The Sea Witch

Sea Witch - The Original!

Built 1937-1939 at Wilmington Boat Works (WILBO), Wilmington, CA 
Owner: Henry & Barbara Whittier
Titusville, Florida

SHE'S FOR SALE!

Hank didn't tell us but! This from WoodenBoat ...
Page 140, July/August 2010 issue. Jeff Tracy,
owner of Morning Star, alerted us to this.

Email: angelmanketch@gmail.com 

FORMER OWNERS
(1. Haldane & Dorothy Douglas)
(2. Godwin and Deborah Pelissero)
 (3. Robert & Sandy Driscoll)

In January of 2007 we received an email from Henry "Hank" Whittier. He said, "I may have a few current Sea Witch pictures if you are interested... She's now located in Florida, and has a bronze plaque commemorating her 1951 TransPac Class C victory... which may attest to her pedigree!"

We promptly answered, of course, letting Hank know that we were very interested. Then we began waiting for some photos – but the wait extended for months. We'd begun to fear maybe Barbara and Hank had sailed off and disappeared into the sunset without notice. But apparently our emails had got drowned in an ocean of spam. After another attempt on our part, our email got through, and Hank came through with flying colors – and this page is the results..

SEA WITCH TODAY Owners Hank and Barbara Whittier

Hank and Barbara purchased the Sea Witch from the Driscolls in the Spring of 2004, and are presently engaged in refitting her for a future of cruising the Caribbean from their Titusville, Florida, home port. Here's Hank's report on the current status of Sea Witch (June 2007):

"Sea Witch has been undergoing a major refit since September last, quite literally top-down! We rented a 45 - foot lift to replace shackles, blocks, halyards, and completely rewire the lights, including installation of a new
tricolor at the top of the mast and replacement of the spreader lights. The traditional nav lights have been retained but upgraded.

"The hull was repainted with awlgrip primer and six coats of insignia white awlgrip above the waterline and a couple coats of premium ablative blue, below.

"The original color scheme maintained by Dr. Bob Driscoll has been continued (blue/white/yellow), with pale blue decks and cabin top, white topsides (also awlgrip).

"...Although our intention has been to keep Sea Witch as original as possible, the instrument panel has been relocated from its somewhat vulnerable position on the galley sink island over the engine to the berth-side of the aft closet...

"Although the original Sea Witch had no bow pulpit, the
Driscoll family maintained a steel pulpit. Since my wife and I are both past 60, it seemed like a good idea to replace it with a new light weight aluminum pulpit. It weighs less than 60 pounds (not including the light weight teak  platform), so it shouldn't materially alter Sea Witch's handling.

"All-in-all, a lot of work has gone into her support, but it has
been a labor of love... or enchantment, if you like. It may
sound like bragging, but I'd feel very free to wager that no 
other vessel in our marina has attracted the attention or
compliments Sea Witch has!

"When I was much younger, I spent seven months sailing
from Tampa to Palau (Belau, today), and the following
years dreaming of a chance to return to the Pacific "on my
own bottom."

"Considering the age of the Witch... not to mention my 
wife's and mine..., I think we will try to content ourselves
with islands closer to home... the Caribbean!"

Obviously the Sea Witch is in very good hands, and here's wishing Hank and Barbara, and the Sea Witch, many more years of sailing adventure.

EARLIER IMAGES OF SEA WITCH

Among the distinguished former owners of Sea Witch, were Godwin and Deborah Pelissero, of Santa Barbara, California. They owned Sea Witch from 1958 to about 1968 when it was sold to the Driscolls.

We heard from Godwin Pelissero, Jr. In late May of 2007, and he has kindly provided us with a photo of a wonderful painting of Sea Witch, as well as the photos below.

The elder Pelisseros, who were still going strong, at 90 and 86 years of age (2007), commissioned the above painting in the early 1960s.

The artist, Peter Ellenshaw, was a matte painter for Walt Disney, and quite renowned in that field. Peter passed away in February of 2007, at the age of 93. His son, Harrison, has followed in his father's footsteps and, as did his daughter, Lynda Ellenshaw Thompson, who administers their web site at: http://www.ellenshaw.com.

Of his memories of Sea Witch, Godwin, Jr. wrote (or our site):

"Love the site! ...She (Sea Witch) was berthed in Newport Beach, California just down the bay from Hugh Angelman's Sea Rover. I spent many glorious days and nights aboard 'The Witch', mostly sailing to Santa Catalina Island as well as trips south to San Diego. My bunk was the stern bunk next to the galley. I would fall asleep staring up at the stars through the open gangway and awaken to the smells bacon and coffee on the wood stove (later replaced by my father with a butane gas stove; a sure way to identify the true Sea Witch with its tin smoke stack missing).
     "I was a young boy (born in 1951) but I also remember sitting aboard the Sea Rover listening to Mr. Angelman tell stories while he smoked his pipe."

Mr. Pelissero gives us the good news that Kitty Davies, the widow of Charlie Davies, is still alive and well and that his mother, Deborah, corresponds with her regularly. Kitty is pictured in the first photo below, with husband Charles Davies and Godwin, Sr.

Photos Contributed by Godwin Pelissero, Jr.
Photos, left to right: Top: (1) Charles & Kittie Davies w/Godwin Sr. cr: 1963. (2) Charlie Davies w/Godwin Pelissero Sr. (probably Catalina Is, CA) circa: 1963. (3) Sea Witch at Newport Beach, CA circa: 1960. Middle: (1) Off Catalina Island (Probably Moonstone Cove) circa: 1963. (2) Sailing, circa 1963 (Unknown lounging crew). (3) "ditto" Bottom: (1) Port Hueneme, CA (Godwin Sr.) circa: 1963 and (1-2): San Diego, CA Circa. 1960-'61. (2) Newport Beach, 4th of July, 1960 or '61 (3) Lower right photo was one of the photos used by Peter Ellenshaw for the painting. Godwin, Jr. and sister, are on the pulpit in the photo.

One of the things that led to Sea Witch's initial and lasting fame and popularity was that she placed remarkably well in the 1949 and 1951 Transpac races from California to Honolulu, winning the 1951 race on corrected time. Stephen Carlson, of the Sea Quest, has dug up the headline from the TIME/CNN archives: 

"Sea Witch Wins LA to Honolulu Race
July 30, 1951, 2,225 miles, 14 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes."

That surprised a good many people, and sparked a great deal of interest in the design. It became a "class" in itself, and WILBO began receiving orders for other Sea Witches as well as from would-be builders who wanted the plans.

Robert Driscoll Photos
In April, 2009, we heard from Jeanny (Genie) Driscoll, a former daughter-in-law of Robert and Sandy Driscoll, of Blue Water Odyssey circumnavigation (1979-1984). She confirmed these are photos of the original Sea Witch during the time her father-in-law owned it. Genie says the middle photo was taken by her father on the 27th of June, 1990, off the South African coastline      We have since learned (from Stephen Carlson of the Sea Quest) that the Robert and Sandy Driscoll made a second circumnavigation in Sea Witch, in 1988 and owned the boat until they sold it in 2004.

OLDER SEA WITCH PHOTOS
(Click on Thumbnails for Larger View)