The berth arrangement received rave reviews, which is not surprising, for sea berths abound. Heads (some boats have two others only one) received high marks of eight and nine for their placement and spaciousness. A capacious stowage space under the cockpit, with easy access, was appreciated by Cal 39 owners. The large L-shaped galley to starboard of the companionway has double sinks, large lockers and nice ventilation, which explains the high scores (seven to nine) for galley efficiency, stove/oven installation, and food and equipment stowage. A sense of airiness is created by both an open layout below and translucent hatches and a couple of deadlights (nice touch!). Additional handrails will therefore be advisable for rough weather. Accommodation 'Very spacious, light and comfortable, and makes a great liveaboard,' one owner told us. Original travelers were given subterranean scores of four and five. Most original traveler systems had worn out and been replaced by new ones. The quality of the single spreader rig and wire standing rigging was deemed high, with scores between seven and nine. Most respondents had boats equipped with the standard rig, which flies about 60 less square feet of working sail than the tall.

Rig and Rigging Two rigs were offered for the 39: standard and tall, both keel-stepped. Chainplates and stainless backing plates were deemed top-drawer, with scores of 9 and 10. The relatively low scores for cockpit layout seem to be due to a design unfavorable to shorthanded sailing. Objectively, however, he added, 'I'm sure it is average for a production boat, and certainly better than modern production standards.

One five for exterior trim was awarded by a cabinet-maker by trade, who also damned with faint praise with a seven for cabinetry below. One respondent reported that cabin soles are weak and flex, and thus the table wobbles, exerting undue leverage on the sole. Stringers and floors and exterior trim rated lowest in this category, with average scores of six. Rating slightly lower, with average scores between six and seven, were exterior stainless, steering system, engine and exhaust, cockpit layout, deck hardware and deck layout. Just about anything that didn't run away first was glassed into the hull, wrote one skipper. Construction Hull, deck, hull-deck joint, bulkheads and braces, rudder and shaft, prop shaft and through-hull fittings all rated high, with scores between eight and 10. One Cal 39 owner reported that his boat surfed well and in a controlled fashion in quartering seas. Decks are generally deemed dry, and motion in a seaway is considered 'easy' with scores between seven and 10. Several respondents raved about the spaciousness, helmsperson visibility and protection afforded by the T-shaped cockpit, and gave these categories scores that averaged between eight and nine. Passagemaking Qualities With the exception of dinghy stowage, with ratings generally below five (on a scale of one to 10, 10 being perfect), these categories received high scores. 'The boat will be a good passagemaker, and I am quite pleased with its overall performance,' said one. The enthusiasm for this design displayed by Cal 39 owners who answered the BWS survey is obvious. Built between 19seveneight and 19eightsix, they are true racer/cruisers sailors' boats with high performance on all points of sail, but with cruising accommodations that make them ideal boats to retrofit for offshore passagemaking. Both the Cal 39, built by Jensen Marine of Costa Mesa, California, and the Cal 39 MK III, built by Bangor Punta in Fall River, Massachusetts, are jewels in the tradition of most Bill Lapworth designs.

Cal 39 knot a clew for saile