Chainplate Details for SOUTHERN CROSS II
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Date1976
Object numberANMS1543[099]
NamePlan
MediumPencil on tracing paper
Dimensions760 x 780
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionChainplate construction details, made by ‘Miller & Valentijn’ in August 1976 for the Australian 12mR challenge yacht SOUTHERN CROSS II. At this time, Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) had formed a partnership with Dutch naval architect Johan Valentijn.
Drawing number 22- 13 ALT 'B'. SOUTHERN CROSS II was a working title, the vessel would later be called AUSTRALIA.
HistoryAustralia’s quest for the coveted America’s Cup began in 1962 with the Alan Payne designed GRETEL. This was followed in 1966 with the Warwick J. Hood yacht DAME PATTIE and by GRETEL II in 1970. Charismatic entrepreneur Alan Bond took up the challenge hopes in 1974 when he hired Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) to design the 12mR SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4). This yacht was built in Terry Hills by ‘Halvorsen Morson and Gowland’ of Mona Vale and launched in 1974. Following sea trials and crew training, SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4), was shipped to the USA for the American cup races in September 1974. Despite best efforts by the Australian crew SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4) was beaten by the US defending yacht COURAGEOUS skippered by Ted Hood.
Following the 1974 America’s cup races Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) left the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership and moved to Cowes on the Isle of Wight in UK with plans to start a new life designing yachts UK. The tenacious Alan Bond was not prepared to give up his dream of winning the Americas cup and travelled to England to meet with Bob Miller and took him back to Australia to discuss the next Americas cup campaign in 1977.
Design work started on the 12mR SOUTHERN CROSS II (KA- 5) at Cowes, Isle of Wight in the UK but later moved to Perth, Western Australia. At that time Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) formed a design partnership with a young Dutch naval architect called Johan Valentijn who had worked for ‘Sparkman & Stevens’ yacht design in New York. Bob Miller set up the ‘Miller & Valentijn’ office in Perth, Western Australia where they worked together on the project. Originally called SOUTHERN CROSS II the yacht was later renamed AUSTRALIA, and built in Cottesloe on the outskirts of Perth, by ‘Steve E. Ward & Brian Raley’ and launched in 1977.
During the design of AUSTRALIA (KA-5), Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) and Johan Valentijn, spent seven months in 1976 testing 1/9th. scale models of the yacht at the University of Delft test tank in the Netherlands. This experience would later prove invaluable for the design of AUSTRALIA II (KA-6)
During 1977 Bob Miller changed his name by deed poll to Ben Lexcen. That same year the 12mR yacht ’AUSTRALIA’ (KA-5) was shipped to the USA and took part in the 1977 America cup races but again lost to COURAGEOUS skippered by Ted Turner. Ben Lexcen was convinced AUSTRALIA (KA-5) had winning potential so re-designed the yacht for the next Americas cup challenge in 1980. By this time the partnership with Johan Valentijn had ended and Johan had moved to France where he worked on the design of the French 12mR challenge yacht FRANCE III. During the 1980 Americas cup challenge ‘AUSTRALIA’ (KA-5) beat ‘FRANCE III’ but lost to the American defender FREEDOM skipped by Dennis Conner.
Three years later in1983 at Newport Rhode Island the Ben Lexcen designed 12mR AUSTRALIA II (KA-6) skippered by John Bertrand beat the US defending yacht LIBERTY and won the Americas cup for Australia.
Today, almost 45-year later, thanks to the ‘Australian 12m Historic Trust the 1976 designed, ‘AUSTRALIA’ (KA-5) is fully restored and still sailing in Sydney Australia. During the years sailing the yacht there have been no reports of rigging failures confirming the quality of this chainplate design."
SignificanceThe chainplate design for the Australian 12mR challenge yacht SOUTHERN CROSS II clearly indicates the amount of time and detail used on the design project. The materials shown on the drawing are of exceptionally high quality and the system of using flexible chainplates revolutionary. The work indicates a high degree of engineering has been involved in the design and no time or expense spared to produce the best possible yacht to challenge for the America cup.
