Rudder for APOLLO II Sections and Offsets

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Date21 November 1974

Object numberANMS1543[032]

NamePlan

MediumPaper

Dimensions635 x 420

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

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

Terms

DescriptionRudder design drawing for the successful IOR 45-foot racing yacht APOLLO II, dated November 1974. The yacht was designed by Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) in 1972 while in the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership. HistoryA self-taught yacht designer and accomplished sailor, Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) represented Australia in the Soling class at the 1972 at the Olympic Games at Munich, West Germany. In 1952, at the age of 16, he designed his first sailing boat THE COMET with his friend William Bennett 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 Championships, and later winning the World Championship in 1961 with his next boat VENOM. In 1962, together with his friend Craig Whitworth, he set up the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ sail making business in Sydney, while continuing to design boats and small yachts. Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) was a great friend of Ted Kaufman in the early 1960’s and stayed at his house in Sydney. Ted Kaufman was interested in building a new Admirals Cup racing boat at the time and asked Bob Miller to help. The result was the fast and very successful MERCEDES III later referred to as a Kaufman/Miller designed yacht. Launched in in 1966, it was part of Australia’s winning team of three yachts in the 1967 Admiral’s Cup series in England. 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. Following on from his first design, Alan Bond commissioned Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) in 1972 to design the 45-foot IOR yacht. APOLLO II. The yacht, which had the same hull and sail-plan as the wooden built sister ship GINKGO, was built of aluminium by ‘Halvorsen, Morson & Gowland Pty Ltd. and launched in 1972. With sail number R111, the yacht took part in the 1972 Sydney Hobart race coming in 4th behind the wooden-built sister ship GINKGO. It also took part in the 1973 Admirals Cup races in UK together with GINKGO. APOLLO II took part in many offshore yacht races, including most of the Sydney to Hobart races from 1972 to at least 1994. The yacht changed hands in 1975 and continued racing with the new owners R and I Thurston. In 1980 it was sold and again raced successfully by A.J. Becher in the 1980, 81’ and 82’ Syndney to Hobart race. In the 1994 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, 371 yachts participated, the largest number ever to enter the race. APOLLO II then painted bright red, took part in the race, owned by David and Penny Leach who had bought the boat only a week before the race. 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. The 45-foot APOLLO II continued to sail as a private cruising yacht up to about 1998 but no information is presently available of location and if still afloat.SignificanceThe date shown on the work, November 21st. 1974, suggests the rudder for APOLLO II was changed or modified as the yacht was built and launched in 1972. Designed by Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller), the yacht, captained by owner Alan Bond, came 2nd in the 1973 Admiral's Cup in UK.