Hall of Fame induction for Oakville sailboat designer

When designing sailboats, there were few like Oakville’s Rob Ball.

A Naval Architect, Ball, joined Oakville’s C&C Yachts in 1967 and eventually would be named the Chief Designer from 1973 through 1990.

Ball, who designed every product for the Oakville Yacht maker over those 17 years, will be posthumously inducted into the Canadian Sailing Hall of Fame this Saturday (Oct. 5) at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, in British Columbia.

Ball was selected to the Hall in recognition of his lifetime in the design and building of Canadian sailing craft.

“Without question, Rob was responsible for the design of more boats and models than any designer in Canadian history,” said the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.

Ball, who died at 79 in 2022, designed over 7,400 boats, which included the 1975 Canada Cup contender Marauder and 1978 winner Evergreen.

Custom boats like the C&C 33, 34, 35, and C&C 40 and 41s, Amazing Grace, Magistri, Silver Shadow, Charisma, Archangel, and many more also were designed by Ball.

Ball will be one of 14 individuals inducted this weekend, including Mississauga native and 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Mike Wolfs.