A Cal 20’s Mergers and Acquisitions

Ouch. While recently checking on our boat, we came across one of the many boat projects currently underway during this ‘idle’ time. Unfortunately, it was during the final days in the life of the Cal 20 Raccoon. During the Saturday of February’s Corinthian Yacht Club Midwinters race, Raccoon was hit hard, breaking the hull and deck joint and severely fracturing the hull. The cost of the repairs was going to be far more than the value of the 1960s-era boat.

Fortunately, another Cal 20 was waiting in the wings. Ted Goldbeck, owner of the Cal 20 Just ‘Em, was looking to retire from racing against his longtime competitor, Jim Snow, owner of Raccoon. Seeing the damage to Snow’s Cal 20, Ted offered to sell Just ‘Em. And just like that, a deal was struck. Now the retiring Raccoon will serve as a kind of nautical organ donor.

After the acquisition, parts from the old Raccoon — including mast, rudder and some hardware — will live on, as Dave Wilhite removes and merges them with Just ‘Em, which we’re told will soon be renamed Raccoon.

If all goes well, the new Raccoon will be ready in time for the re-opening of racing on the Bay. As Dave said, “Raccoon is dead! Long live Raccoon!”