BoatsNicholson 32

Nicholson 32

Masthead Sloop · Long Keel · 1962–1981

A long-running production classic with a 55% ballast ratio, built over two decades for steady offshore passage making

Designed by Charles A. Nicholson & Peter Nicholson, built by Camper.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

See her sail

The Nicholson 32, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Golden Globe Race Official

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 37 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 37
CoastalBluewater

At 1.61 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.61
LightHeavy

394 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 394
EasygoingPowered-up

14.2 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.2
TenderStiff

56% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 56%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Draws more than ~88% of boats her size on file

Compared with 428 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Nicholson 32, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Nicholson 32 is a masthead sloop with a long keel, designed by Charles A. Nicholson and Peter Nicholson, built from 1962 to 1981 by Camper & Nicholson, Halmatic Ltd., and Nicholsons. This 9.8-meter yacht displaces 5533 kg and has a 1.7-meter draft. Halmatic, a sister company to Camper & Nicholson, molded the hulls, and Rudder Yachts of Australia built some under license starting around 1968. The design saw several changes during its nearly two-decade production run.3:28

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Nicholson 32 on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
55.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.2
Displacement / length
394.0
Comfort ratio
36.9
Capsize screening
1.61
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
793
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1962–1981
Units built
369
Designer
Charles A. Nicholson, Peter Nicholson
Builder
Camper, Nicholson, Halmatic Ltd, Nicholsons

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Allied Boat Co. Seawind9.30 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Thomas Gillmer-designed masthead ketch with a long keel, marking both the beginning and the end of the Allied Boat Co.
Sailing Channel Theater: EP5 - Dancing With The Wind0:48from TheSailingChannel.TV
Beneteau Evasion 329.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled masthead ketch that launched the Evasion line and marked a new era for Beneteau
The Cheapest Sailboat That's Actually A Perfect Cruiser 👌0:05from Reversing Entropy
Rustler 319.58 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a long keel, evolved from the North Sea 24 and sharing lineage with the Twister 31
Air Tools: The Secret to a Perfect Finish | Practical Boat Owner0:07from practicalboatowner
Cape Dory 319.55 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Carl Alberg-designed cutter with a long keel, built between 1983 and 1985 for traditional, steady offshore cruising
Cape Dory 31 Delivery0:01from Hold Fast!
Allied Yachts Luders 3310.06 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bill Luders-designed masthead sloop featuring a long keel and heavy displacement for stable, classic offshore cruising
33 Foot Sailboat for Less Than $10,000!0:55from Lady K Sailing
Alden 32 Motor Sailer9.60 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterOriginally known as the Winsome Class, this masthead sloop features a long keel and was available in both sloop and ketch
OPB: 1969 Alden 32 Tour and Sail - msvLaReina (October 2025)0:04from keeldragger

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Nicholson 36The first fiberglass hull from Camper & Nicholson, reinforced with alloy frames for structural integrityHalmatic Ltd. Nicholson 32 MK X/XiA heavy-displacement long-keel masthead sloop built by Halmatic, offering a stable and comfortable offshore platformNicholson 26A heavy-displacement long-keeler with a high comfort ratio, built by Nicholson for steady, stable cruisingNicholson 45A 13-metre masthead sloop featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a deep 2.15-metre draft for offshore stabilityNicholson 31A Folkboat-inspired long-distance cruiser by Raymond Wall, designed for stability and single-handed passage making

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