45' IOR Yacht arrangement plan
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Datec 1970
Object numberANMS1543[009]
NamePlan
MediumPaper
Dimensions532 x 755
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
Description
The ‘Admiral Cup 45’ a Ben Lexcen (Formally Bob Miller) design of a 45-foot IOR racing yacht from 1972. Finely tuned and updated, it has been re-drawn by the design team at ‘Miller & Whitworth’, who sold the design as a stock design under the M&W Admirals’ Cup Series.
HistoryBuilding on the success of the 45-foot IOR boats GINKGO and APOLLO II’, both built with the same hull design and sail plan, ‘Miller & Whitworth’ started to market the design package as a standard ‘ready-made’ product or stock design. Following the further success of GINKGO and APOLLO II in the British Admirals Cup race of 1973, the design was called the ‘Admiral’s Cup 45’ and franchised worldwide. The ‘Admirals Cup 45’ is based on the original Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) 1972 design of ‘GINKO’, the 45-foot IOR racing yacht. Built in cold-moulded wood by ‘Lars Halvorsen & Sons Pty. Ltd’. GINKGO was launched in July 1972 and enjoyed an immediate successful racing career in Australia and in the British Admirals Cup in 1973. APOLLO II was built using the same hull design, but in aluminium by ‘Halvorsen, Morson & Gowland’ and also launched in 1972. During the Montague Island race of September 29th. 1972, which started from the ‘Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, GINKGO soon took the lead over the 38 other racing yachts in the 320-mile offshore race. Gary Bogard in GINKGO won line honours and overall winner over Rick Dowling on QUEEQUEG and Syd Fischer on RAGAMUFFIN. The yacht also took part in the 630-mile Sydney to Hobart race of 1972 with owner Garry Bogard as captain and came 3rd. GINKGO also won the first Admirals Cup trial in Australia in 1972 over Alan Bonds APOLLO II. Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) designed two smaller versions of this yacht: CEIL III and RAMPAGE, which won handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart race. By 1972, Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) was 36 years old and one of the world’s top offshore racing yacht designers. Largely self-taught as a naval architect and yacht designer, he had a natural, intuitive talent and worked with his design team, which included John Bertrand, Engineer and later skipper of America Cup winning yacht AUSTRALIA II in 1983, plus Denis Philips, formally of Alan Payne Design office and John King a talented draftsman. In 1974 Ben Lexcen (Bob Miller) moved to London to be closer to the international racing yacht design world. No longer a partner ‘Miller & Whitworth’ yacht designs were franchised and sold worldwide. Ben Lexcen then concentrated solely on yacht design, and worked on his own with no income from his precious partnership. The ‘Miller & Whitworth’ sail making and sail design office, continued up to 1979. At that time the premises at 109 Old Pittwater Road, were sold, and the company changed to selling ‘marine accessories’ under the new name ‘Whitworths Nautical World’ which still operates today. Ben Lexcen went on the design seven 12mR Americas Cup Challenge yachts for Australia. His revolutionary design of AUSTRALIA II in 1983, with a light fast hull, inverted winged keel, and improved rig and sail, made him world famous and highly respected around the world.
SignificanceWhen Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) left the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership in 1974, the company continued to sell his design work as stock design plans. The ‘M&W Admirals Cup Series’ continued to be sold under franchise around the world.
