Bill Lapworth

Charles William Lapworth (12 December 1919 – 3 April 2006) was an American naval architect who designed a large number of sailboats, many of them for Cal Yachts.

Described as "one of the foremost West Coast naval architects in the post-World War II period", he has been nominated to the US National Sailing Hall of Fame.

He went on to serve in the US Navy in World War II as an officer in the bureau of ships at Quincy, Massachusetts.

[1][2][3] After the war Lapworth moved to California and became partners in a yacht design business with Merle Davis in Los Angeles.

[3] He created a series of custom boat designs for light displacement racers that quickly developed a reputation for winning races, or at least placing highly in them.

The deal was closed with just a handshake and became one of the longest and most successful commercial sailboat building relationships, lasting until after Jensen died in 1980.

His calm demeanor was a most recognized characteristic and his evenhanded nature fostered only the best in his fellow sailors.