Do many sail Chiemsee?
Select to expand quoteholgs said.. like a Swiss tourist
I hear ya, and agree actually. Although i'm the only sailor, i think the others are keen to see the sailing scene there as it's not something they were used to doing, i would have been happy to eat brezen and beer but i'm the sucker that's gotta get wet to know.
Is there good TOW and bad TOW? I'm definitely used to some very good sailing conditions, will find out.
Hard to know if i'll regret not taking gear - I'll be will be that Swiss tourist with skii's at Uluru. It does kind of snow there actually, the ground freezes enough probably to ski on.
Select to expand quoteaeroegnr said..
I also noticed the route almost going to Croatia.
I saw cool tracks maybe on KA72 once of Trieste and it stuck in my mind. I thought about going over there for some hectic speed blasting but don't think it's a good idea on this trip. At home when i sail i'm in form, lots of stretching, sailing fitness etc and scared i'll come a croppa and make a mess of the trip if i push it over there. Definitely stopping for some time east of there at Sabbiadoro though.
Select to expand quoteboardsurfr said..
Good wind is rare at the Bodensee.
Select to expand quoteTardy said..
I would suggest going to Germany In October ,I remember landing and taking off .but had a good time .😂
Drugs are bad Tardy. Healthier option would be go to Amsterdam, they have healthy omelette's i think. Go eat those and dream of sailing back home 🍻
When is your Pacific sojourn happening?
Select to expand quoteMobZ said..Tardy said..
I would suggest going to Germany In October ,I remember landing and taking off .but had a good time .😂
Drugs are bad Tardy. Healthier option would be go to Amsterdam, they have healthy omelette's i think. Go eat those and dream of sailing back home 🍻
When is your Pacific sojourn happening?
No Man Octoberfest is a great time in Germany .lots of beer .and everyone is happy .and a great atmosphere ,I've been to the bulldog cafe in Amsterdam don't you worry but that was when I was young ,6 week count down for Aqua water in Aitutaki .gopro footage coming up .I hope you get lots of windsurfing in Mobz .take a good wetsuit .
Select to expand quoteMobZ said..
Temp increases of 14 degrees?!
Yeah especially in late winter it can bring a sudden burst of warm air. Wind usually goes as far North as Munich and is usually strongest on the Swiss lakes where Balz Mueller lives as well as the Bavarian lakes close to the mountains.Select to expand quote
Chinook winds, Santa Ana, Adiabatic dreaming...I've heard about but never experienced these kinds of winds.
In Croatia the it's called the Bora ... and blows offshore at most spots.
Santa Ana ... pretty good between Santa Barbara / LA and Sand Diego but not many sailable spots.
Chinook Winds ... Given Canadians still walk around in a T-shirt and shorts when it's 5 degrees outside you only really feel it when it jumps from -25 to +14 degrees. Problem around Alberta is usually trying to find a body of water that's not frozen over.Select to expand quote
Only ever sailed Oz east coast sea breeze.
It's say the NW storms around Sydney / Newy are a similar phenomenon. Here the wind comes from the table lands North of the Blue Mountains and drops down towards the coast with it being strongest around Gerroa / Gerringong, Botany Bay and around Birubi Beach / Anna Bay.Select to expand quoteDo many sail Chiemsee?
There is a high end surf wear brand called "Windsurfing Chiemsee" which was big in the 80s and 90s. Ironically not much Windsurfing at Chiemsee. Mostly because lake access is limited and the wind / chop is generally better at other lakes. Not much wind during summer.
Select to expand quoteMobZ said..
Temp increases of 14 degrees?!
Yeah especially in late winter it can bring a sudden burst of warm air. Wind usually goes as far North as Munich and is usually strongest on the Swiss lakes where Balz Mueller lives as well as the Bavarian lakes close to the mountains.Select to expand quote
Chinook winds, Santa Ana, Adiabatic dreaming...I've heard about but never experienced these kinds of winds.
In Croatia the it's called the Bora ... and blows offshore at most spots.
Santa Ana ... pretty good between Santa Barbara / LA and Sand Diego but not many sailable spots.
Chinook Winds ... Given Canadians still walk around in a T-shirt and shorts when it's 5 degrees outside you only really feel it when it jumps from -25 to +14 degrees. Problem around Alberta is usually trying to find a body of water that's not frozen over.Select to expand quote
Only ever sailed Oz east coast sea breeze.
It's say the NW storms around Sydney / Newy are a similar phenomenon. Here the wind comes from the table lands North of the Blue Mountains and drops down towards the coast with it being strongest around Gerroa / Gerringong, Botany Bay and around Birubi Beach / Anna Bay.Select to expand quoteDo many sail Chiemsee?
There is a high end surf wear brand called "Windsurfing Chiemsee" which was big in the 80s and 90s. Ironically not much Windsurfing at Chiemsee. Mostly because lake access is limited and the wind / chop is generally better at other lakes. Not much wind during summer.
Near Augsburg is the Mandichosee which has a Wing scene, Ralph from the shop Freestyleworld rides usually there and may have some used boards to sell.
The route you're proposing for your travel deliver good windsurfing conditions only randomly, so you're better of winging.
Lake Garda should be the most consistend spot to visit, if you have the time consider driving down to Vieste, Gargano, also a good wing spot but crowded with germans the two weeks after Pentecost.
I did up my world bucket lust a while back.. places were selected based on scenery/conditions and hire centers..
in italy i had sardinia porto pollo and lake garda torbole
in germany only spot was further north at keil
From what i’m told the windy season in croatia is epic.
Select to expand quoteMobZ said..
II'll be will be that Swiss tourist with skii's at Uluru.
Maybe you'll have fun with your foil in all places and all conditions like this skier's "ski the world" trip. Not Swiss, but a French ex world champion. (No AI. Real footage from around 10 years ago.)
Actually I have tried a few west winds around home now. The Illawarra version of the hairdryer needs its own special name. That is a beast as it spills off the ranges and down across the Illawarra basin.
Could check the uploads map at ka72 against your route.
new.ka72.com/explore/spots
Dylan that works sweet! So many new things to play with on the KA72.com new beast mode! 🤩
I see no tracks for some spots I’m visiting. I’ll try to put some on the map.
btw that reply function is super cool.
Talamone, just 100km South of Piombino is a renowned thermal wind spot - good weather spot. Winds between 10-20kn, should be perfect with your wing. There are a couple of kite centers in the bay,
Check
www.google.nl/maps/place/Dudekite/@42.5626829,11.1520648,3230m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x12d623e2f7fae087:0x8cd09505e778662a!2s57025+Piombino,+Livorno,+Itali%C3%AB!3b1!8m2!3d42.9255951!4d10.5259535!16zL20vMDE3a2x0!3m5!1s0x13284df0c92fe555:0x6a1c6874cb50471c!8m2!3d42.5633986!4d11.1556019!16s%2Fg%2F11c1qk9283?hl=nl&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDUxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
