Thursday 1 November 2012

Unknown - IOR 3/4 ton yacht ( possibly 1/2 ton IOR yacht )

 This yacht has no name that I could see I think it is a Nicholson 33 a IOR 3/4 ton yacht designed by
Ron Holland. This picture was taken in 2012 at Whitehaven Marina in Cumbria. See comments below the yacht is not a Nicholson 33.
Any ideas what it is and who designed her ?
Do you know its name and racing history ?





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9 comments:

  1. tadts25 January 2013 at 03:15

    I'm not sure what the design is but I'm sure it's not a Ron Holland Nicholson 33 3/4 tonner, the aft sections & coachroof are wrong, though it does look like a typical mid '70s high prismatic design. Anyone else any ideas?

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  2. Sandpiper14 November 2014 at 07:37

    This boat is Zett, a half tonner designed in 1974 for Max Petrelius by Peter Norlin and built in Sweden. The contract of build only allowed for the one half tonner to be built, however, the design was adapted by Norlin and resulted in the production of the Accent 26, Almost identical to Zett but of only 26 feet in length. Zett was sold to Brian and Pam Saffrey-Cooper later in 1974 band she went on to become JOG champion and in the top three RORC boats for 1974/75. In 1976 she was overall champion and took the Demeter cup. Hope all this helps - quite a famous boat and well spotted.

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  3. Unknown20 November 2014 at 03:06

    This is indeed the originally Finish yacht Zett, designed in 1973 to the same concept as the prototype Accent, which won the quarter ton cup in Malmo, Sweden 1974.
    Zett performed very strongly in the 1974 La Rochelle half ton cup - at least when she made it to the finish line. Unfortunately she retired from both of the windy offshore races, breaking the rudder in one and the boom in the other. In the inshore races she was very competitive in the 50 yacht fleet, finishing first in two races and 5th in the opening race. However, she took a time penalty in one race pushing her back from 1st place to 11th.
    The owner Max Petrelius and helmsman Janne Winquist had earlier been very close to winning the 1971 half ton cup in Portsmouth in their production Scampi "Z", finishing just after Peter Norlin's Scampi III.

    Zett and the cold moulded Accent (which was lost in a fire) were the first yachts in Peter Norlin's new style of high prismatic IOR designs (called the A-series), many of which were quite successful internationally in the mid 70'ies. Examples include the three quarter ton Amoress and the 1 ton mahogny yacht Agnes. Zett also had a successful half ton sister based in Italy called Ovosodo.

    So, looking somewhat neglected now, this is a yacht that was cutting edge in her initial years and with some better luck could have been significantly more famous.

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    Replies
    1. Unknown23 January 2017 at 07:46

      Hi my names Nick Morgans and we now own zett, she is still moored in whitehaven and we are half way through a re fit, hopefully back out club racing her this year. a truly wonderful yacht.

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  4. Unknown23 January 2017 at 07:47

    Hi my names Nick Morgans and we now own zett, she is still moored in whitehaven and we are half way through a re fit, hopefully back out club racing her this year. a truly wonderful yacht.

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    1. Sandpiper3 June 2017 at 03:11

      After 12 long years Zett is once again sailing and racing out of Whitehaven. She went straight out into the prologue race and came second, she has since done a further three races and has achieved a total of one first and three second places and currently leads the points championship. She is sailed by Nick, my 21 year old son, who had never sailed her until he took her out for the prologue race. Sometimes he is helped by a very inexperienced but enthusiastic friend otherwise he is sailing alone. Zett's sails are now over thirty years old, the main has mouse holes in it and the genoa is the number two from a Sigma 36, it can only get better! What a fantastic tribute to her designer, Peter Norlin. I have several photos, taken from the shore, of her racing if anyone is interested.

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  5. Unknown13 November 2017 at 03:39

    My name is Chris Williams and we bought Zett in the late seventies and took her to Falmouth to race locally. We had a lot of fun and moderate Falmouth week,Fowey week success. My late father helmed with myself and brother, plus any pals, crewed. She was quite a challenge in a breeze of any strength but with the big rig loved the lighter airs. I am pleased to hear she is again being loved and sailed successfully . I wanted to hold onto her twenty five or so years ago after fathers death but circumstances said no. I remember as we said goodbye to her in the Percuil river she looked sad, and I believe the folding propellor dropped off near St Mawes. Fathers ashes are down there,I wonder if he agreed with our decision ??

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  6. Sandpiper19 November 2017 at 02:10

    Hi Chris, I believe we may well have spoken on the phone when I was investigating Zett's history. If my memory serves me correctly it was your family that installed her current Bukh engine/saildrive unit. My son Nick did very well with her this year and ended up as club champion, not bad for a 43 year old boat with 30 year old sails - she took the establishment by surprise!!

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  7. Unknown24 November 2017 at 12:19

    Hi Sandpiper, It's really awesome to hear she's sailing and that you're doing so well. Would love to see some photographs how she looks now, as I own and sail her bigger sister Agnes from 1975. I have the line drawings of Zett that I could scan, if you'd be interested. Pls email me at Markus.norlin@gmail.com.

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