Sail Plan (sloop)

Designer Ben Lexcen (1936 - 1988)

Object numberANMS1543[259]

NamePlan

MediumInk on tracing paper

Dimensions585 x 445

ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans

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

Terms

DescriptionA Ben Lexcen, 38-foot, low draft, centre - cockpit motor sailing yacht, with pilot-house based on his 1977 design REVOLUTION. This work is part of several traditional yachts Lexcen designed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. It shows his skill in developing an easy to sail yacht, with ample living space and comfort for a small family crew. The ability to raise the centre board, and reduce the draft, allows the yacht to sail and anchor in shallow water prohibited by larger draft yachts. A small easy to sail yacht with very pretty lines, perhaps the perfect cruising yacht.HistoryDuring the 1970’s Ben Lexcen was studying the important aspects of ‘the perfect cruising boat’. The length overall, the beam, sail-plan, and ease of handling by a family, were all considered. The result was the 36-foot yacht REVOLUTION 36, designed by Lexcen in March 1977, based on the ‘Freedom 40’ by Halsey Herrshoff in the US whom he admired. Lexcen rigged the yacht with a free-standing cat boat rig. Based on the same hull, he designed several sizes at the time, including a 35-foot version and the later, the production-built REVOLUTION 38. The hull of the 36-foot version was 36’1” overall with a 10’ 9 ¼ “beam, making a very comfortable, roomy boat, and with a 3’ 8” draft with the centre boat raised, the yacht could sail in shallow waters. Lexcen also used the same hull rigged as a gaff ketch. All these yachts featured an attractive hull with a pleasing sheer line, well protected side decks, built up bulwarks, and aft cabin windows in the transom. During the early 1980’s ‘J.K. Price Boatbuilders’ in Western Australia built a number of the REVOLUTION 38 in production. Also, Steve Cunard built twenty-two of them at his Mona Vale Boatyard in Sydney.SignificanceThe prominent Australia yacht designer Ben Lexcen, is widely known for his 12 Metre Class America Cup racing yachts, and other smaller IOR boats. It is often overlooked that yacht designers, and naval architects, are also called upon to design a variety of other yachts and boats which do not reach the media or become famous. This often allows the passionate designer to explore and create other work closer to his heart. This 38-foot pilot house motor sailor, by Lexcen, is an example of him using the same traditional, low draft voluminous hull, to make other similar yachts for his clients.