BALLYHOO construction plan with trailing edge of rudder

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Date1974

Object numberANMS1543[011]

NamePlan

Mediumink on drafting film

DimensionsOverall: 205 × 1820 mm

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection

Terms

DescriptionBALLYHOO rudder, trailing edge detail, by Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) from 1974.HistoryTank testing yacht designs has been an important tool for a yacht designer to assess changes in a yacht's proportions and their effects on its potential importance. For many years only smaller scale models could be tested because of the small size tanks available. Lexcen and his design team which included draughtsman and model builder Dennis Philips built and tested a small number of 1:13.3 scale models for the design of the yacht SOUTHERN CROSS in 1974 with the series number 71xx and 72xx. They were run in the small tank at the University of Sydney Engineering Department. SignificanceThe 73-FOOT maxi-racer BALLYHOO designed by Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) in 1974 for Jack Rooklyn was a very large yacht at the time. Built of marine grade aluminium by ‘Halvorsen, Morson and Gowland, ‘BALLYHOO’ was launched in November 1974. The design work is a small, but detailed drawing, of the rudder trailing edge indicating the fine detail Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) went to provide the builder with accurate information.