Images(2)

Steering Diagram for SOUTHERN CROSS II

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Date9 October 1976

Object numberANMS1543[102]

NamePlan

MediumPencil on tracing paper

Dimensions770 x 1085

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

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

Terms

DescriptionThe dual steering wheels, and steering system, for the Australian 12mR challenge yacht, SOUTHERN CROSS II , drawn by Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) on October 9th. 1976. The yacht was re-named AUSTRALIA and built by ‘Steve Ward’ in Perth and took part in the 1977 Americas cup races at Newport Rhode Island, USA. SOUTHERN CROSS II was a working title. The vessel would later be called AUSTRALIA.HistoryThe Australian12mR SOUTHERN CROSS II from 1977 was the second challenge yacht Ben Lexcen (formally Bob Miller) designed for Alan Bond. The name was based on his 1974 challenge yacht SOUTHERN CROSS which won the trial races but failed to win the America’s cup at the time. The ‘America’s Cup’ became the most prestigious and sought after of all yacht races as it was not only the most expensive, owned by rich and powerful men, but each of the yachts represented national pride. The Americas Cup was originally known as ‘The British ‘Royal Yacht Squadron £100 cup’ and offered as the prize for a yacht race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. The first race was won by the schooner yacht AMERICA owned by the group of members from The New York Yacht Club (NYYC). This syndicate donated the cup to the club, and it was re-named ‘The America’s Cup’ after the name of the yacht. The ‘12mR International Rule’ for racing yachts, participating in the America’s Cup, started in 1958 and ran up to 1987 when the International Americas Cup Class (IACC) was introduced. Australia’s quest for the coveted America’s Cup began in 1962 with the Alan Payne designed GRETEL. This was followed in 1966 with the Warwick J. Hood yacht ‘DAME PATTIE’ and by GRETEL II in 1970. Charismatic entrepreneur Alan Bond took up the challenge hopes in 1974 when he hired Ben Lexcen (then Bob Miller) to design the 12mR SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4). Some years earlier Alan Bond and Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) were together at Newport, Rhode Island in 1970 for the Newport to Bermuda race. Together with the Australin team, they were preparing Alan Bond’s racing yacht ‘APOLLO’ at ‘Bob Direcktor’s Shipyard, at Mamaroneck, Yew York. While visiting a boatyard together at City Island, New York, Alan Bond spotted a large sailing yacht alongside, which unusually, had all the deck winches and crew positioned below deck. Alan Bond wanted a closer look so wondered down the pontoon to study the boat and layout but one of the crew took offence and shouted for him to go away. This did not go well, and when asked what type of boat it was anyway, was told it was the America Cup yacht ‘VALIANT’. Still mystified, Bob Miller explained what the America Cup was and about the yachts involved. To which Alan Bond told Bob Miller. ‘You design me one of those 12-metre boats, and we’ll come back here and win their bloody America’s Cup.’ The 12mR yacht SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4) was built in Terry Hills by ‘Halvorsen Morson and Gowland’ of Mona Vale and launched in 1974. Following sea trials and crew training, SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4), was shipped to the USA for the American cup races in September 1974. Despite best efforts by the Australian crew SOUTHERN CROSS (KA-4) lost to the US defending yacht COURAGEOUS skippered by Ted Hood. Following the 1974 America’s cup races Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) left the ‘Miller & Whitworth’ partnership and moved to Cowes on the Isle of Wight in UK with plans to start a new life designing yachts UK. But the tenacious Alan Bond was not prepared to give up his dream of winning the Americas cup and travelled to England to meet with Bob Miller and took him back to Australia to discuss the next Americas cup campaign in 1977. Design work started on the 12mR SOUTHERN CROSS II (KA- 5) at Cowes, Isle of Wight in the UK but later moved to Perth, Western Australia. At that time Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) formed a design partnership with a young Dutch naval architect called Johan Valentijn who had worked for rival 12mR designers ‘Sparkman & Stevens’ in New York. Bob Miller set up the ‘Miller & Valentijn’ office in Perth, Western Australia where they worked together on the project. Originally called SOUTHERN CROSS II the yacht was renamed AUSTRALIA (KA-5), and built in Cottesloe on the outskirts of Perth, by ‘Steve E. Ward & Brian Raley’ and launched in 1977. During the design of AUSTRALIA (KA-5), Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) and Johan Valentijn, spent seven months in 1976 testing 1/9th. scale models of the yacht at the University of Delft test tank in the Netherlands. This experience would later prove invaluable for the design of AUSTRALIA II (KA-6) During 1977 Bob Miller changed his name by deed poll to Ben Lexcen. That same year the 12mR yacht ’AUSTRALIA’ (KA-5) was shipped to the USA and took part in the 1977 America cup races but again lost to ‘COURAGEOUS’ skippered by Ted Turner. Ben Lexcen was convinced AUSTRALIA (KA-5) had winning potential so re-designed the yachts hull, deck layout and rig for the next Americas cup challenge in 1980. By this time the partnership with Johan Valentijn had ended and Johan had moved to France where he worked on the design of the French 12mR challenge yacht FRANCE III. During the 1980 Americas cup challenge AUSTRALIA (KA-5) beat ‘FRANCE III’ but lost to the American defender FREEDOM skipped by Dennis Conner. Three years later in September 1983 at Newport Rhode Island the Ben Lexcen designed 12mR AUSTRALIA II (KA-6) skippered by John Bertrand beat the US defending yacht ‘LIBERTY’ and won the Americas cup for Australia. Today, almost 45-year later, thanks to the ‘Australian 12m Historic Trust the 1976 designed, AUSTRALIA (KA-5) is fully restored and still sailing in Sydney Australia.SignificanceThe steering diagram drawing, made by Bob Miller (later Ben Lexcen) in October 1976 for the 12mR racing yacht SOUTHERN CROSS II clearly shows his knowledge of engineering and understanding of the systems requirements. The work provides details of all the parts, and overall layout of the steering system. At the time, there were no ‘off the shelf’ standard parts for 12mR racing yachts, so everything on the yacht was custom designed and built. The steering system is clearly vital on any yacht, ship or boat, as a failure will not only endanger the yacht and it crew but end any chance of winning. With several years design, build and preparation for each 12mR challenge yacht, as well as the prestige and high costs involved, a failure of the steering system would be a disaster for the design team. Despite this pressure Bob Miller has bravely included ‘lightening holes’ in almost all the parts to reduce weight.