72 Foot (on back)
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Datec 1970
Object numberANMS1543[045]
NamePlan
MediumPencil on drafting film
Dimensions320 x 770
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionThe hand drawn, preliminary design work, for a 72-foot centre cockpit cruising ketch by Bob Miller is a wonderful insight into the creative ideas initially put on paper. It is likely the client, Mr. R. Langtry was on hand during these early stages to discuss his requirements. Later drawings were produced with more accuracy and detail showing the hull sections and a proposal for the interior accommodation. Sadly, little information has so far be found on this design or the eventual build. Due to a water leak in his house some years later, Ben Lexcen lost a good deal of his early design work. HistoryThe original sail making business and design office of ‘Miller & Whitworth’ started in 1962, in an old disused dance floor upstairs at 52A Spit Road, Spit Junction, Mosman in Sydney. The sail making and design office proved successful and in 1964 ‘Miller & Whitworth’ worked with Hawker de Havilland, an aviation company, to design, produce and market a range of aluminum yacht spars. Aluminum spars, like GRP and aluminum hulls, were starting to replace the traditional, more expensive wooden equivalent.
By 1968 it was clear, due to the increasing volume of business, the original site was too small. Land was purchased at 109 Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale, Sydney and the company relocated to that address. The new address is shown on many of the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ designs. However, the drawing of the 72’ cruising ketch provides little information when it was made, but fortunately, other drawings of the same yacht, showing a proposal of the interior accommodation for Mr. Lantry, indicate the design office address at the time to be 52A Spit Road so the design work is clearly prior to 1968. Craig Whitworth continued operating at 109 Old Pittwater Road until 1979 when the company moved and the name was changed to Whitworths Nautical World.
No information has yet been found about the 72’ yacht for Mr. Lantry, if and where it was built, and if so, what happened to it. None of the Sydney based yacht and boat builders of the time, have records of this yacht and there is no registered sail number for a 72 foot ketch. But it is a particularly good-looking and interesting yacht from the hand of Ben Lexcen. SignificanceDespite being a cruising yacht, the hull shape drawn here is quite advanced for the 1960’s when most designers still favoured a longer keel with more wetted surface. The cruiser stern is an unusual feature, not popular on larger yachts, and suggests some connection with Scandinavia.
