Grand Gesture Models has been in the business of custom yacht and launch model making since 1992. The business commenced making full models of working vessels such as the Queenscliff Couta Boat and the New Zealand Mullet Boat and famous contemporary racing yachts such as Herreshoff’s Ticonderoga and Sparkman & Stephens Finisterre.

The principal of the business is Tom Stephenson, a former boat builder and successful Australian sailor, best known for winning the Half Ton Cup in 1975 and for which he was subsequently named the Australian Yachtsman of the Year in 1976. 

This background together with the pending 50th Sydney to Hobart Race (sailed in Dec 1994) was enough to inspire him to make a half model of every winner of the race since its inception to celebrate the yacht design history of the race. He duly set about sourcing the plans of each boat and the project was completed and subsequently acquired by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in time for the celebratory race where it is now housed. 

Grand Gesture Models has further added each succeeding year’s winner together with several of the First-to-Finish boats such as Morning Glory, Nokia, Sayonara, Skandia, Ballyhoo and Apollo. The collection has received generous accolades from within the sport and the industry from design offices such as Farr Yacht Design, Sparkman & Stephens and Murray, Burns Dovell.

This work also inspired several other major (more than 30 models) half model collections such as the Peter Cavill/Norman Hotel collection of the Brisbane to Gladstone Race Winners (1948-present), and collections at both the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron and the Sandringham Yacht Club of significant yachts in both club’s histories. 

This established track record in half models logically led to commissions for full models. Grand Gesture Models has now completed many impressive full model projects of both yachts and launches. The purpose of full models can vary from concept models to assist designers and clients in finalizing a new build project brief to individuals requiring a detailed replica of their boat. 

The business has recently completed its most significant full model project; a 1:50 scale model of a 60metre Exploration Yacht, ULYSSES.