Tentative accommodation plan 72 foot ketch
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Datec 1970
Object numberANMS1543[048]
NamePlan
MediumInk on drafting film
Dimensions435 x 780
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
Description72-foot double ended, centre cockpit ketch, designed by Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) and Joe Adams for ‘R.S. Langtry’ in 1972.
HistoryThe design of the 72-foot double-ended, centre cockpit ketch, is part of a series on concept drawings produced by the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ design office in 1972 for R.S Langtry. It is un-known if the yacht was intended for a private individual with that name, or ‘R.S. Lantry Pty Ltd.’, the company. The hull shape is unusual for Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) at that time, but the double-ended shape was popular with owners of offshore, long distance cruising yachts. Well-known yachts with this shape at time included ‘SUHAILI’, owned and sailed single handed around the world by British yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston. Other doubled-enders designed and built in Australia included the 35-foot ‘RANI’, winner of the Sydney Hobart and participant many times since 1945. Also, the Halvorsen designed ‘FREYA’ was another well-known double-ended yacht at the time.
During 1972, Australian yachtsman Tony Fisher hired Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen), to design a large sailing yacht which could win line honours at the annual Sydney to Hobart race. Design work was started, but about the same time, Alan Bond also hired Bob Miller to design his first Australian America Cup challenge yacht SOUTHERN CROSS. As in house yacht designer Joe Adams was working with Bob Miller on the design of the 72-footer in the same office, he took over the design project. The result was the 72-foot, ferro-cement built yacht HELSAL, the world’s first sloop rigged maxi-yacht. Launched in April 1973, HELSAL won line honours in the 1973 Sydney to Hobart race and went on to become a very successful offshore racing yacht. In 1976 the yacht sailed 777 nautical miles in once race at an average speed of 10.16 knots. HELSAL was sold in 1979, operating as a charter yacht in the Philippines, but soon after grounded on a coral reef. She was later re-floated and towed to Manilla Harbour but was hit by a cyclone, blown into a breakwater and sank.
With the success of HELSAL, and with the design work in house and owned by ‘Miller & Whitworth’, it is likely they were approached by R.S Langtry to produce preliminary design work for a similar yacht. No information is yet available if this yacht was built.SignificanceThis well drawn, and very detailed accommodation plan for a 72-foot double-ended sailing yacht is co-designed by Bob Miller and Joe Adams as Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) was in high demand at the time. The design is based on, and possibly a sister-ship to, the 72-foot ferro-cement built yacht HELSAL, built in the 1973 for Australian yachtsman Tony Fisher.
