Red Witches are good little boats. They do have really low free board which wouldnt be great for big seas. I reckon you could probably do it if you timed your runs well. I'd keep away from Bass Strait or the bight though.

Thanks guys.

I plan to leave from perth and head around the top end to sydney.

If by then i find that the witch wouldnt handle the bite, i will sell my boat in sydney and fly back to perth and buy a real yacht.

Red witch it is :)

How much water could i store on a red witch in those 20 litre plastic jugs?

I will stick to coastal crusing and wont go out to far off shore. Land will always be within the horizon.

I plan to set out at the start of spring with around 20k spending money for fuel, food, backpackers hostels and boat repairs.

Are there any other boats like the witch i could consider?

Thanks

Thanks a lot Jedda.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Not sure how to contact u so hopefully u read this.

Cheers mate.

Thanks again Jedda.

Your friend contacted me.

Very kind of you.

Cheers

You should be aware that "extreme lifestyle events " you are contemplating should be in a easy chair in your lounge room if you attempt it in a trailer sailer good luck I sailed my folkboat single handed to queensland from sydney and it was even more entertaining than the Sydney Hobart Races I have been in, be perpared for anything and don't take risks without being prepared for the outcome.

No I bought my Folkboat in Pitwater Broken Bay it has always been Called "Whiteout" originally from Jarvis Bay used by the Navy to train recruits for their Sydney Hobart race.

My boat is capable of any conditions which Hughie has thrown at it I have been in gales and bad weather and it comes out unscaved with a 58 percent righting moment and well rigged and maintained yacht is preferable to any other yacht within my price range, always wanted to sail the Whitsunday Islands and now that is what I do all the time.

I live on-board for the last 2 years and you get used to it living in a minimalistic world you only need tee shirt and shorts really.

Cheers


Anthony

Pete,

I have a wireless internet, inverter for power and two mobile phones which I hate with a passion, they ring and I have to go to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers


Anth

I've got a Red Witch now. As for Extreme Adventure..."Extreme" will be the understatement of the year if your underprepared, Make sure you check and replace the rigging, might be good to run double backstay and make sure forestay fitting runs down along bow as the deck fitting has been known to blow out in a big breeze.

it'll handle a seaway if you treat it right, your going to have to do several overnight legs where you out at sea without a port, (your going to need a good autopiolt and epirb) Good luck, it can be done, (albeit a bit crammed and with a great deal of caution)

In the meantime why not get to know the boat and get some exp. by racing at SoPYC! biggest Red Witch fleet in Aus. plus plenty of spares about (sails, hatches, etc.)

Thanks a lot Ed.

I am heading up to perth to see a red witch for $6000. If its in decent consition i'll buy it.

And yes, i will get to know the bot and push its limits locally to see what it can really handle.

If its no good i'll just sell it and buy a different boat.

Cheers

bah unfinished business has seen nothing, come to claremont yacht club, thats got some good witches, i particularly suggest looking at Dale II, fine yacht and just serviced haha

Cheers guys, good to know.

One last question.

If you were say 2 miles off the coat in calm conditions, what would sleeping on the witch be like?

Is it too unsafe to get say 4 hours sleep at sea on the redwitch with the sail down?

stonedpirate said...

Cheers guys, good to know.

One last question.

If you were say 2 miles off the coat in calm conditions, what would sleeping on the witch be like?

Is it too unsafe to get say 4 hours sleep at sea on the redwitch with the sail down?

Nah, keep yer sails up, take short naps (20 min's) and stay within sight of land. (if you go for a four hour "beauty sleep" 2 miles off shore you'll wake up on a beach!)
Most Solo's cat nap often rather than have one long sleep, the advantage being you can set your sails, sweep the horizon for traffic (shipping, fishing boats) and lock the tiller then head below for forty winks. 20 mins later your up and adjusting course trimming etc.
If you plan to have four hour naps you'd need to be right off shore and have a bloody good radar with all the bells and wistles to wake you when your about to be run down by a super tanker! might pay to read the Jon Sanders book to give you some insight into soloing-Ed.

swag it on the boat (cat napping) between ports or if you really need to; head out a way and drop a sea drogue/para anchor (BEWARE OF TRAFFIC boats up that way are on autopiolt and are not going to spot a red witch), might have to wait to catch some real zzzz in port. not much in the way of ports going up from perth, also try to time it so your not fighting the leeuwin current. plan to go early summer if your going northbound, go with the current and a more reliable wind pattern (so'wester "the doctor")
-Ed