Brisbane 18ft Sailing Club pennant
Date1961
Object number00055071
NamePennant
MediumFabric, ink
DimensionsOverall: 410 × 850 mm
ClassificationsCeremonial artefact
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionThe winner of championship events in many sports receives a ribbon, pennant or other form of acknowledgement and recognition that they can keep whilst the major trophy is kept for a year, or even stays with the sporting association or club.
The Australian open boat skiff classes gave both pennants and ribbons to the first placed boat in major events, and the pennants were often hand illustrated with the winning boat’s colours and even their sail insignia.
HistoryBen Lexcen (formerly Bob Miller) 1936-1988 was one of Australia’s principle yacht designers from the 1960s until his death in 1988. He created a number of revolutionary and unorthodox designs and gained International respect. The ocean racing yachts MERCEDES III, APOLLO and GINGKO were amongst his most significant designs, along with the IYRU Contender Class single handed dinghy, and the 18-foot skiffs TAIPAN and VENOM. He was the designer of America’s Cup boats from 1974 until 1987, including SOUTHERN CROSS and AUSTRALIA and was the designer for AUSTRALIA II which won the America's Cup in 1983, a major National and International sporting achievement.
His career began under the name Bob Miller, and formed a sail making and design partnership with Craig Whitworth during the 1960s called Miller & Whitworth, which lasted until the mid-1970s. At that time he changed his name to Ben Lexcen, and had a brief design partnership with Johan Valentjin to design AUSTRALIA KA5 and other yachts. This was disbanded around 1978, and he worked under the Lexcen name with a small staff based in his home at David Place Seaforth. After the design of AUSTRALIA II for the 1983 America’s Cup win he established a drawing office which included Peter Lowe as a senior partner. This became Lexcen Lowe Design and a few years after he died it became Peter Lowe Design.
SignificanceThe winner’s pennant that Ben Lexcen as Bob Miller won in 1961 is a valuable trophy in his career. It represents a stage toward the empathic victory he achieved in the subsequent World championship event with his radical 18-foot skiff VENOM, a light weight three handed craft. His crew was Craig Whitworth and Norman Wright (III) It is inscribed- “ Brisbane 18ft Sailing Club, Qld Championship 1960-61, Won by Venom, Owner N.J.Wright & R.Miller, Skipper R.Miller" and this records that VENOM was winner of the Queensland Championship and therefore the top representative in the state team for the World Championship event sailed later on the Brisbane River.
