Primary winch system side elevation for AUSTRALIA II from Barlow Winches
Designer
Ben Lexcen
(1936 - 1988)
Date1981
Object numberANMS1543[336]
NamePlan
MediumPaper
Copyright© Robin Gillis
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionA 10-inch sheet, or primary winch, made by Barlow Marine, for the 1980 12mR yacht AUSTRALIA, also likely installed on the 1983 winning yacht AUSTRALIA II.HistoryThe first yacht to be fitted with modern, specifically designed deck winches to raise and adjust the sails, was RELIENCE the 1903 American defender of the America’s Cup. The yacht, designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff, had the winches located below deck, while other racing yachts at the time used old fashioned deck mounted windlasses. Despite the added technology, a crew of sixty-four was still needed for racing this 120-foot yacht. RELIENCE carried a total of 1,501 square metres of sail, the same as eight later 12mR yachts. The winches proved to be both efficient and robust, as these same winches were later used on RESOLUTE in 1920, and ENTERPRISE the 120-foot America’s Cup yacht in 1930.
Innovative Australian Malcolm Barlow first started designing and building BARLOW winches in a small garage in Sydney during the mid-1960’s. The winches soon became well-known for their strong construction, fine workmanship, and reliability. With the increase in the build of production yachts at the time, Barlow winches became an integral part of yachting in Australia and around the world during the 1970’s and 80’s. Barlow winches were fitted to many production yachts around the world and many are still in use today. In America, BARIENT winches developed at about the same time and both companies appear to have worked together, as the parts, designs and tooling is the same. Barient Marine was started by the owners of two yachts, Derek Baylis who owned ‘ORIENT’ and Jim Michael owner of the yacht ‘BARUNA’, hence the name BARIENT.
The first self-tailing winch for use on a yacht was invented, and patented by Maurice G. Declercq, on October 26th 1973. It consisted of a separate, spring-loaded wheel, which pressed the sheet (rope) against winch drum. There is no information if this was later produced. The now standard ‘self-tailing winch’ was invented by Jesus Guangorena, of the ’Barient Company’, and the US patent filed on April 15th. 1975. Both Barlow in Australia and Barient in the US, produced a range of standard and self-tailing winches.
Barlow Marine in Australia also filed several patents for winches and parts they designed: Notably, on February 21st. 1979, invented by Raymond J. Porter; A self-tailing winch of the type having a stationary frame and a rotatable drum. The tail of the rope or sheet is held in a groove between a pair of toroidal shaped gripping diaphragms of elastomeric material. Also, on June 13th. 1978 an invention by; Albert J. Hutton, Allen W. Hutton and Richard J. Dellit; A ‘variable speed winch’, including a uni-directional drum rotatable initially by the clockwise motion of a handle in a clockwise sense only.
The primary winches, used to control the head-sails, as well as the other sail control winches fitted on a 12mR International Americas Cup yachts, such asAUSTRALIA, CHALLENGE 12’ and AUSTRALIA II needed to be strong, easy to use, and reliable. The failure of a sheet winch will almost certainly result in the yacht losing the race. The Barlow grinder winches made forAUSTRALIA in 1980, and later on AUSTRALIA II in 1981 were cast in manganese bronze, and likely purpose designed for the 12mR and maxi-yachts. With his experience as a yacht designer, sailor and machinist, it is possible Ben Lexcen and his engineers were involved with the design of the winches. With so much at stake for Australia, and with so much in house experience, they would certainly have supplied information to the Barlow Marine company about specific loads and power requirements.
Both ‘Barlow Marine’ in Australia and ‘Barient Marine’ in the USA closed for business in the late 1980’s or early 1990’s, after they were bought out by rival company ‘Lewmar Marine’. However, some of the original staff at Barlow Australia bought the mould tooling and formed ‘The Australian Winch Company’ which still continues today. They still produce the famous ‘Hutton Yacht Winches’ and some spare parts for the old Barlow and Barient winches.SignificanceThe fine workmanship from Barlow Marine in 1981 is clearly indicated on this detailed design work for one of the two 10-inch primary winches on the 12mR yacht AUSTRALIA. This side view of the winch, looking from the centre of the crew cockpit, clearly shows the layout of the winch and connecting drive chain. It is best viewed together with all ‘six attachments’, and considering the dates shown on them, indicate the Barlow primary winches fitted to the 12mRAUSTRALIA were very likely also installed on the 1983 challenge yacht AUSTRALIA II.
