Bill Lapworth

Charles William Lapworth (12 December 1919 – 3 April 2006) was an American naval architect who designed a large number of sailboats, many of them for Cal Yachts. He was active as a designer from the early 1950s until the 1980s. Described as "one of the foremost West Coast naval architects in the post-World War II period", he has been nominated to the US National Sailing Hall of Fame.

Early life Born on 12 December 1919 in Detroit, Michigan. He went to the University of Michigan, completing a degree in marine engineering and naval architecture. He went on to serve in the US Navy in World War II as an officer in the bureau of ships at Quincy, Massachusetts. He later served at naval repair base at San Diego.

Personal life Lapworth married his wife, Peggy, in 1966 and at the time of his death they had been married for 40 years. They had five children, Barbara Burman Rolph, Charles William Lapworth III, Robert Lapworth Jr., Susan Cohl and Kim Sorenson. They also had five grandchildren.

His obituary noted his sailing skills, stating, "as a shipmate Bill was absolutely tops to sail with; a consummate helmsman and extremely valuable tactician; always sought as a crew on major races. He also sailed on boats not of his own design, providing these most useful characteristics to their owners. His designs gave him a primacy never before achieved by a naval architect as yet on the west coast. His calm demeanor was a most recognized characteristic and his evenhanded nature fostered only the best in his fellow sailors."

Death Lapworth died on 3 April 2006 at age 86 and was buried at sea on 7 April 2006 from the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, in Balboa, California.

Boat designs

Lapworth designed a large number of sailboats, many of them for Cal Yachts:

Lapworth 32 - 1951 Lapworth 26 - 1953 Cal 24 - 1958 Gladiator 24 - 1958 Lapworth 24 - 1958 Lapworth 39 - 1959 Lapworth 40 - 1960 Metcalf - 1960 Cal 20 - 1961 Cal 30 - 1961 Islander 44 - 1962 Lapworth 50 - 1962 Cal 28 - 1963 Cal 40 - 1963 Endeavor 26 - 1963 Cal 25 - 1965 Newport 16 - 1965 Cal 48 - 1966 Cal 2-24 - 1967 Cal Cruising 46 - 1967 Cal Cruising 36 - 1968 Cal 29 - 1968 Cal 34 - 1968 Cal 2-30 - 1968 Cal 21 - 1969 Crown 23 - 1969 Cal 39 - 1970 Calgan 23 - 1970 Lapworth 48 - 1970 Cal 27 - 1971 Cal 33 - 1971 Cal 43 - 1971 Cal T/4 - 1971 Cal 2-46 - 1971 Cal T/2 - 1972 Cal 35 Cruise - 1973 Cal 3-30 - 1973 Cal 2-27 - 1974 Cal 2-29 - 1974 Cal 3-46 - 1975 Cal 2-34 - 1975 Crown 28 - 1976 Cal 2-25 - 1977 Cal 34-III - 1977 Cal 39 Mark II - 1978 Cal 31 - 1979 Cal 35 - 1979 Martinique 25 - 1979 Neptune 16 - 1981 Cal 39 Mark III - 1983 Cal 3-27 - 1983 Phoenix 12 - 1983 Gloucester 16 - 1986