2011.  Though 'Wedjit' looks a little jaded now, 20 years on,  she is still as solid as a rock and the 2 pot poly paint still sound.  She does need a  little bit of TLC to her varnish work, but she has been maintained with sikkens so it will be an easy job to revive. a coat of paint on the rather faded topsides, (2 pack) or even a polish, will bring her right back.  sadly Peter now feels he is too old to enjoy her and has to sell, hopefully we have an enthusiast to take her on.  she is one of the best built boats IO have ever seen, and fitted out with no thought of expense, but over 19 years of building! with steel leeboard, shaped for performance, and also double hinged for ease of short tacking, special wire winches and all other refinements, she is a great example of the Leeboard Waterwitch.

Sadly Peter decided to swallow the anchor and approached the EOG to help find a new and careful owner for her.  I believe I have done just that and was on hand to witness the handshake as Peter handed over to Tim.  below a few pics of Peter and Wedjit at the handover. She is a well built and cleverly organised Waterwitch.

Below a link to a film clip on U Tube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS0Z3glomM8

Owned by Doug and Jo Hoadley, built by Doug and Alan Lonton.

First Frames

First Plank

Full Hull

Ready for launch

Keel Pattern

Patio Furniture!

Transporting (note the serious trailer)

Launching

In the English Channel

The varnished cabin sides have gone in favour of paint, but the deck repairs were all done and Reg seemed happy with all the work done.  Reg was about to set off for the Netherlands for the rest of the summer, hope we hear more about his adventures in 'Blackwater Witch'.

Update July 2016. I found 'Blackwater Witch' tucked down behind the Tollesbury Cruising Club in amongst the boats stored there. A chap working on a boat confirmed my thoughts, when I saw the TV ariel on her, someone had bought it just to live on!

Update September 2012, up for sale on the Bay for  £4350.   needs a little TLC!  now shown as Brighton... though we hear she is still at Newhaven and the owner, Frank is looking for a sympathetic buyer to restore and sail her.

The square hole is a drain, the cockpit floor being sealed. The interior of this boat is very spartan in build and equipment,  however, not a lot in it at all, especially when compared with others on this page, thus it's light displacement.

'Rosy' being made ready for transporting.

Tiller cover a must for the Mediterranean!   And fender covers.

Yep! it's an Atalanta 26' built by Fairey Marine. Must be a 26' as the 31' had an aft cabin. Built using hot moulded Agba (Mahogany) What about the one nearest the camera - Fairey Swordsman??

Barry (What a find!)

As a result of her exploits and experience the designer was persuaded to offer the option of building in extra hull freeboard, and it works, supplying headroom without losing sailing ability.  This has been added to the drawings we offer on CD.

Dave Hunter believes she may be running without her mizzen in this pic, probably when on the Humber in the ownership of Tony Mossop. 

Further research finds three boats of the same name, so which is she?  We think either she has just changed hands again, Jan 06, or we have an  owner for one of the other 'Witchcraft's' we have heard about. as we have a Julia recently registering with us.

More confusing still is Julia has the same surname as another WW owner further down the page with 'Dawn', ex Bewitched' ex 'Dawn'!  Seems they were married nearly 20 years ago!  Now I am getting confused....  So we have several 'Witchcraft's and one of them knows the owner of 'Bewitched', now 'Dawn'.  thing is which Witchcraft is which!!  More pics and info please! Anyone got the sail numbers to help here!!!   Well done Paul, his WW is sail no 68 and is 'Dawn', ex 'Bewitched',  so I can separate him out, now we have to figure out the 3 Witchcraft's!    All I need is a caldron!!!  (Feb 06, have filtered out another one, she is the same boat as was sold to Julia.)

The lower pic is of Witchcraft in an Essex creek, as now  owned by Julia and Pete.  Sadly they have had to put her up for sale as they have no time to use her.  See the 'For Sale' page, August 06.

Unfortunately, the only information on this WW is in a strange language (Possibly Serb/Croat)

http://web.vip.hr/wturnsek.vip/temida2.htm  Here is a link to Walters web page showing the same pic as we have here, it is all in Croat, so you will need the 'Babel fish' to translate it!

