Bruce Nelson (naval architect)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Nelson is a University of Michigan
graduate in Naval Architecture
. He has been most notable as a principal yacht designer for the America’s Cup contenders and America One challenge. Nelson is a veteran America's Cup
racer as well as designer, he teamed with Dennis Conner
on three Stars & Stripes
boats (12-meter, catamaran, and IACC) from 1985 to 1995 as both a racer and designer. In 1995, he was the principal designer for the PACT 95 defense syndicate yacht Young America, which was ultimately chosen to be the defender.
Nelson is also an Etchells 22 sailor of some note, having won many local regattas in the San Diego fleet at the National level.
Bruce Nelson and Bruce Marek were the principles of a prolific San Diego California yacht
design team, Nelson Marek, formed in 1979. Their first custom design was the incredibly successful One Ton "RUSH". Built in just 72 days, and launched 3 hours before the San Diego Yachting Cup, it's lived up to it's name. It was the most successful racing yacht in the U.S. in 1980 winning 21 races including the North American One Tons, Chicago to Mackinac, Port Huron to Mackinac, and Great Lakes champion. Nelson continues to operate Nelson Marek, while Marek is an independent designer on the East Coast. Most of their designs are for custom built yachts including world class racers, although they have designed some production models including the Catalina 42 and Merit 28.
One of the more interesting stories is the Catalina 42 (foot yacht), the hull of which was originally designed as a limited production ocean racer. Catalina Yachts
which at the time produced mostly smaller yachts 30 feet (9.1 m) and under, acquired the rights to produce the Nelson-Marek designed hull in the late 1980s. Designer Gerry Douglas modified the hull to accept a higher cabin top and cruiser style cabin—the result was Catalina's largest sized offering for many years, and a strong product which is still in production, with roughly 1,000 hulls on the water.
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
graduate in Naval Architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
. He has been most notable as a principal yacht designer for the America’s Cup contenders and America One challenge. Nelson is a veteran America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
racer as well as designer, he teamed with Dennis Conner
Dennis Conner
Dennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:...
on three Stars & Stripes
Stars & Stripes (yacht)
Stars & Stripes is the name of a series of racing yachts operated by Dennis Conner to compete in the America's Cup. The name "Stars & Stripes" refers to the nickname often used for the flag of the United States.- 12-metre class yachts :1987 America's Cup...
boats (12-meter, catamaran, and IACC) from 1985 to 1995 as both a racer and designer. In 1995, he was the principal designer for the PACT 95 defense syndicate yacht Young America, which was ultimately chosen to be the defender.
Nelson is also an Etchells 22 sailor of some note, having won many local regattas in the San Diego fleet at the National level.
Bruce Nelson and Bruce Marek were the principles of a prolific San Diego California yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
design team, Nelson Marek, formed in 1979. Their first custom design was the incredibly successful One Ton "RUSH". Built in just 72 days, and launched 3 hours before the San Diego Yachting Cup, it's lived up to it's name. It was the most successful racing yacht in the U.S. in 1980 winning 21 races including the North American One Tons, Chicago to Mackinac, Port Huron to Mackinac, and Great Lakes champion. Nelson continues to operate Nelson Marek, while Marek is an independent designer on the East Coast. Most of their designs are for custom built yachts including world class racers, although they have designed some production models including the Catalina 42 and Merit 28.
One of the more interesting stories is the Catalina 42 (foot yacht), the hull of which was originally designed as a limited production ocean racer. Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts
Catalina Yachts is a U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from eight to 47 feet in length. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, California by Frank Butler .-History:...
which at the time produced mostly smaller yachts 30 feet (9.1 m) and under, acquired the rights to produce the Nelson-Marek designed hull in the late 1980s. Designer Gerry Douglas modified the hull to accept a higher cabin top and cruiser style cabin—the result was Catalina's largest sized offering for many years, and a strong product which is still in production, with roughly 1,000 hulls on the water.
America's Cup participation
- 1985-1987 - Stars & Stripes (12 m), Dennis Conner
- 1988-1990 - Stars & Stripes (catamaran), Dennis Conner
- 1991-1992 - Stars & Stripes (IACC), Dennis Conner
- 1993-1995 - Young America, PACT 95
- 199?-2000 - America One, Paul Cayard
IOR designs
- Crackerjack
- Electra
- Sleeper
- Reliance
- Ragtime
- Cowboy
- Infinity
- Stars & Stripes
- Rowdy
Producers of Nelson - Marek Designs
- Catalina YachtsCatalina YachtsCatalina Yachts is a U.S.-based builder of fiberglass monohull sloop-rigged sailboats ranging in sizes from eight to 47 feet in length. It was founded in 1969 in Hollywood, California by Frank Butler .-History:...
- Martin Yachts Vancouver, BC
- Merit Yachts
- Morgan Yachts
- Salthouse Brothers, New Zealand
- U.S. Watercraft
- W.D. Schock
Production models
- Nelson - Marek 30
- 1D 35
- CM 1200
- Nelson - Marek 36
- Nelson - Marek 41
- Nelson - Marek 43
- Nelson - Marek 45
- Nelson Marek 52 Ptarmigan
- Nelson Marek 55 BOLT née Lone Star
- Catalina 42
- Merit 28
- Santana 30/30
- Schock 34 Grand Prix