Dear Paddlers and Friends,

the Stralsunder Kanu Club e.V. is inviting you to take part in the Hiddenseemarathon again this year.

The overall distance of the Hiddenseemarathon is 70 km through the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Bay of Stralsund, starting at the clubhouse in Stralsund around the isle of Hiddensee and back to Stralsund. Up to 90 percent of the route is located in the national park „Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft“. Beside the fun of canoeing this offers a unique experience of nature. Due to the long distance it is a demanding race. Although exclusively non floating waters are passed the 20 kilometers the route on the Baltic Sea can be very challenging due to adverse winds. A good fitness level is required to start! Race management reserves the right to change the course of the race according to wind and weather conditions.

The race is held in the kayak classes K1, K2, K1 open, K2 open, OC-1, OC-2, OC-6 and SUP (each for male or female athletes and mixed teams). Every class consists of the age groups 18 to 39, 40 to 59 , 60 to 79 as well as 80 and over.
Additionally you may start as well as open relay team K1 or K2 (male, female, mix). A relay team consists of 3 or 6 athletes. Changeovers are done the at the beaches of Barhöft and Schaprode. At the changeover the distress signal and the map must be handed over to the next athlete. The overland transport needs to be organised by the relay team itself. Every team has to provide a team name.

Folding Kayak Retro Class
The race is held in boat classes F1, F2, and F3, each in the age groups 18 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, 60 to 79 years, and 80 years and over (male, female, and mixed categories), as well as in relays if all boats in the relay are folding boats of this classification. Which boats are permitted? Folding boats whose construction corresponds to that which was common in the year 2000 are permitted. Klepper, Pouch, Feathercraft, or Triton are good examples. Every folding boat must be made "unsinkable" - buoyancy aids are mandatory, even when using sea socks! The folding boat must be seaworthy, not become a submarine. The spray deck/tarpaulin should be present, fitted, and closed sufficiently so that Baltic Sea waves cannot flood the boat. Each person in the folding kayak must carry a hand bilge pump and/or a comparable solution (a sufficiently large scoop) in the boat.

Due to safety reasons, no racing- or down river racing boats are allowed and every canoe needs to be unsinkable. Everyone is committed to wear a life vest! Every canoe must carry a distress signal and mobile phone.

A maximum of 70 boats will be admitted. Each participant has to be at least 18 years old at the date of the race. Good health condition and sound experience in large water areas are required. Race control reserves the right to reject registrations.

Registration is possible here after 1st January till the starter and wait list are fullfilled.
To register for the Hiddenseemaraton you don't need any login data - just enter your data and send.

You confirm the Rules with your registration.

Registration fee for the Hiddenseemarathon:

For participation in the event, a binding registration fee is due after online registration. The fee is due after registration.

After registration a confirmation is sent to the provided e-mail address with information on details for the money transfer. For a relay team the team captain is responsible to deliver the fee for all participants. The registration is valid when the fee reached the organizers’ account.

The Folding Kayak Retro class receives priority registration.
Once all other classes have registered by the 55th time, applicants will be placed on the waiting list.
Folding boat registrations will receive a starting place or be placed on the waiting list before other class registrations.
On March 1st, the available starting places that could not be filled by Retro Folding Kayak registrations will be filled by those on the waiting list.

Cancellations:
Withdrawal from the registration is possible up to the day of the race.

• till May 16th: the full fee will be refunded
• till June 7th: we will keep 30 € and refund the rest
• after June 7th: no refund possible!

Any additional costs due to reimbursement will be charged to the participant.

Running of the event

Local registration for the marathon needs to be done between 12 PM and 7 PM on 26th June 2026. During registration every attendee will receive:

• a map of the route,
• a boat number,
• a registration confirmation and
• a Hiddenseemarathon base cap.

At 8 PM on 26th June 2026 a briefing on local currents, the planned route as well as security measurements will be held. Attendance in this briefing is mandatory for all participants.

The start of the race is at 6 AM on 27th June 2026 (5:30 AM for all folding kayaks).  The race management may change the route and start time due to occurring weather conditions. Each starter enters the race at his or her own risk!

The race for a participant or team is discontinued, if …

• … the boat has not reached the Baltic Sea 3 hours after its start. In this case the team or participant is sent back.
• … the boat has not reached the last checkpoint till 3 PM. In this case the team or participant will be picked up by accompanying ships.

Every athlete is bound by race managements’ orders. A violation of these orders may be punished by disqualification.

After the race a massage, cake, coffee and an evening barbecue will be provided.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at the Hiddenseemarathon 2026.

Your Stralsunder Kanu Club e.V.

Contact for themes related to the race:

kanuwoche@stralsunder-kanu-club.de

last updated: 2026-01