You have a picture of an unknown Waterwitch in Ipswich.

I think the picture was taken in the year 2000. She has been out of the water for the last 1 & 1/2 years.  I purchased her in September 2005, and will proudly be placing her back in the water next spring. See attachment for picture taken in 2003.  Her name is 'Bewitched'. 

Many Thanks,

Paul Meecham.  See below for update!

February 06, Paul has decided to rename her with the name she was first given by the famous author Frank Carr CBE.  So we will see her out next season as 'Dawn'  Isn't that nice!  Well done.  Sail number 68, as you can see in the pics below!

Paul sent in a copy of the 1962 article from Y.M where the builder, Mr Ling of Rochford described the building of 'Dawn' and time taken, 2,230 man hours total!  Built of 5/8th ply on 12" centred frames, she is strong!

2012 and we have heard from Phil who is a member of a Rock band, 'Dog Salad'  another member of the band owns 'Dawn' now and she appears in the back ground of one of their videos! 

http://youtu.be/V2ltXpnI104

'Penny'  What a nice shot!  Thank you To David Wood for sending in the pics of his father's boat.  Hope the new owner steps forward to enrol.

I have now completed the rebuild with the assistance of Dave Sharp, owner of Sharp Marine restoration and Joinery (http://www.woodenboatsvancouver.com) and other than the spars, all has been repainted, including all new mahogany cockpit combing, mainmast tabernacle, and rubrails. I am currently replacing the fuel line, and will try and get more service from the Volvo. Expect to have her back in the water in the next few months.

 On another note, I found a journal from my trip to Dartmouth in 1968 that I had mentioned in a previous post. In it, I discovered that the Waterwitch I had sailed on was named "Julia". She was owned by a Mr. John Price and the builder was a Mr. John Booth. Auxiliary power was from a 6 HP Lister diesel, and the sail number was YMW1. Yes, you read that right. I still haven't found the photo with me at the tiller, but I will forward it when I do.

Aha! January 06, Julia has just registered with us, welcome!   The WW is 'Witchcraft', moored in the Colne and fitting out ready for, hopefully a trip through the French Canals.  Speak to Doug the WW advisor, he did just that some years ago! 

Another from Warren.  He says he thinks this was built by a team of house builders!  (turns out to be School teacher and colleagues!) She is seen here of Filey, having just raised anchor.  Note the lack of any rails and the sailing attire!   1960's again!  Where is she now?   Sail no 87.

November 2008.  I have had a great letter in and have to print it:-

Came across your website by chance and even though I'm not a sailor  myself.  I can maybe add a bit of information to one of the photographs in the gallery. This would relate to sail number 87 which is pictured off Filey. 

 I am familiar with this particular boat at the around the time that it is pictured. During the period 1967 to 1972 this boat was certainly owned by the resident woodwork teacher Bob Hall at Filey school. It spent the winter months residing on a trailer outside the metal work shop and at the beginning of each season would be launched over the beach at Filey before making its way round to its summer mooring in Scarborough harbour.

 The boats name at the time was 'Waterwitch of Filey' hence the long name board on the stern.   I believe the teacher in question is the chap standing on the cabin roof facing aft.  I  also believe that Mr Hall may have been the boats builder although I can't confirm that for certain but it certainly fits in with his profession at that time.

Unfortunately I don't know how long after this period he owned this particular boat as I left the school in 1972 to pursue my own path in life. Hope this is some interest,

Regards,

Dave Brigham.

We are very grateful to Dave for offering this information, another boat on the Gallery named!

May 2012, by chance  a Stephen Eblet was working, as a plumber in a house in Filey and noticed the name board, 'Waterwitch of Filey' in the kitchen.  His customer was non other than the builder Bob Hall.  Stephen was one of his students years ago when Bob taught carpentry in Filey.  He Googled the net and found us!  Stephen got in touch to tell us that he thought Wendy seen in Scarborough in 2004 by me, was the same boat and he has put Bob in touch with the EOG.  Bob has offered to send some information to add to this page. Now we just have to find the boat now!

