AMAZONE PEOPLE

Our employees’ hobbies

Clemens Rittel discovered an affinity for water at an early age. His grandparents used to take him out on the Wannsee in Berlin when he was a child. At the age of 35, he fulfilled his dream of owning a 4.20 m Hille motorboat. But he quickly realised that sailing was a more enjoyable way to get around on the water. So, on the spur of the moment, the motorboat driver decided to became a sailor. 

In 2020, he and his wife fulfilled their dream of living on a boat. By chance, he became aware of a church boat of the diocese of Essen, the St. Nikolaus, which was up for sale. After the first inspection, it was clear that it would be possible to live and work on the ship in his old age. St. Nikolaus is being carefully renovated; its provenance will be preserved. This is being honoured by the diocese of Essen with the permission to fly the church flag. Clemens Rittel not only lives on the boat, he also makes it available to the “Lebenswunsch e.V.” association, which fulfills the last wishes of seriously ill people, and as a small stage for musicians.

And in keeping with the motto “Don’t dream your life, live your dream”, a 13-metre Max Oertz sailing ship from 1932 is also being restored for longer sailing trips. We wish him fair winds and always water under the keel!