Sail plan
Designer
Ernest Olney Digby
Date20 August 1949
Object numberANMS1543[069]
NamePlan
MediumBlueprint paper
Dimensions610 x 430
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionAn Ernest Digby sail-plan design drawing for a 33.8-foot (10.31m) cruising yacht from 1949, on blueprint paper
HistoryThe work is a blueprint of a design drawing made by legendary Australian naval architect and shipwright, Ernest Dingy, on August 20th 1949. The blueprint system, now obsolete, was invented in 1842 and allowed copies to be made of technical drawings. It was a breakthrough at the time, allowing fast accurate production of an unlimited number of copies. It was widely used around the world, but due to the process, limited to a blue background with white drawing and text. This would have been the standard media for Ermest Digby to use in 1949. Drawings are now printed directly from the computer drawing program (CAD) or white copies made by photo-copying machines. The work is very detailed, so typical of Ernest Digby’s work, showing not just the mast, rigging and sails on this 33.8-foot yacht, but also the sheets (ropes) blocks and even the fastening for the rigging attachment points on the mast.
Born in 1882 at Port Fairy, Victoria, Ernest Olney Digby came from family of boat builders, sailors and fisherman. His father Joseph designed and built a Couta boat for himself, called ‘ELLISE’ in 1903. Ernest became a boatbuilder/shipwright and later worked as shipwright foreman for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. He studied yacht design from books by Uffa Fox, and Scotsman William Fife, whom he admired, then designed and built boats at home in his spare time. One of his early boats was, INDEPENDENCE which he built in 1932.
Despite having eight children to raise with his wife Mary Anne, and only the wages of a working man, Ernest Digby designed and built DEFIANCE, the first Australian International 8-metre racing yacht in his backyard. A remarkable feat, which took place during the Great Depression when money and work was scarce. Built solely of Australian timber, Ernest Digby selected the best Queensland kauri for the hull planking and built the yacht with the help of three of his sons and a shipwright apprentice called Harry Clark. The International 8mR DEFIANCE, which is still sailing today, is 14.78 meter overall (48.49-feet) with a beam of 2.27 metre (7.44-feet). Launched in 1935 Ernest Digby owned the yacht for ten years, winning many races, including five Sydney to Hobart races.
His 8mR yacht DEFIANCE was particularly well named, as Ernest defied all class barriers at the time with his new racing yacht. Owning and racing a yacht in the 1930s was a sport only enjoyed by the rich and famous, including royalty. It was unheard of for a working shipwright to build and race such a yacht. He later designed and built a second 8mR in 1946 called FRANCIS named after his wife, Mary Ann Frances.
During his long and active career, Ernest Digby designed and built many fine yachts and commercial vessels. His design drawings are often very detailed, works of art compared to most modern equivalents. He is unquestionably one of the unsung heroes of Australian yacht design, building and racing. His passion and determination to design, build and race yachts is an inspiration which lives on, as many of his sons and family have become successful boat builders and yacht skippers. On receiving a new bicycle as a birthday gift, Ernest Digby was on the way to collect a newspaper when he was struck down by a drunk driver and killed at the age of 78 on November 12th. 1960.SignificanceThe work is typical of the find details provided on Ernest Digby’s design drawings. The sail and rigging plan for this 33.8-foot sloop show all the necessary sizes, areas and calculations to confirm the yacht will be balanced under sail and be easy to steer. 
