Sloop General Arrangement

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Object numberANMS1543[282]

NamePlan

MediumInk on tracing paper

Dimensions855 x 1030

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

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

Terms

DescriptionAPOLLO, the legendary 76-foot aluminium maxi racer design by Ben Lexcen in 1980 for Jack Rooklyn HistoryBen Lexcen, (formally Bob Miller) designed his first sailing boat THE COMET with his friend William Bennett in 1952 when he was just 16-years old, and soon began to make a name for himself at local sailing competitions. In 1960 he entered his boat ‘TAIPAN’ in the 18-Footer World Championship, later winning the World Championship in 1961 with the next boat of his design, ‘VENOM’. In 1962, together with his friend Craig Whitworth, he set up a sail making business in Sydney, designing and making sails, but continued to design boats and racing yachts. Following the success of ‘MERCEDES III’ in 1966 and ‘VOLANTE’ designed in 1967/1968, he designed the 58-foot wooden yacht ‘APOLLO’ for Alan Bond, built of cold moulded wood, by ‘Griffins Boatyard’ in 1969. ‘APOLLO’ was later sold to Jack Rooklyn, who continued a successful racing career with the yacht up to April 1980. At nine in the evening, on Saturday April 5th.1980, ‘APOLLO’ went aground on ‘Lady Ellis Island’ one of the southernmost cays of the Great Barrier Reef. All the crew were saved but the lovely yacht ‘APOLLO’ was a complete loss. Following this, Jack Rooklyn commissioned Ben Lexcen to design a larger maxi racer of 76-feet, to be built in aluminium. Also named ‘APOLLO’ the yacht was built by ‘Aqua-Craft & Co. Ltd’, in 1980, the same yard which built the 12mR Americas Cup Challenge yacht ‘ADVANCE’ (K-7). Unhappy with the initial sailing qualities, the hull of ‘APOLLO’ was changed several times. The aft part of the yacht was improved, and with a longer overall length, became a well-known winner of major yacht races including: The Sydney Hobart race, South China Sea Series, Around Hawaii Island Race, Sydney to Southport race, the Kenwood Cup, Cairns New Guinea Race and six-time winner of Whitsunday Fun Races. Often affectionally called ‘The Flying Girkin’ due to her green hull, ‘APOLLO’ is still sailing today, having undergone an extensive refit, and now sails as a charter yacht in the Whitsunday Islands. SignificanceJack Rooklyn owned three Ben Lexcen design yachts in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The 58-foot wooden built ‘APOLLO’, the 72-foot BALLYHOO in 1974 and the 76-foot APOLLO built of aluminium in 1980. All three were fast, successful racing yachts, well-known in Australia and around the world. ‘BALLYHOO’ and APOLLO are still sailing today.