Ben Lexcen

Ben Lexcen (1936-1988), born Bob Miller, was Australia's most innovative yacht designer who revolutionized yacht design with his winged keel for Australia II, which won the 1983 America's Cup, breaking the New York Yacht Club's 132-year winning streak. Self-taught and dyslexic, Lexcen began as a sailmaker before becoming a designer. His designs won numerous Sydney-Hobart races and world championships. Beyond the famous winged keel, Lexcen pioneered computer-aided design, tank testing, and innovative construction methods. He designed successful 12-metres, offshore racers, and production boats. His Apollo II dominated Australian offshore racing, and his production designs like the Swanson 36 remain popular. Lexcen's creativity, unconventional thinking, and engineering brilliance changed yacht design forever. He died in 1988, shortly after being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.