Design and Construction
The Nicholson 39 carries a fiberglass hull from Camper & Nicholson Ltd., with a long-keel configuration and a draft that sits around 1.68 to 1.78 meters depending on load, which lets her settle into most marinas without drama draft is just about 1.68 - 1.78 meter. At 39 feet overall with an 11.5-foot beam, the length-to-beam ratio of 3.39 makes her slimmer than 58% of comparable sailboat designs, while a displacement-length ratio of 454 places her firmly among ultra-heavy cruisers — only 2% of similar designs are heavier. That mass, paired with 7,000 pounds of lead ballast, gives a capsize screening value of 1.62 and a motion comfort ratio of 43.3, a figure more comfortable than 96% of all similar designs more comfortable than 96% of all similar sailboat designs. The wetted surface runs about 34 square meters, and immersion comes in at roughly 202 kg per centimeter.
Rig and Handling
She is built with a ketch rig, a layout that splits sail area for easier single-sail management offshore. The standing and running gear follow period estimates: jib and genoa sheets run about 11.9 meters at 14 mm diameter, the mainsheet stretches to 29.7 meters, and spinnaker sheets are estimated near 26.2 meters, also 14 mm. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is a modest 17.71, and the theoretical hull speed is 7.1 knots — numbers that confirm a boat tuned for passage-making rather than the racecourse. The Ford diesel engine, where fitted, supplies auxiliary power for the 284-liter fuel capacity.
Accommodations and Tankage
Below, the Nicholson 39 carries 473 liters of fresh water alongside the 284 liters of diesel noted above, supporting extended cruising without constant replenishment. The ketch rig and heavy-displacement hull argue for an interior planned around livability on long passages, though the available data centers on ratios and tankage rather than cabin arrangement. Her 125-gallon water and 75-gallon fuel figures from the build data align with the European-liter citations and frame a boat equipped for self-sufficiency.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 39 is a scarce, heavily built ketch whose design priorities are comfort and seaworthiness over pace. The numbers describe an ultra-heavy cruiser with exceptional motion comfort and a manageable draft, let down only by a low sail-area-to-displacement ratio that demands patience in light air. For a buyer seeking a low-production British offshore vessel, she rewards the search.
Pros
- More comfortable motion than 96% of similar sailboat designs
- Long-keel fiberglass hull with lead ballast and strong capsize screening
- Draft near 1.7 meters keeps most marinas accessible
Cons
- Sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17.71 limits light-air performance
- Fewer than 100 built, so survey and spares familiarity is limited
