WITCH
Above: the first
layer of deck
ready to fit; water
check dovetail
detail; new plank
fitted ahead of
the rudder tube.
Below: all that
was left of her
after the fireWITCH
EIGHT TONNE FAST
CRUISER DESIGNED
AND BUILT IN 1902
BY CHARLES
SIBBICK & CO,
COWESLOA
36ft
(10.97m)LW L
27ft (8.23m)
BEAM
8ft 4in
(2.43m)
DRAUGHT
6ft 9in
(2.05m)
SAIL AREA
(GAFF CUTTER)
970sq ft
(90.12m²)
SAIL AREA
(BERMUDAN)
650sq ft
(60.3m²)clinker dinghy, so planks were persuaded back in
position and refastened with bronze screws, damaged
planks around the chain plates were replaced and I
splined about half the topsides with tapered strips of
Douglas fir. I had replaced seven planks or sections of
planks with very nice long lengths of Douglas Fir from
Stones in Salcolmbe, proper pitch pine no longer being
available. Five planks and garboards were still to fix.
Sole bearers were replaced, and temporary ply sole
boards fitted. The original mahogany locker tops for the
forepeak and saloon were repaired, some of the
bulkheads, also mahogany were ready to fit in their
original position as was the saloon door. I was lucky
because I was able to study Thalassa, a 48 foot yawl
built by Sibbick in 1903 but completed by Faye in
Southampton and Saunterer a nearly identical yawl from- This allowed me to see how the various parts of
interior woodwork I had would have fitted in Witch and
how cabinets would have fitted around them
On deck the king planks were repaired and refitted
with a rebate cut under the outer edge for the new ply
deck to tuck under. The fore and lazarette hatches were
repaired or replaced with new teak and the skylight
rebuilt around the existing original top section. The new
deck was also being prepared, 3 inch wide strips of 6mm
ply with beaded edges simulating the original deck were
painted white and ready to fit.
Some of the frames ahead of the sternpost and the
false keel were also replaced with new grown oak as was
the upper stem and breast hook and a new steel
fabricated engine bed was made.
Although the time spent restoring her over nine
years was huge the actual material cost was relatively
small because so much of the hull was original (maybe
90 per cent) and she was so well made. There was of
course more to do on the deck; a layer of 9mm ply
over the 6mm then 13mm of Douglas fir to the original
deck pattern plus covering boards, toe rails and
companionway hatch and coaming then spars, sails,
engine. I had even chosen the fabrics for the interior
upholstery, a 1902 Art Nouveau Liberty print pattern,
obviously not what she would have had originally, but
period and fun.
At 12.30 on Monday 25 January a fire started in the
car repair workshop next door and the fire spread to
most of the Medina Village destroying Witch as well as
the 1927 Milne ketch Fedoa and another 30 or so boats
and several businesses. A sad end for Witch after 114
years and maybe six months from the deck and
remaining planking being finished, and all about 100
metres from where she was built.
So what happens next? Well probably nothing. I still
have the brass rudder head (newly repaired by Classic
Marine) inscribed “Witch 1902” as well as the original
iron tiller and the compass, they were safe in my flat. A
few metal parts were salvaged from the ashes including
the iron floors and hanging knees plus a few bronze
fittings, keel bolts and copper rivets. All that was left of
four tons of lead keel were a few small lumps.
I took the offset measurements a couple of years
ago, so it would be possible to accurately loft her lines
and start again and I also have thousands of
photographs, dimensions and detailed deck and
interior plans. There are many classic boats that are
considered to be authentic restorations even though
they contain none of the original wood, but the cost of
rebuilding Witch by traditional methods would be
huge. For now, that’s where the story ends.