History

The Bluebird was designed by Sydney ship building engineer, the late Mr Ken Watts and first appeared in the September 1947 edition of 'Seacraft' as study plans.

Mr Watts conceived 'Bluebird' during the war years when he pondered the sort of affordable yacht he could build after wars end.

The concept was for a small low cost family keel yacht for amateur construction in plywood. Ken Watts never actually built one for himself, but went on to design other yachts including the popular Daydream.

The first two Victorian 'Bluebirds' were launched in 1948 and sailed at Sandringham Yacht Club. Later that year the first N.S.W Bluebird was launched while several more were at various stages of construction. One of the pioneers in plywood yacht construction in Australia, they quickly became popular in all states. As their good performance under sail was recognised, they soon doubled as racing yachts and by the late 1950s racing fleets began forming at various clubs around Australia.

By the early 1960s, their extreme popularity lead to their production in fibreglass and hundreds were also built in this medium to the same basic measurements. In the 1964 N.S.W. championships, fibreglass yachts dominated and they continued to be virtually mass produced until well into the 1970s. Through those decades their claim to being "Australia's Peoples Yacht" was never disputed and many thousands of sailors began their keel boat sailing in them.

The Victorian Bluebird Association has been active since the 1960s. Today's fleet is mainly based at Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and Hobsons Bay Yacht Club where both Summer and Winter regattas still attract double figures and the competition is fierce. Those that sail them today consider them as relevant as they ever were and pre-loved boats are in demand.