nicholson Ron Holland

[River]

Does anyone have any info. regaarding the camper nicholson 33. Ron Holland designed them with a fin keel and spade rudder. I hear they are fast but have gotten mixed opinions on its sea worthyness and feel. I read the 31 he designed was not good.

[burnhad]

I own a Nicholson 33 and I have to agree that it takes a steady hand on the helm to keep it on course unless you are close hauled. It is the only point of sail that you don't have to keep your hand constantly on the tiller. She will wander off course quickly if you take your hand off the tiller when sailing off the wind. That is why I have an electric autopilot that works on a compass setting that works great if you are not in a confined waterway.
Otherwise it is a great sailboat and only needs a good dodger to be reasonably comfortable to take you cruising. We recently took 3rd place at Charleston Race Week in the non-spinnaker class against 41' sailboats and a water-ballasted rocket ship.
David
Time...
Nicholson 33 #19

[sailingdog]

Burnhad-

You do realize that you're responding to a post that is over four years old???

[sailingfool]

My recollection is this was a classic IOR design. do a board search n IOR and read some of the pluses/minuses of that design rule.