Compared with the standard C&C 26, the Encounter had a shorter rig and greater displacement. The result was a subtly rebalanced interpretation of the small coastal sloop rather than a straightforward repeat of the earlier boat.
Design and Construction
The Encounter measures 26 feet overall, with a 23-foot waterline, 10 feet of beam, and a draft of 3.92 feet. Its underwater profile combines a fin keel with a spade rudder.
Displacement is 6,120 pounds, including 2,040 pounds of lead ballast. That gives the boat a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 33.33 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 224.55—figures that describe a moderately loaded small cruiser rather than a featherweight racer. Its comfort ratio is 18.43, and its capsize ratio is 2.19, rounding out a small-boat profile intended for manageable coastal use.
Both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass. C&C’s contemporary hull-to-deck construction used an inward-turning flange joined by a through-bolted aluminum toerail and butyl tape, the builder’s standard structural seam during the 1970s.
Rig and Sail Plan
The Encounter carries a masthead sloop rig that is deliberately shorter than the standard C&C 26’s. This trades some vertical sail extent for a lower center of effort and easier handling on a 26-foot hull.
The mainsail has an area of 136.47 square feet, with a 27.8-foot luff, 9.5-foot foot, and 28.85-foot leech. Its tack angle is 88 degrees, and its diagonal measures 29.06 feet. The modest 4.5-inch head measurement reflects a near-vertical leading edge at the headboard.
For offwind sailing, the boat is designed around a 472-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker. Its luff measures 33.2 feet, its foot 18.97 feet, and its leech 30.54 feet, with a percentage LP of 165. It’s a generously sized kite relative to the mainsail for a boat of this length. Total working sail area is 322 square feet, producing a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.4.
Verdict
The C&C 26 Encounter is a 1978 variant that exchanges the standard C&C 26’s rig height for a shorter mast and greater displacement. The result is a small masthead sloop with a documented emphasis on manageable coastal proportions rather than all-out speed.
Its solid-fiberglass hull and deck, fin-keel-and-spade-rudder profile, and lead-ballasted ratio of 33.33 make it a conventional C&C coastal cruiser of its era. At the same time, the generous 165-percent asymmetrical spinnaker gives the boat a clear offwind personality. Buyers should rely on a survey of the specific hull rather than assumed class knowledge.
Pros
- Shorter rig than the standard C&C 26, easing handling and lowering the center of effort
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck, with a lead-ballasted fin keel
- Generous 472-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker for offwind performance
Cons
- Greater displacement than the standard C&C 26 may blunt light-air acceleration
