Awards Honour The Best In Boating Design
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday June 24, 1988
The late Ben Lexcen's revolutionary 9.4-metre (31ft) Eureka yacht has been named 1988 Boat of the Year in its class. It was one of three boats to win the honour this year. The award is made annually, for several categories.
The other craft to win the Australian Boating Industry Association (ABIA)award were the Stingray 2800 Targa sports cruiser, in the aluminium division, and the Signature 2100S, in the fibreglass trailable division.
There were 35 entries and the judges were Sydney naval architect Warwick Hood, designer of Australia's 1967 12-metre challenger for the America's Cup, Dame Pattie, and Queensland boating writer and yachtsman Noel Stannaway.
Factors in deciding the winners were "value for money, ease of maintenance, performance and construction".
THE EUREKA
The Eureka was outright winner of the fibreglass non-trailable category. When Lexcen died in May, it had just gone into production through Eureka Yachts Ltd, a listed company he floated with Andrew Buckland, former world champion 18ft skiff sailor, and others.
A cruiser-racer, it has been highly praised as surpassing other dual-purpose designs. Its pink-hulled prototype first grabbed attention when it began outpacing bigger yachts such as the Farr 40s and even some mini-maxis in racing in Sydney.
One of its secrets is its light displacement (less than 3 tonnes at 2,690kg). It is heavily penalised under the International Offshore Rule, but has managed good handicap placings despite that.
With a bulb at the end of the deep fin keel and a broad beam of 3.75 metres(12ft 4in), the yacht is a good stiff cruising yacht. It sleeps six, has full headroom and a boom that is above head height.
SIGNATURE 2100S
A product of the Goodna, Queensland, boatbuilder John Haines Australia Pty Ltd, the Signature 2100S was chosen as the ski boat for the World Expo 88 Ski Show.
It was 1987 Class 3-2L National Offshore Racing Champion and winner of the 1987 Australian Design Council Design Award for Excellence.
It is a long, sleek machine at 6.477 metres (21ft 3in), with a recommended power configuration of 235hp.
THE STINGRAY
The Stingray 2800 Targa sports cruiser is a product of the Queensland boatbuilder Stingray Boats (Aust) Pty Ltd, of Strathpine. This is the second consecutive year the company has won the award.
The Stingray's 8.6 metres (28ft 2in) has accommodation for four adults, has pressurised water, a stove and a sink, a hand-held shower, a toilet and full headroom under covers.
Of high-tensile marine grade alloy finished in polyurethane, it can be configured with a single 175-275hp outboard, twin 100-200hp outboards, or a 400hp stern drive.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The Savage 540 Lancer, by J.J. Savage & Sons Pty Ltd, of Willamstown, Victoria, was given the highly recommended commendation in the aluminium category.
The Boats of the Year will be displayed at the Sydney Boat Show at Wharves 9-13, Pyrmont, from July 29 to August 3.
© 1988 Sydney Morning Herald
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