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C&C 38

Comfortable One Tonner

If I was asked to pick one prominent feature consistent with all of C&C's designs, I would have to say it was the excellent styling. Of all the yachts that are designed to the IOR, the C&Cs, to my eye, are the best looking. The C&C 38 follows this tradition and initially strikes me with its well balanced, good looks. This impression is heightened by the fact that C&C's current line of IOR designs seem to be particularly potent on the race course. The new C&C Half Tonner and the new C&C 3/4 Tonner are good examples of this success. If the two smaller new designs are any indication, I would say that this One Tonner deserves some watching. There is one headed for my area, and you can be sure I will pay attention when it arrives.

C&C has made the transition to the current tOR style of hull design without losing the C&C look. Along with preserving their look, they have attacked certain facets of the rule in a slightly different way than the current crop of Doug Peterson inspired designs. There is the conspicuous absence of bustle on the new 38. It is not altogether gone, as you can see by the fact that the canoe body of the yacht at the stern still ends below the waterline. Another departure from the "Petersonesque" style is the rather soft forefoot. Both of these features work to reduce wetted surface. The other feature that C&C seems to be determined to hang on to is the highly swept back fin keel.

Also in the C&C tradition is the very large rudder. I recently read an article by a cruising boat designer, and he stated that the small size of IOR yacht rudders is the reason they don't behave off the wind. I do not agree with this statement at all and hold the C&C 38 rudder as evidence. It is huge and should provide excellent control off the wind. I think the complaint that IOR designs are hard to handle off the wind is due to the ever increasing size of spinnakers and the increasing level of competitiveness.

While the rating listed in the brochure is given as 27.9, I'm sure with some work this design would fit into the 27.5 One Ton class. At 37'7" it will be a large One Tonner; however, with a displacement of 14,700 pounds, she is not too heavy to my eye. This looks to be a very competitive One Tonner.

Usually I do not comment on the quality of construction, if I have not been aboard a yacht that i am reviewing. This time I will make an exception based upon past impressions of C&C yachts. I think their glass work, both in tooling quality and fairness and in their joiner-work, is second to none in the current production boat market.

For those of you who like a comfortable interior on your racing yacht, the 38 should really please. The interior appears well laid out for both offshore racing and family cruising.

Auxiliary power is an Atomic 4 gasoline engine with a 2:1 reduction gear. The yacht carries 20 gallons of fuel and two 30 gallon water tanks.

The deck plan shows a T-shaped cockpit with a helmsman's saddle and standard wheel steering. The primary and secondary winches are located on the cockpit coamings, and the halyards are lead to winch islands each side of the mast. I prefer to see the halyards lead aft to the top of the coach roof; however, the placement of the main sheet traveller on the bridge deck prevents this on the 38. There is a traveller to control midstay tension and another fore and aft track forward of the foredeck hatch for tacking down staysails. I'm afraid the information that I have does not list any dimensions for the rig.

While some IOR designs may look a little odd after we have worn out the IOR, I think the clean good looks of the C&C 38 will insure its resale value. i look to seeing the yacht enjoy a very successful racing career.