1976 Greenwich Yachts Thomas Colvin Saugeen Witch schooner

Step aboard this Saugeen Witch and you immediately feel the purposefulness of Colvin’s design. The low freeboard and generous sheer make line handling easy, and that long bowsprit gives you a proper working foredeck for setting and dousing sails. The helm has a reassuringly direct feel, especially downwind under the big fore-and-aft canvas. Below, the aluminum hull keeps the boat cool and quiet at anchor, while the wood trim softens the space and gives it that warm, lived-aboard character. Storage is thoughtfully tucked everywhere, so longer passages don’t feel cluttered. It’s the kind of schooner that rewards a hands-on sailor who enjoys tweaking sail balance and savoring the journey as much as the destination.

In these waters, where conditions can shift from light airs to punchy chop in a single day, this Colvin-designed schooner really comes into its own. The divided sail plan lets you shorten down in stages, keeping the boat on her feet without fighting weather helm. The metal hull shrugs off the inevitable bumps from busy marinas, pilings, and the occasional misjudged docking, while also tolerating seasonal haul-outs and layups with minimal fuss. With her comfortable motion and honest tracking, she’s happy ghosting along on lazy afternoon sails or stretching her legs on longer coastal hops, making her a versatile partner for a wide range of cruising plans in this region.