Accommodation general arrangement for 80 ft ketch
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Date15 October 1974
Object numberANMS1543[041]
NamePlan
MediumInk on drafting film
Dimensions760 x 945
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionPlan with general arrangement of accommodation for 80 ft ketch designed by Miller and Whitworth.
Scale 3/4 " = 1 foot. Drawing number 402.B.
‘Miller & Whitworth’ 40-foot One Ton IOR yacht, designed by Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) in early 1974. The design was based on the very successful 40-foot IOR yacht CIEL III, launched in November 1973 and winner of the 1973 Sydney to Hobart race a month later.
History"GINKGO was the first of a series of 45’ IOR racing yachts designed by Ben Lexcen, (then Bob Miller) at ‘Miller & Whitworth’. Based on the same hull lines and sail-plan APOLLO II was built in aluminium at the same time by the same builder, ‘Halvorsen, Morson & Gowland Pty.’ In Sydney. Both yachts were in the British Admirals Cup races on 1973, so ‘Miller& Whitworth’ started to franchise the design around the world as the ‘Admiral Cup 45’. Other yachts, larger, and smaller were included in this marketing plan. Two smaller yachts using the same design shape and concept to GINKGO were built, CEILL II and RAMPAGE won handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart race.
In 1974 was a prolific year for Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller). The design of the 72-foot maxi racer BALLYHOO for Jack Rooklyn, which started in late 1973, continued in 1974 during the build, and up to completion in November when the yacht was launched at the ‘Halvorsen, Morson and Gowland’ boatyard. At the same time, he was designing the 12mR Australian America Cup challenge yacht SOUTHERN CROSS for Alan Bond, which would later be shipped to the USA for the races at Newport Rhode Island in September. Other yachts designed by Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) in 1974 were: Don StClair-Brown’s 50-foot ‘ANTICIPATION’, The OLYIMPIC 48-foot sloop, The ‘Miller & Whitworth’ 40-foot One-Ton IOR yacht, the 35-foot ¾ Ton IOR yacht, the M&W 31’ sloop, a 32-foot ½ Ton IOR yacht and a 54-racing yacht. With so much design work available at one of the world’s most well-known yacht design companies, a decision was made to sell some of the work as ‘stock design’ and franchise ‘Miller & Whitworth’ around the world. This covered sailing yachts from 30-feet, to 80 feet overall, as well as the CONTENDER sailing dinghy. ‘Miller & Whitworth’ advertised extensively, often taking a whole page in some yacht magazines at the time. The 1974 November issue of ‘Offshore’ contained a full-page, offering ‘M&W’ designs for their ½ Ton 32-footer, ¾ Ton 35-footer, 40 foot One-Ton and the 45-foot IOR yacht. This marketing concept appears to have enjoyed some success, as ‘M&W’ designed yachts were built in several countries. At least four ‘Miller & Whitworth’ 35-foot IOR ¾ Ton yachts were built in South Africa. ‘RED AMBER’, ‘SOUNDWAVE’, SCORPIO’ and ‘CLOUD NINE’ were all built in 1974, cold moulded in Mahogany by ‘Mosenthal’s Marine’ in Durban.
During early 1974, ‘Andersen Brothers’ approached ‘Miller & Whitworth’ for design work to build a production of ‘M&W’ 40-foot One Ton yachts in glass fibre. The three brothers, Ken, Ron and Peter discussed with Bob Miller and the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ team about design changes and building in glass-fibre, which they had not designed for in the past. The weight of the GRP boats would need to be the same as the earlier wooden built yachts. The rudder was redesigned, as well as the skeg, the keel bolts and rigging chainplates. The first new M&W 40-foot IOR GRP boat was built for Jim Robson Scott, the deputy chairman of The Offshore Racing Committee in N.S.W. The second boat was for the Andersen brothers.
The drawing, dated 15th. October 1974, shows the accommodation layout for the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ 40-foot One Ton IOR yacht, which was based on CEIL III and RAMPAGE. This was a stock, or standard design, sold and franchised by ‘Miller & Whitworth’ during the 1970’s before and after Bob Miller (Later Ben Lexcen) left the partnership with Craig Whitworth.SignificanceBen Lexcen, (formally Bob Miller) enjoyed considerable success with his light-weight racing yacht designs in the 1960’s and 70’s. In the 1973 Sydney to Hobart race, yachts he designed came first and third. 1974 was a particularly busy year for Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) as his first America Cup Challenge yacht, the 12mR SOUTHERN CROSS, was being designed and built, as well as the 72-foot maxi tracer BALLYHOO for Jack Rooklyn. By the time this drawing was made in 1974, Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) was ending his partnership with Craig Whitworth, leaving the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership to start up on his own.
