Advertisement for Charles Bailey Jr’s boatbuilding business, published in the Auckland Weekly News Christmas issue, 1905.

Reproduced courtesy of Auckland City Libraries, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Charles Bailey Jr built Prize for Bill Endean in 1923, a miniature version of a 53-footer he’d designed for the Tongan king 10 years earlier. Prize was the first large keel yacht to be constructed in Auckland after World War I.

Photographer unknown. Gifted by M. Evans. New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa (1994.162)

Bailey & Lowe (Walter Bailey’s firm) built Alva, this 28-foot (8.53m) mullet boat, for Bert Cork in 1903. Alva was a leading yacht of the Ponsonby Cruising Club until Cork sold her in 1911.

Photographer unknown, Bailey & Lowe Album, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa (1991.34.1)

Charles Bailey Jr

(1864–1952)

Charles Bailey Jr – ‘the grand old man of Auckland yachting’ – continued the tradition of excellence in boat design and building begun by his father and namesake.

Bailey-brother split

In 1878, 14-year-old Charles joined the boatbuilding business of his father Charles Bailey Sr. He and younger brother Walter (1867–1927) acquired their father’s business when Charles Sr retired in 1894. They traded as C. & W. Bailey, producing many fine craft, until the partnership was dissolved in 1898 after financial difficulties.

Charles started in business again under his own name. Walter founded a rival firm, Bailey & Lowe, which became renowned for its small yachts and motor launches.

Yachts fit for kings

Yachts fit for kings

Charles Bailey Jr was soon running one of the busiest boatbuilding firms in the southern hemisphere. He was known for his excellent craftsmanship and race-winning yachts.

Previously with his father he’d designed small centreboard racers. Keelboats now took centre stage, including Speedwell (1907), one of his most famous.

In 1913, he designed the 53-foot (16.15m) super-yacht Onelua for King George II of Tonga. He had strong links with the Pacific islands and built numerous trading boats for them. He later produced a smaller version of Onelua with the race-winning keelboat Prize (1923).

X factor

The design of the popular 14-foot (4.27m) X Class came from the Bailey firm. The prototype, Desert Gold, was designed by Bailey’s son Gladwyn in 1916 and constructed by Charles Jr.

Arch rivals

Arch rivals

The Baileys had a longstanding rivalry with the Logan brothers – Arch, Jock (John) and Robert Jr – trying to outdo each other in their boats’ performance. Their competitiveness undoubtedly influenced New Zealand’s evolution as a leader in yachting design and construction.

For his part, Charles Bailey Jr produced more than 1,000 boats in his 88 years.

ON DISPLAY

See Iron Duke (1920), an early X Class centreboarder built by Charles Bailey Jr, in the Gallery of Yachts.