C&C 40 Mk I
Description
The C&C 40-1 is a classic Canadian sailboat designed by the C&C Design team (led by George Cuthbertson and George Cassian) and built by C&C Yachts. Introduced in 1970 as an evolution of the earlier C&C 40 Crusader, it was produced until 1975 at Belleville Marine Yards in Canada. Constructed from fiberglass with balsa coring and wood trim, it features a masthead sloop rig, a long keel with an attached rudder, and a distinctive small bowsprit. Approximately 70–80 units were built, reflecting its popularity as a racer-cruiser during the pre-IOR transition period. The 40-1 refined the Crusader’s hull form, adding the bowsprit for improved sail handling and a keel-attached rudder for better control, aligning with the era's racing trends while retaining cruising versatility. The 40-1 inherits C&C’s reputation for blending performance with practicality, excelling in club racing and coastal cruising. Its design was influenced by successful racers like Red Jacket, emphasizing lightweight construction and seaworthiness. With a hull speed of approximately 7.2 knots, it offers good stability in moderate winds but can feel underpowered in light airs due to its heavy displacement. Production ceased as C&C shifted to IOR-optimized models like the 40-2, but the 40-1 remains a sought-after classic on the used market for its build quality and sailing heritage.
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 16.25 ft |
| p | 43.50 ft |
| e | 16 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | 16.25 ft | 43.50 ft | 16 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 43.5 ft - (13259 mm) |
| Foot | * 16 ft - (4877 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.45 ft - (13853 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.99 ° |
| Diagonal | * 45.82 ft - (13966 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 355.46 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 42.06 ft - (12820 mm) |
| Foot | * 21.58 ft - (6578 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.43 ft - (11104 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.02 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.69 ft - (5697 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.99 ° |
| Area | * 393.03 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 49 ft - (14935 mm) |
| Foot | 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Leech | 45.5 ft - (13868 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.63 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.79 ft - (5727 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.92 ° |
| Area | * 460.26 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 49.95 ft - (15225 mm) |
| Foot | * 26.3 ft - (8016 mm) |
| Leech | * 46.92 ft - (14301 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150.03 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 24.38 ft - (7431 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.02 ° |
| Area | * 608.92 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 49.95 ft - (15225 mm) |
| Foot | * 26.81 ft - (8172 mm) |
| Leech | * 45.95 ft - (14006 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 1004 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | * 49.95 ft - (15225 mm) |
| MidGirth | * 29.25 ft - (8915 mm) |
| Foot | * 29.25 ft - (8915 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1242 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | 22 ft - (6706 mm) |
| Foot | 11 ft - (3353 mm) |
| Leech | 18.5 ft - (5639 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 56.86 % |
| Length Perp | * 9.24 ft - (2816 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 14.88 ° |
| Area | * 101.62 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite.