Preliminary arrangement plan for 60 foot catamaran

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Datec 1970

Object numberANMS1543[060]

NamePlan

MediumPencil on tracing paper

Dimensions620 x 985

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds

Terms

DescriptionA preliminary design drawing of a lightweight, 60-foot fast catamaran by Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen). HistoryThe exact date of this design work is unknown as no date or clients name is indicated. The design work shows a lightweight fast sailing catamaran of 60-feet overall with low displacement. The hull sections show a rounded hull form, as does the on deck coachroof shape. Both suggest the build materials could be glass reinforced resin composite (GRP) or other similar materials, which are well suited to rounded, complex shapes. The boat would probably have been built as a ‘one off’ in lightweight closed cell PVC foam, glass fibre weave and either polyester or epoxy resin. This, together with the modern headsail foil and furling gear, suggest an early to mid-1970’s design. The address on the etiquette shows the Miller & Whitworth company were located at 109 Old Pittwater Road so this was after August 1969. Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) worked as owner/partner of ‘Miller & Whitworth’ up to 1974 when he moved to London to be closer to the international racing yacht design world. The M&W sail logo on the design drawing changed at some stage, possible 1973, as earlier design work did not show a logo, just a hand-drawn, hand-written etiquette using a stencil. Miller & Whitworth later marketed a series of standard yacht designs, such as the 45’ IOR Admiral Cup Series, based on the successful racing yacht GINKGO.SignificanceBen Lexcen was generally known for designing fast monohull ocean racing yachts, International 12 metres, dinghies and racing skiffs. He did design a 13-foot sailing catamaran while still a teenager but did not appear to venture into multihulls, which were not as popular in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s as they are today. So, this 60-foot racing catamaran is an interesting concept, but no information is yet available if this was a proposal for a client or a possible new, in-house design for marketing.