Built by Joseph White, Cowes 1832, for Lord Belfast
Length-91′-6″, Breath-29’6″, 12’7″
She won many races, beating Glatea, who went on to race in the Americas Cup.
There’s endlass amounts of historical information online about this vessel including her service in hunting down slave traders on the coast of Africa.
Origins: Built on the Isle of Wight in 1832 as the Water Witch for the Royal Yacht Squadron. She was custom-built with elite racing sails and used heavily for naval sailing trials.
Anti-Slavery Duties: After purchase, she patrolled the Iberian Peninsula and West Africa. Because of her speed, she became the Royal Navy’s fastest vessel in the anti-slavery campaign.
Crew and Specs: Displaced 319 tons and typically carried a complement of 55 crew members.
Fate: She had a long life of service before being sold out of the Royal Navy in November 1861.
HMS Waterwitch (1834) was celebrated 1-gun brig-sloop of the Royal Navy. Originally a famous racing yacht, the Navy purchased her in 1834. Because of her exceptional speed, she was assigned to the West Africa Squadron, where she actively hunted down slave ships and freed hundreds of enslaved people.
Catalog, SKU: 0004067