Charles Nicholson

1868 (age 86)

Nicholson"s first design of note was the Redwing class. The Bembridge sailing club met in October 1896 to agree the need for a shallow draughted yacht - to allow for the shoal waters of Bembridge Harbour - which could be sailed single-handed, to replace the expensive half racers. Nicholson designed the yacht in ten days, and by 1898 the fleet consisted of 16 boats, all built by the Camper & Nicholsons shipyard. In the early 1900s Nicholson developed a new powered craft which would enable the owners to come from their "big-boats" before and after the competitions. In 1912, Nicholson introduced the 15mR design Istria with a Marconi rig, the first yacht in the world with a lightweight, laminated wood construction. This led to further developments and growing expertise in the use of lightweight materials which saw its fruition in the use of plywood in deck construction. This ultimately led to arguably Nicholson"s most beautiful sailing creation, the 1927 commissioned Vita (later Creole) was built on behalf of Alexander Smith Cochran. He died on 26 February 1954. Dacia (5-rater, 1891) Marigold (cutter, 1892) - still sails Avel (cutter, 1896) - still sails as tender to Creole (see below) Black Swan (originally Brynhyld, yawl, 1899) - still sails Merrymaid (handicap cruising yacht, 1904) - still sails Norland (schooner, 1904) Nyria (first large Bermuda cutter, 1906) Brynhild II (23mR, 1907) Joyette (originally Almara) (101 ft, 1907) - under refit Orion (racing schooner, 1910) - still sails Istria (15mR, 1912) Marguerita (racing schooner, 1913) Pamela (15mR, 1913) Paula III (15mR, 1913) Shamrock IV (Universal Rule 75-footer, 1914) for Sir Thomas Lipton Patricia (R-Class, 1921) Sylvia (Bermuda ketch, 1925) - still sails Creole (originally Vira, three-mast staysail schooner, 1927) - still sails Astra (23mR, 1928) - still sails Lady Van" (Universal Rule “R” Class, 1928) - still sails Candida (23mR, 1929) - still sails Shamrock V (J-class yacht, 1930) for Sir Thomas Lipton - still sails Patience (Bermuda cutter, 1931) - still sails Velsheda (J-class yacht, 1933) - still sails Endeavour (J-class yacht, 1934) - still sails Endeavour II (J-class yacht, 1936) Bloodhound (12mR, 1936) - still sails Oiseau de Feu (originally Firebird X, offshore racing ketch, 1937) - still sails Trivia (12mR, 1937) - still sails.

Charles Nicholson

Edit Profile

marine architect

Background

He was born in 1868.

Career

Nicholson"s first design of note was the Redwing class. The Bembridge sailing club met in October 1896 to agree the need for a shallow draughted yacht - to allow for the shoal waters of Bembridge Harbour - which could be sailed single-handed, to replace the expensive half racers. Nicholson designed the yacht in ten days, and by 1898 the fleet consisted of 16 boats, all built by the Camper & Nicholsons shipyard.

In the early 1900s Nicholson developed a new powered craft which would enable the owners to come from their "big-boats" before and after the competitions.

In 1912, Nicholson introduced the 15mR design Istria with a Marconi rig, the first yacht in the world with a lightweight, laminated wood construction. This led to further developments and growing expertise in the use of lightweight materials which saw its fruition in the use of plywood in deck construction.

This ultimately led to arguably Nicholson"s most beautiful sailing creation, the 1927 commissioned Vita (later Creole) was built on behalf of Alexander Smith Cochran. He died on 26 February 1954.

Dacia (5-rater, 1891)

Marigold (cutter, 1892) - still sails

Avel (cutter, 1896) - still sails as tender to Creole (see below)

Black Swan (originally Brynhyld, yawl, 1899) - still sails

Merrymaid (handicap cruising yacht, 1904) - still sails

Norland (schooner, 1904)

Nyria (first large Bermuda cutter, 1906)

Brynhild II (23mR, 1907)

Joyette (originally Almara) (101 ft, 1907) - under refit

Orion (racing schooner, 1910) - still sails

Istria (15mR, 1912)

Marguerita (racing schooner, 1913)

Pamela (15mR, 1913)

Paula III (15mR, 1913)

Shamrock IV (Universal Rule 75-footer, 1914) for Sir Thomas Lipton

Patricia (R-Class, 1921)

Sylvia (Bermuda ketch, 1925) - still sails

Creole (originally Vira, three-mast staysail schooner, 1927) - still sails

Astra (23mR, 1928) - still sails

Lady Van" (Universal Rule “R” Class, 1928) - still sails

Candida (23mR, 1929) - still sails

Shamrock V (J-class yacht, 1930) for Sir Thomas Lipton - still sails

Patience (Bermuda cutter, 1931) - still sails

Velsheda (J-class yacht, 1933) - still sails

Endeavour (J-class yacht, 1934) - still sails

Endeavour II (J-class yacht, 1936)

Bloodhound (12mR, 1936) - still sails

Oiseau de Feu (originally Firebird X, offshore racing ketch, 1937) - still sails

Trivia (12mR, 1937) - still sails.

Main Photo

School period

College/University

Career

Achievements

Membership

Awards

Other Photos

Other photo of Charles Nicholson

Connections

Connections

Charles Nicholson

Background

Career

Born

Died

Nationality