Cal Yachts
Encyclopedia
Cal Yachts was a manufacturer of performance oriented fiberglass
sailboats from the 1960s to the 1980s. The Costa Mesa, California
, headquartered company was founded in 1957, among the earliest of all-fiberglass, mass-production sailboat
builders. Although the brand has been out of production for two decades, the existing fleet is still substantially active in racing and cruising
.
Nearly 18,000 boats were built under the Cal brand name. There were many different models, but perhaps the most famous is the Cal 40. The first of the ultra-light, production ocean racers, the Cal 40 was inspired by ocean racing legend, George Griffith, of the Los Angeles Yacht Club, and was truly first sketched by him in 1962 on the back of a cocktail napkin. Following Griffith's inspiration, the Cal 40 was designed by the prolific and ground-breaking naval architect, C. William "Bill" Lapworth. Griffith sought out Jack Jensen to build the first boat "Persephone" but had to guarantee the sale of ten Boats, which was quickly accomplished, even before the first boat was out of the mold. Lofting was performed by Willis Boyd. A major undertaking for its time and radically different from other production racing sailboats with its fin keel separated from a spade rudder mounted well aft, the Cal 40 Astonished the yachting community by Don Salisbury's Hull #3 "Psyche" winning first overall in the 1965 Transpac with Griffith aboard. The Cal40 continues to rack up an impressive string of ocean racing victories more than four decades after its initial launch, winning major competitions such as the Newport-Bermuda Race
as recently as 2008. Among other ocean racing classics, Cal 40s still compete as a class in the Transpac
from Los Angeles
to Honolulu and in 2005 recorded 14 entries, more than any other production sailboat at any time in the century-long history of this, America's longest-running ocean yacht race.
The Jensen-Lapworth collaboration resulted in some amazingly competitive racer/cruiser sailboats. If the PHRF ratings below are compared to those of recent hull designs it will be found that the Cal designs are relatively fast boats. This is one of the reasons these ruggedly built and surprisingly affordable boats remain popular nearly fifty years after they first appeared in the recreational marine marketplace.
The Cal-20 Fleet recently celebrated it's 50th year concluding it's National Championship regatta with 53 boats entered at Alamitos Bay & Long Beach Yacht Clubs in Southern California.
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
sailboats from the 1960s to the 1980s. The Costa Mesa, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, headquartered company was founded in 1957, among the earliest of all-fiberglass, mass-production sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
builders. Although the brand has been out of production for two decades, the existing fleet is still substantially active in racing and cruising
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
.
History
Cal Yachts was originally named the Jensen Marine Corporation after the founder, Jack Jensen, a pioneer in fiberglass boat building. He sold his company to Bangor Punta Corporation in 1968. Jensen later produced Ranger sailboats and a line of molded fiberglass recreational vehicles called "Balboa".Nearly 18,000 boats were built under the Cal brand name. There were many different models, but perhaps the most famous is the Cal 40. The first of the ultra-light, production ocean racers, the Cal 40 was inspired by ocean racing legend, George Griffith, of the Los Angeles Yacht Club, and was truly first sketched by him in 1962 on the back of a cocktail napkin. Following Griffith's inspiration, the Cal 40 was designed by the prolific and ground-breaking naval architect, C. William "Bill" Lapworth. Griffith sought out Jack Jensen to build the first boat "Persephone" but had to guarantee the sale of ten Boats, which was quickly accomplished, even before the first boat was out of the mold. Lofting was performed by Willis Boyd. A major undertaking for its time and radically different from other production racing sailboats with its fin keel separated from a spade rudder mounted well aft, the Cal 40 Astonished the yachting community by Don Salisbury's Hull #3 "Psyche" winning first overall in the 1965 Transpac with Griffith aboard. The Cal40 continues to rack up an impressive string of ocean racing victories more than four decades after its initial launch, winning major competitions such as the Newport-Bermuda Race
Bermuda Race
The Bermuda Race, or Newport Bermuda Race, is a biennial yacht race from Newport, Rhode Island to the island of Bermuda, a distance of 635 nautical miles across open ocean. The first Bermuda Race started in 1906 from Gravesend Bay, N.Y. with three entries. The race was held several times in the...
as recently as 2008. Among other ocean racing classics, Cal 40s still compete as a class in the Transpac
Transpacific Yacht Race
The Transpacific Yacht Race is an offshore yacht race starting off Point Fermin, San Pedro, near Los Angeles, and ending off Diamond Head Lighthouse in Honolulu, a distance of around . Started in 1906, it is one of yachting's premier offshore races and attracts entrants from all over the world...
from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Honolulu and in 2005 recorded 14 entries, more than any other production sailboat at any time in the century-long history of this, America's longest-running ocean yacht race.
The Jensen-Lapworth collaboration resulted in some amazingly competitive racer/cruiser sailboats. If the PHRF ratings below are compared to those of recent hull designs it will be found that the Cal designs are relatively fast boats. This is one of the reasons these ruggedly built and surprisingly affordable boats remain popular nearly fifty years after they first appeared in the recreational marine marketplace.
The Cal-20 Fleet recently celebrated it's 50th year concluding it's National Championship regatta with 53 boats entered at Alamitos Bay & Long Beach Yacht Clubs in Southern California.
Models
PHRF handicap Based on Southern California Buoy Rating- CAL 9.2 - PHRF 174
- CAL T/4 - PHRF 252
- CAL20 - PHRF 276 http://www.cal20.com
- CAL24 - PHRF 240
- CAL2-24 - PHRF 228
- CAL24 MK-3(Hunt) - PHRF 228
- CAL25 - PHRF 222 http://www.cal25.com
- CAL25 MK-2 - PHRF 216
- CAL27 - PHRF 198
- CAL27-2 - PHRF 204
- CAL27-3 - PHRF 192
- CAL27T - PHRF 186
- CALT2 - PHRF 195
- CAL28 - PHRF 192 http://www.stirlinglaw.com/cal28
- CAL28 Mk2 - PHRF 192
- CAL29 - PHRF 180
- CAL2-29 - PHRF 180
- CAL30 - PHRF 192
- CAL30-3T - PHRF 153
- CAL2-30 - PHRF 180
- CAL3-30 - PHRF 168
- CAL31 - PHRF 162
- CAL33 - PHRF 156
- CAL34 - PHRF 174
- CAL34T - PHRF 165
- CAL34-1 - PHRF 174
- CAL34-2 - PHRF 168
- CAL34-3 - PHRF 168
- Cal35 MK-2 PHRF 180
- CAL36 - PHRF 150
- CAL36T - PHRF 141
- CAL37 - PHRF 114
- CAL39 - PHRF 108
- CAL39-1 - PHRF 102
- CAL39-2 - PHRF 114
- CAL39-2T - PHRF 108
- CAL40 - PHRF 114
- CAL43 - PHRF 108
- CAL43T - PHRF 102
- CALCR46-MK-1 - PHRF 162
- CALCR46-MK-2 - PHRF 156
- CAL48 - PHRF 96
- CAL9.2 - PHRF 165
- CAL9.2R - PHRF 159
- CALCR35 - PHRF 192
- CALCR36 - PHRF 156