The Sea Witch was a famous clipper ship that operated in the 19th century. It was built in 1846 by Smith and Dimon in New York. The ship was renowned for its speed and sleek design and was considered one of the fastest of its time. The Sea Witch measured 192 feet in length and had a displacement of 824 tons. It was made primarily of oak and was fitted with three masts and a rigging system that allowed it to set a large number of sails. This design, along with its slender hull and sharp bow, contributed to its remarkable speed and maneuverability.
Sea witch clipper ship
The famous clipper ship, Sea Witch , was built by Smith & Dimon in their yards at the foot of Fourth Street, New York City in the year 1846. Her plans were drawn by J. W. Griffiths for her owners Howland and Aspinwall, merchants and ship operators of New York. Griffiths was the first marine architect to employ testing models and other scientific principles in ship designing and his Sea Witch design was a drastic innovation in line and construction.
The Sea Witch was launched on December 8, 1846, and soon became famous for her record runs to and from China. There is no doubt that the Sea Witch was the fastest vessel afloat at the time of her launching. Authorities differ in deciding which was the first clipper ship, but some experts give the Sea Witch the distinction of being the first true clipper.
She was small, overall length 192' with 43' beam and 908 tons, compared to the 2000 ton clippers which were built in later years. In spite of her comparatively smaller spars and sails she established records which have never been beaten by ships under sail. It has often been said that her lines were never improved upon in clippers which folowed but their lines were merely enlargements and variations of the famous Sea Witch design.
Captain Robert Waterman commanded the Sea Witch on most of her record breaking runs. He was famous for his shrewd and skillful piloting which pushed his ship to new and almost unbelievable records. From the day of her launching until the untimely wreck on a ledge off the coast of Cuba in 1856, the Sea Witch consistently established new records. Her two fastest runs from Canton, China to New York stand this day as all time records for sailing vessels. She was famous for fast runs to California too, being the first ship to sail from New York to San Francisco, 'round the horn, in less than one hundred days.
Our Model
The Sea Witch is a miniature of the original ship which has been built from scaled-down plans based on the original design. The hull has dull black topsides and antiqued copper-green bottom which simulate the corrosive action of the salt water on the copper bottom. The deck houses are white with blue tops and other fittings include detailed hatches, ship boats, water casks and other fine deck details. The base is mahogany with brass finished nameplates on each side of the name block.
Clipper ship Sea Witch
A lthough it wasn’t the first clipper ship to be designed and built in New York, Sea Witch is one of the ships that marks the advent of the great clipper ship era in America. During a relatively short period of time, from the mid 1840s to perhaps a decade later, the rise of naval design, as evidenced in the design of clipper ships, transformed American shipping, propelling American ship design into world preeminence.
All of this primarily occurred in just two places: Boston and New York. In Boston Donald McCay was making a name for himself with ships like Stag Hound, Sovereign of the Seas, Westward Ho and, of course, the great Flying Cloud. In New York John Willis Griffiths, was perhaps the first to approach the subject of ship design with a mathematical scientific approach, as evidenced by his design of Sea Witch.
Griffiths’ radicalized ship design by rejecting the prevailing concept of “a cod’s head, mackerel tail” shape of a ship that the British used for genrations, excellent for cargo-carrying but deficient in speed.
Griffiths’ design hollowed out the bows, narrowed the stern and had fine runs aft; his ships would be fast. The first of these ships, Rainbow, was built for the China trade. The owners delayed Rainbow’s completion for more than a year, beleiving it would be a disaster.
Rainbow was launched in 1845, departed for China and returned to New York in a record time of seven months, 17 days for the round trip.
It was Griffiths next design, Sea Witch, that cemented his reputation. Built in 1846, Sea Witch, was the gold standard of the clipper ship era. Designed to carry porcelain and tea, Sea Witch was 192 feet LOA with a 43-foot beam and a main mast 140 feet tall.
In March of 1849 Sea Witch, with Capt. Robert Waterman in command, sailed into New York from Hong Kong two weeks before it was expected. A 14,000-nautical mile passage in 74 days and 14 hours, a record so substantial it was only eclipsed by a multihull sailboat in 2003.
It was just one of many fast passages. Sea Witch went on to earn its owners substantial profit.
When gold was discovered in California, Sea Witch established the short-lived record from New York to San Francisco of 97 days, the first vessel to do so in less than 100 days. In 1854, that record was beaten by Flying Cloud, which made the passage in 89 days, 8 hours.
By the end of the 1850s, Sea Witch was consigned to carrying steerage passengers from China to Cuba. The clipper ran aground off Havana in 1856.
Let’s join Captain Waterman for a noon sight aboard Sea Witch. It is February10 (use the 2022 almanac) and Sea Witch is bound for New York. The height of eye is 20 feet and Waterman is taking an upper limb sight of the sun as it crosses his meridian. The DR puts the ship at S 25° 22’ by W 18° 25’. The Hs of the sun is 79° 18’.
A. What is the time of meridian passage?
B. What is the Ho?
C. What is the latitude?
Answers:
A. Meridian passage is 13:27:40 GMT
B. Ho is 78° 57.4’
C. Latitude is S 25° 17.3’
Sea witch clipper ship
The Sea Witch was one of the earliest and most famous clipper ships, built in 1846, New York. Designed for quick passage the clipper ships sleek hulls knifed through the oceans at record breaking speeds laden with perishable cargoes.
