2019 MacAlpine Downie Gibbs Award of Distinction and Regatta

And the quaich goes to…

Hugh Armbruster

In 2004, thanks to incredible craftsmanship by Dave Nickels and Hugh’s team at Nickels Boat Works built the first of a series of Buccaneer 18s which has transformed our boat because of the innovations and superior build of the Nickels Buccs.

During the year prior Hugh had arranged to purchase the molds from Harry Sindle of Cardinal Yachts who had kept the class alive as builder for decades. The molds of the Buccaneer and Mutineer were in poor condition and they were moved from Gloucester VA to Nickels shop in Fenton, MI. The molds were refurbished, and the boat specs and set up were established by the BCA team

including Larry Schmida, Rick Scarborough, David Spira, Greg Twombly and an initial order of 7 boats, 5217-5224 were built. These boats were designed to be fast “out of the box” and were easy to set up for racing and stiff and durable with all Harken equipment for the running rigging. A robust under-the deck mast tensioning system was included as standard.

Most significant was the work to improve the spinnaker snout to deck design which improved the stiffness and smoother dousing as well as watertight performance of this important feature of the boat. Also the molds and build for the foils – the rudder and centerboard were improved for better reliability and performance.
 

Nickels trailers are stackable – which was a great asset for the road warriors who now could travel great distances across the country with pairs of boats for regattas.

 Attendance at BNAC for the next decade was record setting for the Buccaneer 18 class and a rotation scheme was established where the regatta would move from the Northeast, Southeast, West, Mid-Atlantic and South. The 2004 BNAC was in Ft. Walton Beach FL and in January the tradition of BCA sanctioned Midwinter Regatta was established with a regatta held in Stuart FL where the boats were first raced. Thanks to Nickels for sponsoring our BNACs each year!

Thanks to Hugh Armbruster for creating the Nickels Buccaneer 18 and for giving the Buccaneer Class the long-lasting legacy of more than 60 boats built from 2004 through 2017. Looking forward to continuing the tradition with Windrider, the new owner of Nickels Boat Works!