The C&C 61 is a Canadian sailboat, that was designed by Cuthbertson & Cassian and first built in 1970.
Production
The boat was built by C&C Yachts, at Erich Bruckmann's custom shop at Bronte, Ontario, Canada, starting in 1970. During its production run, a total of nine examples were completed, though it is possible the last two 61s credited as built were actually constructed and registered as ketches (see C&C Custom 62).
The preliminary lines, sail plan, and accommodation drawings were completed in 1968 (Dwgs. #68-7-1P, -2P, -3P, -4P). In a letter from George Cuthbertson to Dariend Murray, publisher of The Dinghy, a magazine from Venice, California, on the development of the first C&C 61, and Cuthbertson commented, in part: You will notice that on various drawings reference is made to C&C 61 design. SORCERY, for James F. Bladwin, and CAMPAIGNE for T.K. Fisher. It's all the same! The design was originally commissioned by Tom Fisher of Detroit whose object was a fast cruiser capable of handling the 12 meters of the day on a boat-for-boat basis. Specifically, he had ideas of being consistently first to finish in New York Yacht Club cruises, which of course meant getting there ahead of the 12's. However, since his home waters were to be Lake St. Clair, he imposed the stringent draft restriction of eight feet. In the longer term, he had hoped to campaign the yacht internationally - hence her name. Mr. Fisher did not proceed with construction as crew "complications" set in. At that time (1969), this firm, C&C Yachts Limited, was being "assembled" from four small firms and we took the decision to go ahead with tooling for the 61 - to the best of my knowledge the largest production fibreglass boat of the time.
The first C&C 61 was ordered by James F. Baldwin of Oyster Bay, New York, and named Sorcery. Sorcery was launched in Bronte, Ontario, early in November 1970, sailed her trials, then headed south. In her first race (St. Petersburg-Venice) she fulfilled her initial objective, finishing first by about a two-hour margin.
Design
The C&C 61 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. Most examples produced have a masthead sloop rig, though at least one, possible as many as three, were constructed with a ketch rig. The C&C 61 has an internally-mounted spade-type rudder and a fixed swept fin keel. It displaces and carries of ballast.
The boat has a draft of with the standard keel fitted. It is fitted with an inboard engine for docking and maneuvering.
The design has a hull speed of .
Operational history
There have been several notable C&C 61 racing sailboats:
Sorcery (1970) Sorcery, the first C&C 61 completed, was a Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) Champion. Her first owner had her built intending to race her extensively, especially in the SORC, which is in part where her name originated (SORCery). Her first race was the initial SORC event: start off at St. Petersburg, down Tampa Bay, then south to a buoy off Boca Grande, then north to finish at Venice, Florida, for a total of . By the time the fleet of more than 80 racers sailed under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Sorcery was in the lead, followed closely by Manitou, C&C's 1969 Canada's Cup winner. When Sorcery took line honours, crossing the finish line just after dawn, only one sail was in sight astern. That was Ted Turner, sailing his 12-metre American Eagle.
Sorcery had highly successful racing season in 1971: first in class, first overall in the Annapolis-Newport Race; first in class, fourth overall in the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race; first in class, first overall in the SORC's St. Petersburg-Venice event; first in class, first overall in the Monhegan Race, winner of the Whittemore Trophy; first in class in the Block Island Race; and first in class, first overall in the Sandy Hook to Chesapeake event. She went on to achieve distinction in SORC and in many other events around the world, from the Solent to Australia to Japan. In one example, in 1974 Sorcery took both first-to-finish and first on corrected time in the biennial Los Angeles-to-Tahiti Race sponsored by the Transpacific Yacht Club. Sorcery finished the race in 18 days, 11 hours, and 13 minutes even, finishing almost two whole days ahead of the nearest competitor.
Socery was rolled by a rogue wave in the North Pacific in 1976 while returning from Japan, and while she was dismasted, she survived with little other damage. On arrival in Victoria, British Columbia she was fitted with a new mast and departed immediately, competing in the Victoria to Maui Yacht Race, where she took third in class, ninth overall.