Nova 28 - Information

The 28 Foot Nova Cutter-Sloop:  The Wright 28 Footer

Caution: The following information (extracted from information brochure - 1981) may be inaccurate and out of date. It will be updated as further information becomes available...

The Nova was conceived as a safe and roomy cruising boat that could be easily handled by a family. The design brief called for good all-round performance with particular emphasis on the ability to make good time to windward in the short steep seas so often experienced locally. With over one hundred Nova's now sailing in New Zealand and several more currently under construction, the concept has been well received and, in addition to being a good family boat, she is well able to hold her own in competitive handicap racing. Although essentially an inshore or gulf sailer, many boats have completed extensive overseas voyages, including trips to the south pacific islands, Australia, and circumnavigations, but perhaps the most notable was John Mansell's Innovator from Mana which completed the Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race in 1976, and prior to that the Single-Handed Trans-Tasman Race.

The round bilge hull is built in timber or fibreglass and can be equipped with either fin, twin keel or centre board. The simple masthead rig may be setup as either a sloop or cutter, without the need for running backstays. In fibreglass form she is one of the most competitively priced 28 footers on the market.

Design Features

• Designed by Alan Wright.

• Moderate displacement but immensely strong.

• Balanced hull shape making the boat sea-kindly under all conditions.

• Able to be sailed off-shore in stock-standard form.

• The easily driven hull requires only modest sail area, even in very light airs.

• Flat bottomed keel for ease when slipping the boat.

• Rudder is hung from a skeg giving added support.

• The basic hull shape is available with a variety of cabin profiles, flush deck forward, and plumb or retrousse transom (wooden boats only).

• Internal layout is flexible as no bulkheads or furniture are structural. Many different accommodation arrangements have been built allowing sleeping facilities for 4-6, dinettes, enclosed heads etc.

Principal Dimensions for Fibreglass NOVA 28

• LOA 28 ft 8.53 m

• LWL 22 ft 6 in 6.9 m

• Beam 9 ft 2 in 2.8 m

• Draft -

  • Fin       4 ft 9 in     1.45 m

  • Twin     3 ft   0.9 m

  • Centre board -

    • Lowered       5 ft 3 in 1.6 m

    • Raised        2 ft 9 in 0.8 m (does not project above cabin sole)

• Displacement 6500 Lb 2950 kg

• Ballast 2800 Lb 1270 kg (fin keel)

• Sail Area 365 sq. ft 34 sq. m (Main + 100% fore-triangle)

Principle Dimensions for Timber NOVA 28

• LOA 28 ft 8.53 m

• LWL 22 ft 2 in 6.76 m

• Beam 9ft 2.74 m

• Draft 4 ft 9 in 1.45 m

• Displacement 6763 Lb 3064 kg

• Ballast 2406 Lb 1090 kg (fin keel)

Other details including the Twin and Centre Board keel details are the same as the fibreglass version.

Rigging and Sail Area

There are no running backstays or diamonds and adequate mast support is provided by a simple rig. The sail area has been well proportioned for ease of handling by a small crew or family and enables the boat to move safely and quickly in all conditions.

• Main 170 sq. ft 15.81 sq. m

• Genoa 288 sq. ft 26.78 sq. m

• Working Jib 165 sq. ft 15.34 sq. m

• Storm Jib 80 sq. ft 7.44 sq. m

• Spinnaker 690 sq. ft 64.17 sq. m

• Mast Height 34 ft 6 in 10.52 m (Deck Stepped)

• Boom Length 11 ft 3.35 m

Engines

An 8-12 HP diesel provides adequate auxiliary power and can be fitted conventionally without the necessity for V drives.

Costs

These estimates are based on the best data available as of September 1981 ($NZ):

• Amateur Built in timber, fully equipped $30,000

• Professionally built in timber, basic sail-away $45,000

• Professionally built in fibreglass - Hull & deck only $ 8,660

• Professionally built in fibreglass - Basic sail-away $35,000
  
  

Plans for amateur construction are available from:

Alan Wright Yacht Design Centre

PO Box 9400

Auckland Phone: 686-337 ??

Fibreglass Nova's are available from:

Neil Beken, Grant Mitchell?

Nova Yachts

Factory 10

188 McLeod road

Henderson Phone: 66-087 ?? or 66-068 ??

For timber boats we suggest you have several boat builders price the job as any competent yard can produce this design.

** A word of warning - many grossly exaggerated claims are made about building costs. A good guideline is that the hull and deck cost is only about 25% of the total cost of any given yacht. Remember also that where basic sail-away prices are quoted, the are just that - BASIC.

Nova Class Owners Association 

The owners association is no longer active.  An old information sheet is linked here Nova Owners Association Information sheet