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Dutch Sturdy series 1996-2005
It began in 1995. Ship designer Dick Lefeber (+) succeeded in designing a new series of motor yachts that “with their distinctive hulls and ingenious layouts, created unexpected space in the interiors”, as the brochure at the time said. The classic dark hull colour, red bulwark and yellow waterline gave the yacht a striking appearance. After the SL series, the SE/SX series and the Classic Sturdy series (which will undoubtedly also be covered in a later issue), the Dutch Sturdys were a whole new series of motor yachts that attracted a lot of attention at the many international boat shows. Over 140 of them were sold during the nine years this model was built.
260 – 320 – 380
The Dutch Sturdys were built in three lengths, 8 m, 10.10 m and 11.50 m. The smallest was the Dutch Sturdy 260 OC. It was only built in an open cockpit version and was just under 3 metres wide. This compact yacht had a self-bailing open cockpit with ample storage space underneath. All on one level, you then walked into the wheelhouse with the helmsman’s position to starboard and the small pantry to port. A set of steps led to the cabin with a generous dinette to port and toilet/shower combination to starboard. The forward cabin was open and consisted of two V-berths.
The Dutch Sturdy 320 was the best-running model of the series. It also provided a lot of living and storage space for the time. The 320 was available in OC (with open cockpit) and AC (with aft cabin). Again, with the OC version you could walk into the saloon with helmsman’s position and L-shaped couch on one level. One step down was the cabin with pantry and shower/toilet combination and the enclosed forward cabin with a double bed.
Both the 320 AC and 380 AC had three layout variants, with the classic forward cabin with integrated round bow dinette being the most eye-catching version. The spacious saloon had an L- or U-shaped couch, pantry in the forecastle and a vis-a-vis dinette. The spacious aft cabin had room for two people and contained a separate shower/toilet area.
50th anniversary
To mark the 50th anniversary of Linssen Yachts in 1999, a Gold Edition of the Dutch Sturdy 320 AC was released with various extras on top of the already full set of equipment, to make for an attractive anniversary price. A total of 11 yachts of this particular model were delivered.
Evergreen
Another special edition was the Dutch Sturdy 320 AC Evergreen. With its striking moss-green hull colour and yellow waterline, it was unmistakably a Dutch Sturdy, and yet different. The Evergreen was an “entry-level” Dutch Sturdy model with a slightly less comprehensive specification.
Dutch Sturdy 260
Dutch Sturdy 320
Dutch Sturdy 320 AC Evergreen
Dutch Sturdy 380
Over 35,000 kilometres on a Dutch Sturdy 320 AC Royal
In 2000 – after years of sailing – Luise and Manfred Riedhammer bought a Linssen Dutch Sturdy 320 AC Royal. The home port they chose was Marina Saal on the Danube in south-east Germany. Peter Linssen, who sold the ship at the time, said “Wir sind nichts für die Donau oder Rhein” [We are not suited to the Danube or Rhine]. But after more than 20 years of experience, Riedhammer knew better: Linssen yachts were just as suitable for the Danube or Rhine. “For the first 18 years, there were hardly any water displacement steel motor yachts to be seen on the Danube. For several years now, however, we have had a number of other Linssen owners as neighbours, including a Dutch Sturdy 320 Evergreen.”
Riedhammer undertook long voyages on his 320 and spent a lot of time on board. The Danube and the Main-Danube Canal are of course a much sailed area from his home port, but large and long voyages were also made every year. Germany and the Netherlands were visited several times, without avoiding the IJsselmeer, the Wadden Sea, the North Sea or the Ems.
He had always dreamt of going to the Baltic Sea. The Danish coast, Kattegat and Swedish skerries. This journey began in 2006. The first leg took the couple as far as Lübeck, where the yacht stayed for the winter. A journey of over 1,600 km. In 2007, the trip resumed, sailing along the east coast of Sweden to Stockholm and back via Copenhagen. An impressive journey of over 2,000 km.
The years 2009 and 2010 saw another impressive two-year trip. Then it was via Kattegat along the west coast of Sweden to Gothenburg – a journey of over 1,700 km and 51 days. We kept extensive logbooks of all our trips, allowing us to show impressive statistics, says Riedhammer: over 35,000 km, over 1,300 locks, 3,362 cruising hours and 2,250 days on board (both sailing and in ports). And all on a single-engine boat with an 85 hp engine.
It’s impossible to describe all these voyages but the number of miles sailed, the great diversity of waters, from small rivers to open coastal waters and the Rhine and Danube, do indicate how much the Dutch Sturdy 320 felt at home. For several years, Riedhammer has mainly enjoyed short day trips on the Danube. “We are now sailing between the locks at Kehlheim and Bad Abbach. A short stretch, but very beautiful and with some nice anchorages. This is where we still enjoy our Dutch Sturdy.”
Why did it have to be a Linssen Dutch Sturdy 320 AC?
Riedhammer: “Firstly, it had to be a ‘vlet’: the voluminous foreship promised good sailing characteristics and also provided plenty of space on the foredeck and in the forward section. Secondly, the boat could not be longer than 32 to 33 feet: the marinas on the Main and Danube, which were mainly intended for shorter planing boats, were only just adequate to accommodate a length of 10 metres. Thirdly, the boat had to have an aft cabin: lots of space below deck, but on top of that also a safe outside helmsman’s position with good all-round visibility. And fourth, it had to be a Linssen, because we appreciated the good quality provided by this leading steel yacht builder, even then. Moreover, the Dutch Sturdy series in particular stood out thanks to its unmistakably ‘classic car like’ design.”
