Bill Crealock

William Ion Belton "Bill" Crealock (1920–2009) was a distinguished British-born naval architect, yacht designer, author, and adventurer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in offshore cruising yacht design during the fiberglass era of the 1960s–1990s. Renowned for his seaworthy, heavy-displacement cutters and ketches that prioritized safety, comfort, and long-range capability, Crealock's vessels were favored by celebrities like Walter Cronkite and William Hurt, as well as serious blue water sailors. His designs, often featuring full keels, skeg-hung rudders, and cutter rigs, embodied a philosophy of "honest" engineering—blending art, tradition, and rigorous seaworthiness—earning him induction into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame for models like the Pacific Seacraft 36. Beyond design, Crealock was a prolific writer and lecturer, chronicling his global voyages in books that inspired generations of cruisers.