George Cuthbertson

George Harding Cuthbertson (1929–2017) was a pioneering Canadian naval architect and mechanical engineer whose innovative designs propelled the fiberglass sailboat revolution in North America, most notably as the co-founder and visionary behind C&C Yachts. Born in Toronto and a lifelong sailor from his youth at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club—where he served as official measurer at age 17—Cuthbertson graduated from the University of Toronto in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering before launching a yacht brokerage and design firm, Canadian Northern Co., which imported European yachts and dabbled in early fiberglass experiments like the 1953 Water Rat dinghy. In 1961, he partnered with aircraft designer George Cassian to form Cuthbertson & Cassian (C&C Design Group), blending Cuthbertson's hull expertise with Cassian's interior detailing; their breakthrough came in 1966 with the custom 40-foot Red Jacket, the first balsa-cored fiberglass racer that dominated the Southern Ocean Racing Conference, cementing their reputation for sleek, high-performance sloops. As one of four founders merging to create C&C Yachts in 1969—alongside Ian Morch, Erich Bruckmann, and George Hinterhoeller—Cuthbertson served as president from 1973 to 1981, overseeing explosive growth with production facilities in Ontario, Rhode Island, Germany, England, and Italy, and producing over 10,000 boats that blended racing prowess with cruising appeal, including icons like the C&C 27, 30, and 35. Departing C&C in 1982 amid industry shifts, he relaunched as Motion Designs, continuing commissions for builders like Ontario Yachts (e.g., the Gazelle 22) until retirement. Inducted into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame in 2014, Cuthbertson was celebrated for fostering a distinctly Canadian yachting industry; he passed away on October 3, 2017, at 88 in Toronto, survived by his wife Helen of 58 years, three children, and five grandchildren, leaving a legacy of elegant, seaworthy vessels that still grace regattas worldwide.