Alan Bond Ben Lexen

Recently a posting on Ebay of the deck plan of Courageous reminded me of a past memory. Cowes Week 1975, We had been living in Cowes in an apartment over The Duke of York a pub at the top of the high street. Bob Miller aka Ben Lexen took over our lease. I left for the United States for the Trans-atlantic back to England. Leading up to that however, I spent time with Bob and Jack Knights, another great English sailor.

We went to Speed Week in Weymouth to watch Crossbow and the other rather unique boats try to set speed records across a 500 meter circle.

Upon returning to Cowes, where I sailed Cowes week aboard "Gitana" and the Fastnet on "Guia" Bob Miller and Alan Bond asked me to a meeting. I was being offered the job of building the 1977 challenger for the America's Cup. I was quizzed on how I envisioned the project and finally the question arose; would I bring the plans of Courageous. I had built her the year before at Minneford's in City Island and still possessed a set of plans. When I replied no the meeting was over. Many of my suggestions however were used in the building of Australia.