151 Mile – In real time Supernikka wins in her debut. Here are its secrets

The sun began to set in front of the Tuscan coast as Roberto Lacorte’s Supernikka crossed the finish line of the 2015 151 Miglia edition as the winner. A hard-earned victory, not least because of the difficult and dancing weather conditions, which are keeping much of the fleet still glued to the island of Elba and at risk of arriving “out of time.”

WEAK WINDS AND TACTICAL WEATHER
Light winds, mainly from the south, characterized this record edition with over 150 boats registered. A situation that rewarded the skill of the tacticians and saw Roberto Lacorte’s brand new Supernikka triumph in real time on its debut. A first time to remember. Behind the new Vismara Mills 62 is a battle between Pendragon (Davidson 70) and Cantankerous (the Cookson 50 that currently appears favored for plywood victory).

WHAT BOAT IS SUPERNIKKA
Elegant, clean lines, easy to lead. The new Vismara Mills 62 RC Supernikka is a 19-meter cruiser/racer. Mark Mills, one of the most highly regarded designers when it comes to “hi-tech” boats (his are, for example, all the boats in Andres Soriano’s Alegre series, protagonists of the Mini Maxi circuit, or the C&C 30: but he also signed the Landmark 43), was immediately “intrigued” by the challenge of a boat that aspires to win in the minimaxi category but also to be used for cruising.

TECHNOLOGY AND LIGHTNESS
The Irishman was responsible for the design, Vismara Marine for the construction at the Viareggio shipyards in high-tech composite materials. A carbon fiber and epoxy resin fabrication for the ultimate in light weight, strength and performance. The hull, deck, and bulkheads underwent a post-firing process at a controlled temperature no higher than 60° and all reinforcement structures were made using unidirectional carbon fibers, thus with the best of the technology currently available in shipbuilding and perfectly in line with the philosophy of lightness that characterizes Vismara’s signature boats. Vismara’s engineer Riccardo Trionfi (former one-tonner world champion with Filo Da Torcere) told us that the boat is perfectly within the expected weights of 16,000 kg.

ON THE BINARIES.
The hull is designed to “sail on rails” by reaching a moderate heeling angle and then leaning on optimal form stability and sail as if on rails with little use of rudder, maintaining canvas and thus power even with increased wind intensity and passing over the momentum wave without dunking (somewhat like we have already seen with the Advanced A44 churned out by Biscontini). The maximum beam is set far back toward the stern.

TELESCOPING KEEL, REMOVABLE GARAGE
SuperNikka can quickly transform into a cruising boat thanks to its modern telescoping keel system and a number of installable elements, such as the dinghy garage hatch that can be easily removed to save weight and leave room for privateer solutions.