Bob at the age of 97, he says he cannot tell how many family and friends, colleagues and ex pupils, have sailed with him over the years at least 34 have made North Sea crossings aboard!  Sounds as if WW of Filey gave a great deal of joy to a lot of people, well done to Bob and all who helped build and sailed her. 

Long may she continue to sail!

Bob adds a post script, over the years he has met up with other WW's 'Kayem', built by Ken Robinson in W. Yorkshire  sailed through the canal to Goole and down the Humber to the sea, then on to Whitby, stretched 2 ft.

'Merry Jane' met in the Netherlands in Veere.

'Mekong'    belonged to colleague Arthur Godfrey, who was the 3rd  owner and the one to give her the name, he was into diving and bought the wreck of the same name a WWI ship, see his book 'Wrecks of the Yorkshire Coast'. She was berthed in Scarborough for some years.

Where are these boats now?

The owner is now interested in a partnership. Nov 06

Our latest Registrant sent this in from the Netherlands.  She is a steel WW, but with a slight look of the Eventide about her!

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F109044/

Green with envy here!  Good sailing and we want to read/publish the log!

He went on to sail Curlew the length of America!  Wish we knew more about his travels....

Hi John

Thank you for your email dated 23 July 07. You asked a few questions which I will try to answer. The plan that I purchased in 1981 is the timber shallow draught version, with Lee boards along with the extra supplement of the steel version. After mulling over the plans for some time I decided to use only the timber drawings, and commenced building in Jan 81.

I did keep the steel drawings but as you know we are currently sailing around the Med and I am unable to put my hands on them as they are locked away in a tea chest in my garage in Perth WA. We are now sailing along the east coast of Sardinia , now in Cannigione. Towards the end of August will sail over to Fiumecino near Rome for at least 6 weeks. Friends are visiting who wish to sight see Rome. I would like to purchase from your group-a burgee. While there we would have an address to send it to. (Would you be able to give me information on method of payment?) A little about how and why. My friend built a timber WW Which I helped sail from Sydney around to Melbourne. It was a pleasant trip, I felt very comfortable in her and was easy to handle. Although we encountered bad weather (the worst I’ve been in then) from Wilson Prom to Western port bay. The decision was made then to build one. Not being a woodworker I decided to build in steel. Another friend who worked in the ali industry convinced me that ali was the way to go. Aluminium is a beautiful material to work with and quite easy to weld
with the correct equipment

Building commenced. After much pain, suffering, screaming and shouting (you know the usual) SHE was launched on 27th August 1987. At that time we had a centre board instead of the Lee boards, quite a heavy mast and galvanize rigging. You may have guessed SHE sailed like a DOG!!  Improvements had to be made. I managed to sell the mast and rigging and replaced it with a smaller diameter mast and used SS rigging. Then built a lifting keel which contains the one ton of lead.

Changed the motor from a 20hp Kelvin P4 – weight 360kg to a   30hp Yanmar – weight 130kg. Now SHE sails very well and feels very safe. There is very little in the way of cruising grounds around Perth so I decide to join in on the racing to improve my boat handling skills. Usually I’d wait until everyone went through the start line then I would follow them around the course finishing ¾ of an hour after the last boat. After much blood sweat and beers we were crossing the start line when the gun went and finishing a healthy NOT LAST. I do actually have a fastest time pennant !!! Only because all four boats in front of me were disqualified for sailing the wrong course

Over the years other improvements have made here and there. One is a lifting rudder blade with bearings to take the trim tab of the wind steering gear. A very substantial pushpit which carries a wind generator ,a solar panel  110w and removable davits to carry the inflatable dinghy along with the wind steering gear.

While sailing up the East coast we met an English couple sailing a yacht with a Junk rig. He related to us the pro’s and con’s of the rig. So now I’ve taken an interest in these rigs. My question to you if I may – is there anyone in your group who may have a Junk rig. If so may I be able to contact them.

