Design and Construction
The hull is fiberglass, laid up by the British yard Camper & Nicholson Ltd., and the underwater profile is a long keel with a draft that shifts between roughly 1.68 and 1.78 metres depending on load anchor. That draft keeps the boat within reach of most marina entrances despite her bulk. The wetted surface measures about 34 square metres, and the immersion rate is approximately 202 kg per centimetre, or 1,136 pounds per inch, figures that speak to a hull that sits deep and moves slowly through the water when weight is added.
Rig and Handling
She carries a ketch rig, a configuration that splits the sail plan for easier short-handed handling across a long voyage. The standing and running gear dimensions are substantial: jib and genoa sheets are estimated at 11.9 metres with 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet runs 29.7 metres at the same diameter, and a spinnaker sheet is estimated at 26.2 metres anchor. With a Sail Area/Displacement ratio of 17.71 and a Displacement Length Ratio of 454, the Nicholson 39 falls among the "ultra heavy cruisers," and only 2% of comparable designs are heavier. Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.39, making her slimmer than 58% of similar boats, yet the capsize screening value is 1.62 and theoretical hull speed is 7.1 knots. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 43.3 is reported as more comfortable than 96% of all similar sailboat designs anchor, a number consistent with her heavy, narrow hull form.
Accommodations and Tankage
The Nicholson 39 may be fitted with an inboard Ford diesel engine, and she carries 284 litres of fuel and 473 litres of fresh water anchor. Those capacities reflect a self-sufficient cruising brief rather than a weekend coastal setup, and the ketch rig complements the tankage for extended passages.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 39 is a low-production British ketch built for comfortable, heavy-displacement cruising rather than speed. Her documented numbers place her among the most stable and comforting hulls of her type, with tankage suited to long stays away from shore, though her sail plan and weight put her firmly outside the performance end of the market.
Pros
- Motion Comfort Ratio rated more comfortable than 96% of similar designs
- Long-keel fiberglass hull with modest draft for a boat of her weight
- Generous 284 L fuel and 473 L water capacity for extended cruising
- Ketch rig splits sail handling for easier crew management
Cons
- Ultra-heavy Displacement Length Ratio limits speed and agility
- Fewer than 100 built, making spares and comparable boats scarce
- Low Sail Area/Displacement ratio suggests modest light-air performance
