Ria

The history of the "Ria" is only partly known to me. According to the class certificate she was built by Linnekuhl, Steinhude, Germany in 1973. The ship builder Linnekuhl started in the 1960s focusing on racing dingies ("Pirat", "Zugvogel" and "P-Boat"). First builds were purely build of wood but starting in the 1970's construction changed more and more to GRP/Fiberglass. In this sense "Ria", being built in 1973 completely out of mahagony plywood is a bit special. This was probably done upon request by the customer who wanted a traditional wooden boat not necessarily focusing on the ultimate performance for racing. Even though "Ria" did actively participate in racing in her early years at Steinhuder Meer.

Key dates:
- 1973: built and registered as "Barbarella". Sailed at Steinhuder Meer, Germany
- Between 70's and early 2000's probably additional owners and potentially also other boat name(s)
- Around 2006 : New owner still at Steinhuder Meer, renamed to "Merlin", extensive refit (see above)
- 2008-2011: New owner , relocated to the Schlei inlet north of Kiel, kept the name "Merlin"
- 2011-2014: Purchased by me, renamed "Ria" and relocated to Hamburg, refit of hull (new coating system).
- Since 2014: Relocation to her current home port Karlsruhe, Southern Germany

Since 2011 I have been sailing her in and around Hamburg, later lakes around Karlsruhe plus on holidays coastal sailing at the Baltic Sea (Germany and Denmark) and the North See (Frisian Islands).

- 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025 participation at Semaine du Golfe