Acres of sail caught the wind and drove some of the clippers faster than many of the steam and diesel ships of today.
Sailing her maiden voyage to China from New York she set her first of many records.
Sea Witch broke that record by making the return voyage from China to New York in only 74 days and 14 hours, an impressive record that was never beaten by a merchant sailing ship.
By 1850 the California gold rush was in high gear as busy trade from east to west coast became ever more important. Sea Witch changed routes and began sailing from New York to San Francisco. She set yet another record of making the trip in less than 100 days.
After only three years she returned to her original China route. After several years of record breaking voyages the crew mutinied in 1855. Sea Witch completed her voyage to China but struck a reef off the coast of Cuba on her return. Heavy seas battered the hull to pieces after only 10 years of service.
Shown here is but one example of many of the clipper ships that have been custom built, repaired and restored by Master Model Builders with more than 35 years experience.
This model is dry rigged as she was originally for maximum detailed view of intricacy and quality of rigging workmanship.
She has a solid wood hull which has been painted with a high quality copper paint, a less expensive alternative to copper planking.
A custom Cherry wood case was built to prevent harm and ensure lasting beauty. Vertical stiles are made of aluminum and painted copper to match the hull work. Includes an engraved brass nameplate. Ship is mounted on a matching wood keel support and secured to the base.
Woods are hand rubbed with numerous coats of sealer and fine natural oils for a radiant finish. Enclosure of durable, shatter resistant Optix. Ideal illumination from above utilizing low voltage halogen light with 110 volt on/off switch cord. Large back panel opens for easy model access.
When completing restoration work we retain as much of the original model as possible. Creating seamless repairs to existing woods, replacing yards and masts as needed and then staining to match. Rigging lines are replaced with high quality waxed line to ensure long term accurate tension.
27" long x 11" deep x 21" tall
An investment piece that is certain to endure the true test of time. A one of a kind work of art that has been well restored to last a lifetime and more as a valued family heirloom.
Freestanding Seawitch Model Display
One of our restored antique Seawitch models with custom case made of Mahogany and exotic Wenge. Includes overhead no heat lighting, easy open back panel and intricate base supports with small display shelf.
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The Ship Model Masters of Raven Arts in Washington State are the Nation's premier custom model ship building service located just West of Seattle, WA
Custom built ship models such as this Seawitch Clipper three masted tall ship are built by professional Master Model Builders. Each one is a custom work of fine art built by hand in the USA.
Available in a multitude of sizes and configurations.
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This design, along with its slender hull and sharp bow, contributed to its remarkable speed and maneuverability. The ship's first captain was Robert Waterman, who set out on its maiden voyage to China in 1846. The Sea Witch quickly gained a reputation for its speed, making numerous journeys between China and the United States in record-breaking times.
It was especially adept at sailing against the prevailing winds, thanks to its innovative design and skilled crew. The Sea Witch gained further fame in 1849 when it raced against another famous clipper ship, the Rainbow. The two ships raced from China to New York, with the Sea Witch emerging as the victor by a significant margin. This victory solidified its reputation as the fastest clipper ship of the era. Unfortunately, the Sea Witch's career was short-lived. In 1851, while sailing off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, it caught fire and was lost at sea. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but it marked the end of the iconic clipper ship's legacy. Despite its relatively brief time in service, the Sea Witch left a lasting impact on the world of clipper ships. Its innovative design and unparalleled speed set the standard for future vessels of its kind. Even today, the Sea Witch is remembered as one of the most legendary clipper ships in history..
Reviews for "Legendary Sailors: The Crew of the Sea Witch Clipper Ship"
- Jane - 1/5 stars - The Sea Witch Clipper Ship was a huge disappointment. The ship looked impressive from afar, but once I got on board, I was overwhelmed by the rickety structure and the lack of maintenance. The deck was dirty and covered in bird droppings, and the crew seemed disinterested and unhelpful. The highlight of the trip was supposed to be the beautiful coastal views, but the windows were so dirty that I could barely see anything. Overall, I do not recommend this ship for anyone looking for a pleasant sailing experience.
- Mark - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to go on the Sea Witch Clipper Ship, but my experience fell short of my expectations. Firstly, the ship was overcrowded, making it difficult to find a decent spot to sit or stand. The bathrooms were poorly maintained and had a foul odor, which was unpleasant throughout the journey. The food served on board was also mediocre at best, with limited options for vegetarians. Additionally, the ship lacked entertainment or any activities to keep passengers engaged during the long journey. Overall, I would advise looking for other options if you want a more enjoyable sailing experience.
- Sarah - 2/5 stars - My experience on the Sea Witch Clipper Ship was not what I had hoped for. The ship was old and worn out, with a musty smell that lingered everywhere. The cabins were cramped and uncomfortable, and the beddings felt damp. The staff seemed disorganized and unprofessional, often forgetting simple requests or providing incorrect information. The lack of onboard activities or entertainment made the journey quite boring, especially on long stretches. I would recommend exploring other cruise options before settling for the Sea Witch Clipper Ship.