If anyone feels competent to enlighten us, please give reasons.

Yes. Laurie Davidson and Alan Wright. Both Kiwi Legends. John Spencer also worth a mention.
The Doug Peterson 40 odd footers from the 80s are fantastic as well.

Joe Adams...for diversity and longevity.

I could add Khan Walker to the Aussie but I am possibly a bit biased
Nothing earth shattering but a couple of honest designs

Regards Don

For sure BruceF and JimY are a given and covered in the LightBrigade pdf. But I should have noted them. As well as the top shelf kiwis Des Townson and Bo Birdsall.

Assume your small Apollo was Tampico?

Yes Lock Crowther's legacy lives on in the Incat Crowther company - both due to Phil Hercus's design genius and beanhead Robert Clifford's building efforts as well as the Tasmanian governments sponsorships...............which were needed at their time, and should continue as an Australian government model.................

Of course Joe Adams did so many super yachts after his breakout boat Plum Crazy.................probably the Adams 10 the best. It was such a shame that the Adams 8 was late on the market after the S80, and also was a tad too tippy............

So my real bad to have forgotten Peter Cole. He went from sail designing and making, to mast designing to yacht designing - from the Cole 19 to Steak and Kidney the 12m and many numerous in between...........S+K would have won the 1987 Perth Americas Cup if the correct keel was installed when it was launched - and it had not been launched so late - and the Australian defender series had not been so biased to point scoring to those who were winning early in the defender series.............you will know after helming South Australia in that 1987 series.

r13 said..

So my real bad to have forgotten Peter Cole. He went from sail designing and making, to mast designing to yacht designing - from the Cole 19 to Steak and Kidney the 12m and many numerous in between...........S+K would have won the 1987 Perth Americas Cup if the correct keel was installed when it was launched - and it had not been launched so late - and the Australian defender series had not been so biased to point scoring to those who were winning early in the defender series.............you will know after helming South Australia in that 1987 series.

Not me actually - I share the same name, we both were competitive in Lasers and other dinghies but he was a few years ahead of me. Not Tampico either (strike two) she was called Marsude - had a Swanno long cabin for a deckhouse.

Forgive my ignorance but why would David Lyons be in the list of greats?

cisco said..
Yes. Laurie Davidson and Alan Wright. Both Kiwi Legends. John Spencer also worth a mention.
The Doug Peterson 40 odd footers from the 80s are fantastic as well.

Wasn't Doug Peterson American?

seems you guys are all missing the old artists logan and bailey in nz their pre turn of the century boats are still fast with some truly amazing innovations in aus we have also some great designers in the early days swnanson muir halverson alan payne they didnt name the designers trophy for the hobart after him for nothing and his plans are like a work of art

David Lyons
Allan Payne
Swarbrick
Swanson
Joe Adams
Ian Radford
Bruce Farr
Ian Murray
Doug Brooker
Jim Roberts
Ken Beashel
Ken McAlpine
John King
Kanga Birtles

So many great designers mentioned. Thanks for last nights reading, only half way through LightBrigade.
For me It has to be John Spencer, sailed Cherub, Javelin and Flying Ant and been lucky enough to experience some of those NorCal ULDB designs that came after Infidel/Ragtime.

Surprised nobody has mentioned Robert Hick.

Midnight Rambler was an amazing boat as well as the series of robust cedar strip racer/cruisers that followed. Loved his HM1300.

www.mysailing.com.au/news/australia-s-10-greatest-sailing-achievements-no-6-afr-midnight-rambler

lisablairsailstheworld.com/theboat

A