Ben_c_g

Re: Cal39's vs. Cal40's. The Cal40 was considered for the hall of fame is due to it's racing performance in the Transpac and SoCal to Mexico races during the '70's. Prior to Bill Lee's legendary sailing sled, 'Merlin' (the precursor to the Santa Cruz Boats), the west coast downwind races were dominated by the Cal40's.
The Cal39's were designed primarily to provide for a family racer-cruiser and were set up with more creature comforts (and weight). I've owned our 1982 Cal39 MRKIII for the past 20-years and we've spent time extended cruising down the Baja Peninsula and Mexico.
We did have a rudder problem, first noted in 2010. It involved water ingress into the structure. It ultimately resulted in break down of the structural foam and "warping" of the external foil shape. I purchased a new rudder from Finco in southern California, secured it to the top of my truck for the trip down Baja and back to the boat in 2011.

Kindly,
Peter Mirrasoul
s/v Citla
currently in San Diego