Nicholson 35 ft Sloop 1966

There has recently been a real blossoming of interest in the One Ton Cup class of boats – CLARIONET and SUNMAID V coming immediately to mind. This fine example to a well established British design for her first aficionado owner has not rested on her laurels but continued racing with some notable success and moreover providing enormous fun for her owner and crews. Notwithstanding her racing capabilities she is also well turned out for cruising so while fast and responsive she has a larger cockpit than most with some good volume below.

Designed by Peter Nicholson for Owen Aisher to compete under the old One Ton Cup Rule, the boat’s original name was Yeoman XIV. In 1967 Peter Nicholson helmed her in the Copenhagen One Ton Cup as one of three British boats.

The original Yeoman name was taken by Owen Aisher for his next boat. After that she was named QUAILO for three years, then DALCASSION. Barrie Martin bought her in 2001, attracted by the pedigree, but particularly by her materials and decided to call her A DAY AT THE RACES to reflect her competitive history.

Since her re launch in March 2003 A DAY AT THE RACES has been moored in Beaulieu. As well as the Round the Island Race she’s taken part with respectable results in the RSYC double handed series and won a race in Cowes Week 2004. In 2005 she was fifth overall in the Cowes Week handicap class and third in class in the British Classic Yacht Club Regatta. In 2006 she was again third in class in the BCYC.

- Laminated mahogany stem
- Teak planking lightly caulked with glued in splines
- Screw fastened to mahogany laminated frames
- All aluminium ring frames, stainless steel and galvanised steel stiffeners and floors
- Spruce beam shelves and stringers
- Mahogany transom hung rudder
- Sheathed marine ply deck over spruce beams and carlines
- Mahogany coach and cockpit coamings
- Sheathed ply coach roof

The accommodation for 6 has 2 main berths and 2 pilot berths in the saloon, a pilot’s quarter berth aft and one forward in the forecastle. From aft down companionway steps
- Galley to port
- Gimballed Force 10 Cooker with two burners, oven and grill
- Sink emptied by an original chromed brass Whale hand pump
- Half bulkheads forward to saloon
- 2 x settee berths port and stbd, the seat backs doubling as lee boards for use in rough weather
- The sides of the pilot bunks drop down for easy access
- Forward by mast is a hanging space to port
- Head with Jabsco marine toilet and washbasin to starboard
- The fore cabin also doubles as a rope and spinnaker store

Sloop rig
- Selden alloy mast
- Selden alloy main boom with < 3 pennants for slab reefing
- Selden gas strut boom vang
- Proctor alloy jockey pole
- Selden carbon fibre spinnaker pole
- Harken fore sail furler
- 1/19 stainless steel wire standing rigging
- 2 x Halyard winches and a pennant winch on the mast.
- Main and jib halyards and jib sheets all non stretch Kevlar

Sails
- Bruce Banks Hydra Net white woven Main
- Bruce Banks Hydra Net white woven 130% Genoa
- Bruce Banks all purpose spinnaker
- Crusader spinnaker and blooper
- North Sails No 4 Jib with padded luff
- Storm jib
- Trisail

- Sea Tiger anchor winch
- CQR main anchor with chain and warp cable
- Alloy wheel, plastic coated
- Kedge anchor and warp
- Winter all over and Summer cockpit covers

- Engine and gearbox forward of companionway steps with all around access for servicing
- Fresh water cooled Yanmar 2GM20 regularly maintained since installation 2001
- Yanmar controls next to helm position
- Two bladed 16 inch x 8 inch bronze propeller
- Direct drive through Aquadrive flexible coupling
- Halyard exhaust system can divert warm water thru’ the hull underwater for quieter operation
- Accessible switchboard incorporating iCom radio with extension to helm position
- 2 x 12 V sockets for charging handheld VHF, chart plotter or phone
- 3 x 110 Ah batteries; one engine starting both charged with an intelligent charging system
- Battery monitor
- Plastic fuel tank 100 Litre
- Alloy fresh water tank
- 2 x 4.5 Kg Butane gas bottles in self draining sealed locker in lazarette

- Ritchie steering compass
- Raymarine autopilot
- Command mic for radio at helm position
- Garmin navigation system with Chart plotter, digital radar, wind and sonar
- Chart table
- Sony Radio / CD can also play music from an iPhone or iPad

- 2 x Manual bilge pumps; one in the cabin and one in the cockpit
- Emergency tiller
- Fire extinguishers

2002-2003
After 35 years at sea a major refit was called for. The work was carried out at the Agamemnon Boatyard at Bucklers Hard. Key structural and mechanical elements were replaced, including keels bolts, floors and the 13 foot long mast step.

2010-2011
Mast and all standing rigging replaced along with an upgrade of all electronic and navigation systems. Most of the electrical components were replaced, along with the drive shaft. The Yanmar GM20 was fitted new. Below decks the cooker and sanitary ware were renewed but the original mahogany joinery was retained as far as possible.

2017
Engine mounts and universal joints replaced.