BIG BANDICOOT sail plan
Designer
Professor Peter Numa Joubert
(1924 - 2015)
Date1977
Object numberANMS1546[011]
NamePlan
MediumInk on plastic paper
DimensionsOverall: 1060 × 705 mm
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Ms Camilla Van Megan
DescriptionSail plan of the C Class catamaran BIG BANDICOOT. The plan shows construction of wing mast (in elevation and section) with table of mast dimensions by cross sections and fitting specifications. Also boom, mainsail and jib specifications.HistoryThe plans of BIG BANDICOOT speed record catamaran are for a custom plywood designed vessel that was built with the aim of setting sailing speed records for both short and long course. The hulls were relatively wide for a conventional catamaran design and the concept was for the hulls to plane.
BIG BANDICOOT was trialled on Lake Macquarie over the 500m distance. There was also a project to set a 24-hour record by sailing up the coast of NSW in a strong westerly pattern that often blew over the spring season. Records were not formally attempted as the design suffered a major failure at the mast step during a trail sail on Pittwater and was not repaired.
Professor Joubert was a highly respected engineer and lecturer and was a consultant for a number of private and government engineering projects. He had a sailing background and was a close friend of naval architect Alan Payne.
Professor Joubert's involvement in yacht design fulfilled a desire to be involved in this aspect of engineering without making it a full time occupation. He produced a small number of production designs that reflected his objectives of creating a strong, seaworthy yacht for racing and cruising. He also worked on the design of fast catamarans for racing and setting speed records, this is a specialised and niche area of yacht design, but an area where Australia has demonstrated extraordinary success in the past through other designers and builders who were contempories of Professor Joubert.SignificanceThe plans of BIG BANDICOOT speed record catamaran are a rare set of plans for a one-off record breaking sailing vessel. In that period there was a strong interest in speed sailing and endurance records and these plans show an innovative approach to catamaran design with narrow planning hulls.