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Image Not Available for General arrangement plan
General arrangement plan
Image Not Available for General arrangement plan

General arrangement plan

Designer (1936 - 1988)
Date1936-1988
Object numberANMS1543[385]
NamePlan
MediumInk on tracing paper
DimensionsOverall: 1150 x 790
Copyright© Ben Lexcen
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionA Ben Lexcen 50-foot, light weight racing yacht from January 1983, designed for Tom Stephenson and Martin Lesckau. HistoryTowards the end of 1982, Ben Lexcen was contacted by Tom Stephensen and Martin Lesckau, who were looking for the design of fast, a cost-effective, light-weight maxi-boat. At the time he had been working on a new, radical design of a 50-foot racing yacht, which seem to match requirements. Tom Stephenson (written Stevenson on the drawing), was a successful, and much respected offshore racing skipper. In 1975-76 he was World Half Tom Champion with his yacht ‘FOXY LADY’. This was following with his race winning yacht ‘B195’, later renamed MAGIC PUDDING. During 1983 two of the new Ben Lexcen 50-foot racers were built in Australia. The 15.2 Meter ‘MADAME DEFARGE’ for Tom Stephensen and Martin Lesckau, launched in October, and sistership, KAMBER in November, for Ken Berkeley. Interestingly MADAME DEFARGE was launched sporting a new revolutionary ‘wing-keel’, unknown in January, but world famous by September 1983. Both yachts took part in the 1983 Sydney to Hobart race, with Ben Lexcen skipper on KAMBER. At least two other yachts were built to this design: APOLCALYPSE for Barclay Wade in 1986 and ANTICIPATION, for New Zealander, Don St Clair Brown. The interior layout as shown, is probably made with input from the two owner/skippers. It is likely the other yachts built to this design had a different interior layout. Despite owing other yachts in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Don St Clair Brown still owned and raced his Lexcen 50 ‘ANTICIPATION’ up to his death at 94-years-old in 2008.SignificanceDuring 1982, despite a busy schedule on the two Australian America’s cup challenge yachts AUSTRALIA II and CHALLENMGE 12, Ben Lexcen started on a radical new design for a light-weight 50-foot ocean racing yacht, later known as the Lexcen 50.