General Information
The Wings of Wismar is a classic regatta yacht and has been owned by the club since 2013. Since then, it has competed in the Wednesday regatta on Wismar Bay every week and serves as a cruising, regatta, and training boat for the members.
In addition to training, the club also uses the boat to participate in classic regattas (e.g., German Classics) around the Baltic Sea, often bringing home a prize or two.
During the winter, extensive renovation work and improvements are often carried out on the woodwork, electrical systems, sails, lines, and sheet guides.
History
Originally christened Nicola IV, the sailing yacht was developed in 1966–67 in close collaboration with the then-private client, the Bremen-based De Dood shipyard, and the American design firm W. H. Tripp. Under Bill Tripp’s guidance, she was built using a double-carvel construction method (2x19mm Tabasco mahogany, glued and screwed) on laminated oak frames (frame spacing 22.5cm). The Nicola IV was primarily intended for use in offshore regattas, such as the Admiral’s Cup and other regattas on the North Sea and Baltic Sea. It features a split lateral plan, a two-sail aluminum rig, and can be sailed single-handed from the cockpit.
In its early years, the yacht successfully competed in various regattas and, among other things, weathered its most severe storm (12 Bft, broken rudder quadrant) during the Rund Skagen race, until the measurement rules for the Admirals Cup were changed in 1969 and the vessel changed hands. A doctor from Hamburg converted it into a cruising yacht and, from then on, used it under the name Memory for extended vacation cruises to Sweden and Norway, with Kiel as its home port. Today, the boat features 6 berths, 2 additional makeshift berths, a galley, a chart table, a toilet, and plenty of storage space.
Sailing characteristics
“At first, she stood out by proving to be one of the fastest German RORC yachts of the time. Furthermore, she is clearly distinguishable from her competitors by her extremely high freeboard. This, combined with its narrow beam (3.18 m at an overall length of 12.32 m), the strongly arched high deck with its streamlined superstructure, and the V-shaped stern with a raked transom, give the “Nicola IV” a very unusual appearance. It seems to sit enthroned on the water rather than swim in it.”
This is how the yacht was described in the 11/67 issue, noting the somewhat unusual appearance of the “Nicola IV” (now Wings of Wismar).
The yacht really shows its potential in moderate to strong winds. Although it performs quite well thanks to its highly overlapping genoa (G1 with 145% overlap), its heavy weight takes its toll in light winds. As winds increase, additional headsails (120%, 100%, 80%)—up to a storm jib—become available alongside the G1. In addition, the mainsail has two rows of reefing points. Where other yachts already have to reef, the WoW, however, remains neutral for a long time and is very easy to control. It glides through the water in a stable, calm, and remarkably smooth manner, offering a high margin of safety.
The Wings of Wismar was clearly designed as a regatta yacht, but can no longer keep up with today’s racers. Nevertheless, we still enjoy using her in events such as the Max Oertz Regatta, the German Classics, or the Offshore Youngsters Regatta, where she remains a competitive (on a handicap basis) contender.
However, the yacht’s primary focus has shifted to training and practice cruises or smaller regattas like the weekly Wednesday Regatta. Thanks to its smooth sailing characteristics, it is ideally suited for these purposes and thus forms the core of our club.
Technical Specifications
| Owner | ASW e.V. |
|---|---|
| Year built | 1967 |
| Yard | De Dood Bremen |
| Type | 8KR Seekreuzer |
| Displacement | 9000 kg |
| Length | 12,30 m |
| Beam | 3,124 m |
| Mastheight | 16 m |
| Egine | 56 PS Volvo Penta |
| Berths | 6 (+2) |
| Yardstick | 103 |
| Rigging | Slup |