We are not exactly sure when we will sail into British waters but would love to catch up with the group when we do

Kind regards
Ray and Brenda of Dark Horse

The work I've done so far is as follows.
1 Complete strip out of all fittings interior and deck hardware.
2 Removal of all electrical wiring and accessories(For rewiring)
3 removal of all cockpit woodwork.
4 removal of all deck and bilge paint back to bare wood.
5. removal of all soft /rotten plywood
6 removal of toerails to enable sealing of deck hull join with woodseal/epoxy
7 Removal of all engine/gearbox ancilary parts and reconditioned . engiine block and head, stripped back to bare metal and painted with hammerite.
8 removal of hull and deck from aft stbd quarter as photos and replaced with new ply and new frame sections doubled where neccessary, resheathed with epoxy /glass mat.
9 removal of keelbolts.
10
 
jobs to do
 
1.replace cut out ply sections.
2. reinstall toe rails
3 reinstall engine /gearbox
4 paint bilges
5 rewire with larger battery bank and alternator charge monitor
6 install new cockpit lockers,sole frames etc.
7.paint decks
8 reinstall new and reconditioned interior and deck hardware.
9.removal of any brass screws and replacement with bronze
10 finish crack repairs to coachroof
replace keel and keelbolts.
11 reinstall portholes
12 painting and varnishing.
13 antifouling
 

Australian registered name 'My Morning Star'
Buillt by N H Cornford
Keel laid April 2nd 1971
Launched Sydney March 19th 1973
Registered Tonnage 10.60
Australian registered

I have tried to trace the builder but to no avail but I have managed to trace the materials used Western Red Cedar for the main construction and Meranti for the fit out.

 

Certainly a novel way of displaying the boat's name!

At present the boat is in France where they live now and maybe not as pristine as she appears here!

December 2014 and we hear that Teela Brown is being cared for at last.  But she is no longer to be a sailing Waterwitch.  instead after 50,000 miles sailing she has been cut in two and is being extended by 5 metres, yes 15ft and made into an inland waterways barge.   Not what I would recommend, but at least she will be used again, as Tony and his wife intend to live aboard and cruise the inland waters of Europe.  We will watch progress.

September 2015.  I have had a message from one of my Seagull customers, who knows Tony and has passed on some news.  And some photos!

'Teela Brown' their WW has been saved.  she was languishing in a yard, unloved. Tony and his wife have decided to convert 'boat' as they called her. to 'long boat'!!  They have literally cut the WW in two and added a 6 m approx section to the centre.  They are doing away with the rig and possibly the ballast and converting her to more like a canal barge.  They intend to retire to her and wander the inland waters of France and Europe.  A fitting use for 'Teela Brown'!

What an amazing conversion!  more power to the builders elbow!

John

(there is an inboard rudder fitted!??)  Makes me wonder if this is indeed a WW or a hybrid? anyone know?

Now, 2014, owned by David Alcock

Thanks for the pictures David, smart looking Waterwitch.

Not sure where this is... yet.  Shannon has come back, it was in my back yard on the Blackwater in Essex, during 2016!

I have now looked her up and traced her, she is STEEL and a Hacathian!

A real solid vessel!  a foot longer than a WW but from 10ft away you could never tell!

  

Now look at her, smart and shiny as well as seaworthy, well done Shannon!

Tim was the first owner of 'Kathleen' and we are very pleased he has taken time to send these in.

Feel free to post any photos, I'll send a prettier one to offset the ugly ones. Yes the rust is pretty much all from the inside, the exterior was hot zinc sprayed and is pretty much rust free. One of the more serious problems is the centre keel, which is full of concrete and scrap iron, has been wet and degrading for years, I saw some over-plating on the keel when I bought her. All dodgy over-plating is being cut out and replaced with inserts. Some of the concrete, which has reduced to rubble, has been taken out, I've filled it with high resin cement. If there is anyone who has worked with a similar problem, I would love to hear opinions and advice. There was a little rusty water seeping from the top of the keel into the bilges, which alerted me to the problem. The rust through in the bilges I found with a hammer test (if I can whack a screwdriver through it, replace it). There were several penny sized points of through rust, so I cut out panels. The first welder was a local fisherman, but the work was of very bad standard and I had to cut it out. I have found a professional, but he's booked up for weeks. 

I'd be happy to receive any advice. 

Regards. Shannon

Contact us on enquiries@eventides.org.uk if you can give any advice to Shannon.