In the mid 60's, Bill Lapworth produced a boat called the Cal 40. Despite dire  predictions by "experts" that it would not sail well, the rudder would fall off and God only knows what else, it went on to dominate sailboat racing for a number of years. The Cal 40 is to sailing as Carol Shelby's AC Cobra is to auto racing or the P-51 Mustang is to fighter aircraft: legends that, at the mere mention of their name, will put a gleam in an old man's eye that was not there moments before.

The Cal 34 is based upon the same design as the Cal 40. There are others similar in design but what makes the Cal 34 different is that I own a Cal 34. As she is my first boat, she occupies a space similar to that of my first girlfriend: she was there first and no other can take her place. Her vital statistics are :
   

L.O.A.                          33'3"
L.W.L                              26'
Beam                              10'
Draft                                 5'
Ballast                   3750 lbs.
Displacement         9500 lbs.
Sail Area              515 sq. ft
   

My particular Cal 34 is a 1969 or a 1970 model, depending upon who you want to believe. But that is of little importance so far. Hull number is #301. She spent most of her life in or near San Diego, CA under the name of TRUANT. I found her in Mission Bay and eventually, with the assistance of a lovely blue-eyed blonde lady, christened her TEJANA. Several years later I shipped her to Clear Lake, TX  where she resided for nearly 10 years.

I travel a LOT and am out of the country a large part of the time. When Hurricane Rita rolled through a litle over a year ago I was working in China, predictions showed Rita rolling right over my lovely Tejana and there was dammned little I could do about it. I did what any sensible man would do in my situation: I held a wake in her honor with the assstance of a gentleman named Jameson in Beijing.

Once again, God took care of me, Rita veered at the last moment and just squeeked by TEJANA.

Strangely, I know the reason for this. Perched inside my Cal, in the galley, on the starboard bulkhead, is the plastic Jesus my Grandmother, Katie,  had for so many years on the dashboard of her old Dodge Wayfarer.

Now, when God talks, I listen. Actually, we have discussions. Some serious in nature, some not. This has been going on since my days in Viet Nam. You can believe some of those were serious in nature. We've been best buds ever since. 

God spoke once again, in Rita, and I moved her to Lake Texoma on the Texas/Oklahoma border. Texoma is the home of Valiant Yachts. Tejana is at the same marina as Valiant Yachts. The people there helpful beyond belief and are doing some of the work on Tejana. I am doing as much of the work myself as I can because the more work you do yourself the better you know the boat.

End of history lesson.
What I plan to do here is document the work being doing to Tejana to encourage others to do the same. These boats are incredibly strong though there are points that need to be looked at. If one is willing to get their hands dirty, it is within the ability of nearly anyone to have a capable well-built boat.

A sailboat is, absolutely, the most enjoyable pastime anyone can have without getting in trouble. Part of the enjoyment is the sense of satisfaction of learning that never ends, responsibility that never ends and meeting others of like mind without end.