Ben Lexcen, authentic title Robert Miller, (born 1936, New Castle, New South Wales, Australia—died May 1, 1988, Sydney, New South Wales), Australian yachtsman and marine architect who designed Australia II, the primary non-American yacht to win (1983) the celebrated America’s Cup within the 132-year historical past of the race.
Lexcen, who had little formal training, was apprenticed on the age of 14 to a locomotive mechanic, however he finally stop to construct boats and sails. When he determined to desert his manufacturing enterprise, he left his title (Bob Miller) with the corporate and had a pal’s laptop create a brand new six-letter surname for him. A self-taught boat designer and completed yachtsman, he represented Australia within the Soling class on the 1972 Olympic Games.
He first discovered of the America’s Cup problem in 1970 whereas touring within the United States with Alan Bond, a self-made millionaire and crusing fanatic who commissioned Lexcen to design a ship that might beat the American entry. The consequence was Australia II, a yacht of the 12-metre class with a winged keel that improved the boat’s stability and maneuverability. Lexcen suffered a coronary heart assault in 1983 after accusations that he had not designed the revolutionary keel, however he in the end obtained full credit score for the boat’s victory.