George Harding Cuthbertson
George Harding Cuthbertson RCA (1929–2017) was a founding partner of Cuthbertson & Cassian yacht designers, one of four companies that in 1969 formed C&C Yachts, a Canadian yacht builder that dominated North American sailing in the 1970s and early ‘80s.
George Harding Cuthbertson | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 3, 1929 Brantford, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | October 5, 2017 (aged 88) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto |
| Education | mechanical engineering |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | boat designer and builder |
| Years active | 1951–1986 |
| Organization(s) | Cuthbertson & Cassian yacht designers, C&C Yachts |
| Title | C&C's chief designer until 1973, then company president. He later also served as chairman and chief operating officer |
| Term | 1969–1981 |
| Successor | C&C's chief designer Robert W. Ball |
| Spouse | Helen Donaldson |
| Children | Jill, Michael, JohnKelly |
| Parents |
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| Awards | 1974 membership in the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. 2011 Legends of Ontario Sailing Award 2014 The Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame |
His was the first “C” in C&C, with his design associate George Cassian, being the second. Cuthbertson would go on to be president of that company for many years, establishing plants in Rhode Island and Kiel, Germany, boat production in England and Italy, in addition to their existing Production Plant in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and Custom Shop in Oakville, ON.
In an article in Maclean's magazine in August 1970 George Cuthbertson was described as six-foot-four, weighing 220 pounds. He has a crewcut, his voice is deep, and he looks like a linebacker on his day off. He also had a couple of nicknames:
When it comes to nicknames, sailing and the yacht business may be even cuter and more prolific than, say, golf and the golf business. Cuthbertson is not only Big George, he's also Cumbersome. Cassian is not only Little George, he's also Casual. Get it? C & C Yachts.