Hugh Angelman ~ Sea Witch Just Listed

Seamist is a classic Hugh Angleman designed Sea Witch.

Hugh Angelman -- "The Grand Old Man of Pacific Yachting"
Hugh Angelman was known as the Grande Old Man of the Pacific, famous for designing the legendary "Mutiny on the Bounty" ship for the original film, as well as Humphrey Bogart's yacht Santana, and the ocean-crossing Sea Witches

~The Sea Witch Design

In 1937, Hugh designed what many consider the crown jewel of his career -- the 36-foot, gaff-rigged auxiliary ketch, Sea Witch.

The Sea Witch is a 36-foot ketch that not only became a classic but, in spite of the relatively small number built, went on to win the Transpac race and become a "class" in itself -- known as the "Sea Witch Class. " It is a boat that has never since been equalled, much less surpassed, for romantic appearance and living space and comfort in a small cruising design.
It is 36 feet with more than a 13-foot beam -- big enough to live aboard and cruise the world in relative comfort, yet small enough for one man to handle and maintain.

~ Racing Success
The years 1949 and 1951 brought considerable acclaim to Angelman's Sea Witch design. The beamy, gaff-rigged Sea Witch surprised many by placing admirably well in the Transpac race from California to Honolulu in those years -- in fact, it won the 1951 race on corrected time, and the design received considerable attention in the print media as a result.

Seamist was originally built in 1957 for a Los Angeles surgeon of Danish ancestry, who held the firm belief that the Danes were the finest shipwrights in the world. True to that conviction, he commissioned master shipwright William H. Jansen, and Seamist was built at the Jansen Shipyard in Denmark.

Seamist holds a distinction unique among Sea Witches -- she is the only one to carry a figurehead on her bow. The mermaid figurehead was a gift from William H. Jansen to her first owner, and the yacht was accordingly christened Lil Havfrue -- Danish for "Little Mermaid. " Her third owner later renamed her Seamist, the name she carries today. In her early years she built a rich history sailing the passage between Los Angeles and Catalina Island, a run she made regularly for some forty years.

Seamist was constructed from a selection of the finest boat building timbers available. The hull is 1' 3/8" thick solid African mahogany, bronze fastened. The frames are sawn Oak, double fetched. The decks are Teak. Below, the interior combines African mahogany and teak throughout, with a classic teak and holly sole. The spars are Spruce.

With a beam of over thirteen feet, the interior is voluminous and offers genuinely spacious living areas rare in a yacht of this size. The centrepiece is a large folding teak dining table, flanked by two generous settee/berths. The original design incorporates removable backrests in the middle of the settees, that convert them into double sized port and starboard berths. The fitout rewards close inspection -- as the eye wanders it discovers carvings, turned woodwork, stained glass, oil lamps and fine ropework, all remnants of a bygone nautical era.

The galley is practical and well thought out, with excellent storage throughout. The two-burner propane stove is a classic piece in keeping with the yacht's character, and features a certified installation complete with a gas detector. Refrigeration is handled by an upright front-loading fridge fitted with a modern Frigoboat 12V compressor, while a particularly unique feature is a second top-loading fridge accessible directly from the cockpit -- ideal for keeping drinks cold without going below. The original cutlery and crockery remain aboard, much of it never used.

The accommodation comprises a private forward cabin with a large single berth, a quarter berth, and two double berths in the saloon -- generous sleeping capacity for a yacht of this size.

Over the years Seamist has received significant upgrades to her electrical systems. The house bank comprises 800Ah of lithium batteries, providing generous reserve capacity. A Victron inverter/charger, BEP battery monitor and Fusion stereo have all been tastefully integrated behind a cabinet door, keeping the installation clean and out of sight.

The cockpit is impressively large for a design of this era, with ample room for the entire crew while sailing. Wide, comfortable benches make it a wonderful place to lounge while swinging at anchor. The ship's wheel is a piece of maritime history in its own right, salvaged from a retired US Navy warship.

The Sea Witch was designed to be easily handled by a shorthanded crew. The main, mizzen and staysail are all boom-mounted and self-tacking, making sail handling remarkably simple. Wide side decks and deep bulwarks make moving around on deck effortless and safe, even in a seaway.

The current custodian has owned Seamist for fourteen years, during which time he has invested considerably in upgrades and maintenance. Unfortunately, due to business commitments, he no longer has the time she deserves and has reluctantly decided to offer her for sale.

Seamist is an absolutely stunning classic yacht that commands attention wherever she sails. She is the only Sea Witch in Australia, representing a unique opportunity for a discerning buyer.

For more information and a heap more photos of Seamist please visit Dealer Website

Additional information on the design and individual boats can be found on the Sea Witch website https://heritech. Com/seawitch/seawitch. Htm but please do NOT email the owner of Seamist.

Please note : LOA 49' 0". LOD 36' 0"
Antifoul last done July 2025

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