Nike II Design

NIKE II Design © Seven Oceans Video

After the Solo Trans Atlantic Race (OSTAR) 1972, successful solo circumnavigation, and second place on handicap in OSTAR 1976, I needed a bigger boat to win the next OSTAR 1980. I was looking for 56' long boat (the maximum for the race), but in the end I had to settle for 44 feet long boat, top of OSTAR's second class. The boat, NIKE II, was built by the renowned Polish Boat Yard in Szczecin which built over 400 Carter 38 sailing boats for export to West Europe and many other successful boats for the OSTAR races like Polonez (10th place in OSTAR 1972), Spaniel (2nd in OSTAR 1976 - Jester Class), Spaniel II (1st monohull to finish OSTAR 1980), and Cetus for Admiral's Cup Race.

Nike II was a compromise of IOR Rating Rules and OSTAR 1980's maximum allowance rules for its second class. By boat rules for OSTAR 1980, the maximum length for a second class boat was set to 44', maximum length of waterline to 36', and the hull angle above the waterline had to be at least 10 degrees. These rules set Nike's sheer line and the rest was designed for the best performance under IOR rules.

The shipyard's design team for this project was led by Edward Hoffman
and the other members were Jurek Siudy (many time champion of Poland and skipper for Admiral's Cup), Kuba Jaworski (many time champion of Poland and successful OSTAR racer), Czeslaw Gogolkiewicz (skipper in OSTAR 1980) and others.

The boat yard team did all the calculations and detailed drawings. They were also in charge of Nike's sister boat Cetus, but I myself did all the planning for Nike II: the basic design, selection of material and equipment and in charge of decision-making and quality control. Both boats were of the top of the current technology at the time of their construction, including the use of sandwich construction with Airex and Kevlar.

Cetus took part in 1979 Admiral's Cup, including the tragic Fastnet Race. She finished 12th, I believe. Nike II participated in the Parmelia Race 1979 (from England to Australia) and then in OSTAR 1980. Later, based on Nike II's design, the Szczecin Shipyard build almost 40 boats, a cruising versions of Nike II/Cetus

LOA 44', LWL 36', Beam 13' 2", Draft 7' 3", Displ. 13.5 ton, Ballast 5 ton, Sail Area 1027 sq. ft.

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