Westra 12 K 4

Design & Construction

Westra was built in 1934 to the International Third Rule and was the first Third Rule Twelve designed by Charles E. Nicholson for Arthur C. Connell. She was also the first Camper & Nicholson Twelve constructed to the Third Rule, marking an important transition point in Nicholson’s 12 Metre development following the Second Rule era.

Contemporary commentary emphasized her powerful, compact form. Writing in Yachting World (20 July 1934), Nicholson described Westra as:

“A powerful-looking boat; her bow is quite round on the waterline, so that the actual stem piece is like the letter U. Her area of sail seems small. She looks a more chubby and less elongated boat than Flica.”

This reflected a deliberate move away from the finer, longer Second Rule hulls toward the fuller Third Rule forms optimized for rating efficiency and power.

Ownership

Arthur C. Connell, home port Portsmouth, Great Britain, was an experienced Twelve Metre owner and a partner in an established Clyde shipbuilding firm. Prior to Westra, he had owned Zinita and Zoraida, the latter proving a disappointment and motivating his decision to commission a new Nicholson design. Westra was his first successful Third Rule Twelve, preceding his later yacht Ornsay.

Racing Career

Westra was immediately competitive and among the leading British Twelves of the mid-1930s:

  • 1934 season:
    35 starts – 15 firsts, 10 seconds, 2 thirds
    Overall class winner, establishing Westra as the benchmark British Twelve of the year.

  • 1935 season:
    37 starts – 12 firsts, 9 seconds, 5 thirds
    Finished second overall, behind Marina.

  • 1936 season:
    33 starts – 11 firsts, 13 seconds, 1 third
    Again second overall, and winner of the Twelve Metre Class at the Régates Internationales du Havre.

  • 1937 season:
    30 starts – 7 firsts, 6 seconds, 3 thirds
    Finished fourth overall, as newer Third Rule designs entered the fleet.

Following the 1937 season, Westra was retired from active racing as Connell shifted his focus to his newer Twelve, Ornsay.

Fate

In December 1941, during the Second World War, Westra was laid up at the Camper & Nicholson yard at Gosport alongside Ornsay. During an air raid, both yachts sustained damage. Westra was deemed beyond repair and subsequently broken up, bringing her career to an end.