Santa Cruz Yachts

Founded in 1971, Santa Cruz Yachts owes its rich history and well-earned reputation to Bill Lee, the legendary designer, builder and sailor.

The first boat built was a 30 footer called Magic.

The next boat launched was the 35 foot Witchcraft which in her first year won the San Francisco to Santa Barbara race and then spent many years cruising the South Pacific. The next launch was a 35 footer Chutzpah and to the dismay of many sailing veterans, this 35 footer won the Transpac in 1973 and again in 1975.

1974 saw the introduction of the first Santa Cruz 27 with the next five hulls built for family and friends and the following 134 hulls for satisfied customers.

In February 1977, Bill splashed the famous 68’ sled Merlin, often credited as the boat that started the Ultra Light Displacement Boat (ULDB). After a few sea trials and a couple of local races, Bill boldly entered Merlin into the first ever Single-handed Farallones Race. Before the race even began, Bill decided to use a #4 jib and to double reef the main. The race left from Alcatraz in light winds and a 4 knot ebb tide, but just outside the Gate the wind filled in with 30 – 40 kts of wind and the ocean offered up a 20’ swell, Merlin took off. She sailed beautifully upwind and so Bill locked the wheel and went below to do a few things. While he was below he passed a couple of catamarans who called the Coast Guard because when they didn’t see anyone at the helm they figured Bill must have gone overboard. He had actually gone below to get some extra line to tie off the helm both port and starboard. Bill made it out to the islands in about 3 hours, made one tack and was back in San Francisco in 2 hours, the finish line was deep in the Oakland estuary and on the final leg of the race Bill pulled up a deck chair, grabbed a beer and rested his feet on the helm. Upon completing this race, Bill now knew two things, Merlin was fast and Merlin could handle high seas. In the summer of 1977 Merlin entered the Transpac (Los Angeles to Honolulu) and not only won, but set the record of 8 days, 11 hours, and 1 minute….a record she held for the next 20 years. Following in Merlin’s wake came a long list of Santa Cruz 70’s.

It was a Santa Cruz 70, Pyewacket, owned by Roy Disney, which eventually broke Merlin’s record.

In 1978 the first of 15 Santa Cruz 33’s was launched.

1979 saw the introduction of the Santa Cruz 50 of which 28 were built.

In 1982 the first of 15 Santa Cruz 40’s was christened.

In 1995 ultra-light technology, skilled craftsmanship and clever design came together to create the SC 52 a true racer/cruiser which won Sailing World’s 1996 Boat of the Year.

In the 2002 Pacific Cup, it was a Santa Cruz 52 which took first place overall.

In the 2004 Pacific Cup took not only first place overall but also third and fourth.

In the 2007 Transpac a class of Santa Cruz 50’s and 52’s raced to Hawaii. Kokopelli 2 a SC52 Won her class and was second boat to finish just behind the highly modified 94 footer Pyewacket.

In 2007 Santa Cruz Yachts partnered with Kernan Design to conceive an exciting new line of racer cruisers. Tim Kernan, a rising star in yacht design has drawn a 37 footer whose tooling was started in late 2007 and will be on the water early summer of 2008. The racer cruiser line will have the 37 plus a 42/43 and 51/52 size offerings. At Santa Cruz Yachts the future is bright and Fast Is Fun.