AuthorsPosts by Nick Nicholson

Nick Nicholson

Nick Nicholson is a boatbuilder, racing sailor, and circumnavigator. He began his career at Practical Sailor as an Associate Editor in 1979, and has been Editor-at-Large since he left full-time work in the early 1990s to finish building a 40’ cutter in his backyard, and subsequently sail it more than 40,000 bluewater miles. The voyages of Calypso were chronicled in the Offshore Log section of Practical Sailor during that circumnavigation. He has also raced from the US east coast to Bermuda more than 20 times, winning numerous navigator’s trophies in the process. In recent years, he has primarily worked as a race official and technical rules advisor in the Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. He also chairs the Technical Committee for the Newport Bermuda Race.
Sailboat Reviews

Morgan 38/382 Used Boat Review

In 1977, the Morgan 382 was introduced, designed by Ted Brewer, Jack Corey and the Morgan Design Team. According to Brewer, the boat was loosely based on the Nelson/Marek-designed Morgan 36 IOR One Ton. The most obvious difference between the 38 and 382 was the elimination of the centerboard and the addition of a cruising fin keel (NACA 64 012 foil) with skeg-mounted rudder. They are two completely different designs from two different eras in yacht design.
Diesel Engines

Offshore Log: Thoughts on Engine Spares For Cruising

Emptying out the spares inventory for Calypso's Perkins diesel was an eye-opener—there were plenty of parts back-ups, and, in Nick's view, all for the best of reasons.
Safety & Seamanship

Offshore Log: The Volvo Open 70

This new class of round-the-world racers has just been introduced. The boats will be designed for even more speed than their 60-foot predecessors, but also engineered for more safety.
Safety & Seamanship

Offshore Log: Open Class Monohulls

While the attention of much of the sailing world in February was focused on the America's Cup matches, a very different group of boats was leaving on the next leg of their 29,000-mile odyssey around the world.
Safety & Seamanship

Offshore Log: America’s Cup Technology

From the cutting edge to the mainstream-at the apex of the racing scene, sailors break things until they get them right. Eventually, the refined parts trickle down to the rest of us.
Distress

Offshore Log: Man Overboard!

Bad news: People are still falling overboard unharnessed. Good news: Practice with good rescue techniques and gear definitely saves lives.
Boat Maintenance

Offshore Log: Setting Up a Maintenance Program

A written maintenance log is the only way to keep up with the entropy of systems and schedules.
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