Lapworth’s design answered the postwar demand for affordable, trailerable racing. The class’s longevity tells that story better than any specification sheet.
Design and Construction
Jensen Marine built the Cal 20 at its Costa Mesa, California, plant, at times producing as many as one hull a day through the 1960s. The boat has a solid fiberglass hull and deck, an iron ballast keel, and a transom-hung rudder on a fin.
At 1,950 pounds displacement, with 900 pounds of ballast, the 46 percent ballast-displacement ratio gives it a steady, purposeful feel for its size. Its 7-foot beam and 18-foot waterline produce a hull-speed figure near 5.7 knots.
Most Cal 20s were built during the 1960s. The arrival of costly fiberglass resin during the 1973 fuel crisis, together with the new IOR rule, actually pushed the boat’s popularity higher. Bangor Punta absorbed Jensen Marine in 1965, but the Cal 20 continued unchanged until 1975. The broader Cal brand later passed through several owners before all Cal boat production ceased in 1989.
Rig and Handling
Present-day Cal 20s put the backstay, jib halyard, boom vang, and mainsail Cunningham within easy reach of the crew. The simple rig also makes stepping and tuning the mast a breeze. A 2:1 jib-sheet purchase allows the jib to be trimmed without a winch, keeping the deck uncluttered and the crew’s workload low.
Under sail, the Cal 20 has a well-balanced helm and an easy groove; test sailors found it a breeze to sail. The self-bailing cockpit is nearly 8 feet long. When racing, the correct crew position is at its forward end by the bulkhead—exactly where the crew naturally gathers—so there’s no need to scramble out of the cockpit to shift weight.
One-design rules cover minimum weight, sail plan, and the dimensions of the spar, rudder, and keel. The boat can be raced competitively by a crew of two or three.
Accommodations
Below the self-bailing cockpit, the Cal 20 fits four bunks, a head, storage bins, and a remarkable amount of usable space for a boat of 20 feet. Period reviews described the arrangement as providing sailing with comfort and ease. For its size, it remains one of the most practical boats imaginable.
Even so, the large forward cockpit and compact cabin are better suited to day racing and short coastal hops than cruising. The layout is honest about what a 20-footer can provide.
Class Life and Ownership
The Cal 20’s story didn’t end when production stopped. Approximately ten active fleets now operate under the Class Association in California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and British Columbia. In recent years, the annual Class Championship Regatta has attracted as many as 50 boats.
The regatta has separate starts for Gold, Silver, and Bronze fleets. The Gold fleet alone attracts 25 to 35 high-caliber one-design racers to decide the Class Champion, and a Junior Championship runs alongside it.
Owners report that the Cal 20 is a great platform for one-design sailing, and the SYC Sailing Foundation maintains a fleet for community use. Boats are typically dry-sailed from trailers. They’re also very easy to tow behind a car, helping to keep ownership and maintenance costs low.
The Verdict
Lapworth turned a modest 20-foot hull into the backbone of West Coast one-design racing, a role the Cal 20 has retained for half a century after production ceased. It’s inexpensive to own, simple to rig, and supported by a class structure deep enough to reward a lifetime of tuning.
Pros
- Mass-produced, with 1,945 hulls built, and still supported by an active class association and multiple fleets
- Nearly 8-foot, self-bailing cockpit that naturally places crew weight where it belongs for racing
- Easy-to-reach controls and winchless jib trim make the boat simple to sail and rig
- Inexpensive to buy, own, and maintain, and easy to trailer
Cons
- Minimal accommodation below beyond four bunks, a head, and storage bins—a daysailer, not a cruiser
- Production ended in 1975, and all Cal boat production ceased by 1989, so only used hulls are available
