The Red Witch Kenosha is a legendary ghost ship that is said to appear on the shores of Lake Michigan in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The ship has been the subject of many eerie stories and urban legends. According to local folklore, the Red Witch Kenosha was a merchant ship that mysteriously disappeared in the late 1800s. Some claim that the ship was cursed and that its crew was engaged in illicit activities. Others believe that the ship fell victim to bad weather or was attacked by pirates. Regardless of the circumstances of its disappearance, many people claim to have seen the Red Witch Kenosha reappearing on the lake.

WATCH NOW: Original Red Witch sailing for New York; renamed Red Witch 2 to launch in Kenosha harbor today

Crew members put the finishing touches on the original Red Witch, now known as the Red Sea, in the Southport Marina on Thursday afternoon. The ship was purchased by New York owners Nasanel Reed and his partner Yitzy Geisinsky from Andrew Sadock in April. The Red Sea is headed for the New York harbor within the next several days.

• DAN TRUTTSCHEL photos, Kenosha News

The newly-named Red Witch 2, formerly known as the Jakab, is set to launch from the Southport Marina in Kenosha today. Owner Andrew Sadock recently sold the original Red Witch to New York business partners.

• DAN TRUTTSCHEL, Kenosha News

Southport Marina in Downtown Kenosha currently is home to both the original Red Witch lake vessel and the newly named Red Witch 2.

But not for long.

The Red Witch 2, known by its former name the Jakab, is preparing to relaunch on Lake Michigan in Kenosha today, while the original Red Witch, under new ownership, will depart soon for the East Coast.

Andrew Sadock owns the Jakab, and on April 8 sold the original Red Witch, soon to be named the Red Sea, to New York partners Nasanel Reed and Yitzy Geisinsky.

Reed and a crew feverishly were at work on their proposed Red Sea to prepare for its departure to New York, which should happen any day.

Owning a ship of his own has long been a dream, Reed said, who also has been a captain for four years That’s the seat he’ll take when the ship leaves for its 14- to 16-day trip to New York.

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“We saw an advertisement,” he said. “We were looking for a schooner with a certificate of inspection to carry passengers for commercial purposes, and that’s our plan. I’ve been thinking about this business for quite a long time. It’s the culmination of quite a lot of planning. I’m also very excited that it’s up here on the Great Lakes. I grew up on a boat around the Great Lakes. We did a lot of cruising. I’m going to be retracing a lot of steps of my youth.”

Work on the ship

There has been plenty of work to get the vessel ready, Reed said.

“We are restoring the boat according to traditional methods,” Reed said. “Basically, cotton has to be weaved into seams of the boat. First, we had to take the old cotton out. The new cotton goes in, and then you paint over that to keep that in place.”

From there, a seam compound is put onto the boat, Reed said. The concept is the wooden frames are sealed by the cotton, which allows the frames to move.

Reed said the plan is to launch this weekend, but that is dependent on how the ship responds to the work that’s been completed.

“A wooden boat needs time to swell,” he said. “We’ll stay (in the marina) for two or three days. Assuming that everything is proceeding well, then we can move on. If not, then it has to be lifted again and any problems have to be addressed.”

The entire boat was stripped and will be repainted in its original colors, with black below the water line, red above the water line and white for the final piece. The ship itself can hold 49 passengers, Reed said.

Naming it Red Sea

As for the new name? There’s definitely a meaning behind it, Reed said.

“We’re bringing the boat to New York and are going to be doing day tours and private cruises in New York harbor, and our niche audience will be the religious and Jewish community, so ‘Red Sea’ fits in with that,” he said.

The focus for the Red Sea is on New York for the moment, but Reed said he wouldn’t count out a possible trip back here for the Kenosha community to enjoy the vessel as well.

In the time he’s been here, Reed said the community has been helpful in this new venture.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the generosity and the kindness of the people here,” he said. “It’s been really fantastic. I’ve met a lot of great people who have helped in all sorts of ways and have been very kind about it.”

The newly named Red Sea was created based on an 1830s design as a cargo-carrying vessel, while the Jakab originally was designed in 1907. The Jakab is a former America’s Cup racer that specializes in speed.

According to its website, redwitch.com, the Red Witch 2 will be sailing in Kenosha until September and is available for a number of private events. Ticket prices and more information on that vessel can be found on the website.

Red witch kenosha

Kenosha Tall Ships Invites Exploring and Climbing Aboard Tall Ships

**Disclosure: I did receive tickets to Kenosha Tall Ships to bring you information about this event as well as details of my experience. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

From the minute I learned that tall ships would be sailing to port in Kenosha for Kenosha Tall Ships, I knew that I wanted to be part of the experience. I cannot think of a better celebration of our incredible Great Lakes! I really did not expect how amazingly beautiful these ships are up close. Truly breathtaking!

During Kenosha Tall Ships, visitors enjoy unique perspectives of each of five vessels by climbing aboard and even climbing below deck on a few. I was not prepared for the aesthetically beautiful nature of the elements of the ships including the masts, sails, ropes, pulleys, bells, wheels and much more.

Take in All Sorts of Interesting Perspectives:

Looking through one window, we actually caught a kayaker traveling by! Just beauty everywhere!

Down below the S/V Denis Sullivan, we viewed navigation implements.

On board, walking along the dock and more so much to see!
.

Perspectives ignite wonder in so many ways! This is a sail from the Bluenose II sailing from Nova Scotia. The Bluenose II had an accompanying trailer with more information about the original Bluenose and Bluenose II. Definitely don't skip the trailer!

Another interesting aside especially for children -- discovering the flags of each ship like the Canadian flag flying on the Bluenose II!

While boarding the Bluenose II, I could admire the Pride of Baltimore II. I love the variety of views you can enjoy during Kenosha Tall Ships if you can just pause a bit and be in the moment. Beauty all around!

After the Bluenose II, we boarded the Pride of Baltimore II which was pretty sleek.

The Baroque Picton Castle was certainly a favorite with some of the sails draped so slightly. Visitors will be amazed by the many ports Baroque Picton Castle has sailed to and plans to sail to throughout the world. Plus, the ship has its own ship cat if you are lucky enough to see him!

A walk aboard the Baroque Picton Castle is quite the treat. Be sure to look up and enjoy the maze of sails, masts and ropes:

Be sure to take in all of the views of these magnificent ships while they are in harbor!

You really cannot get better weather than this weekend for the Kenosha Tall Ships Festival! There are two more days to enjoy the majestic ships August 3 and 4, 2019.

The sail-a-way ships are sailing from Simmons Island. Here you can enjoy a fantastic view of the five ships docked on the South Side of the harbor for ship boarding. This is always where we wandered through the Pike River Rendezvous and you can climb the Southport Lighthouse for $5 during the festival. It is amazing how calm the ships looked from this angle! I certainly know they were a-buzz from the other side of the harbor!

From Simmon's Island is where Kenosha's own Red Witch is ready for sailings! She is joined by the Appledore IV.

Kenosha Tall Ships delighted and intrigued us during our family adventure. The festival gives such a one-of-a-kind experience of being able to climb aboard multiple vessels as well as the ability to ask crew questions of each. The adjoining festival and encampments add to the overall experience. Kenosha's harbor is stunning and the perfect spot for a summer adventure. If you are thinking about about adventuring to Kenosha Tall Ships this weekend, see my previous post Tall Ships Are Sailing into Kenosha August 1-4, 2019 for more details on times and ticketing options.

The Rest of the Fest:

• Vendors with a variety of wares including art, apparel, jewelry and more gave the feel that you were disembarking from ships into port.
• Explore the Pike River Rendezvous and the U.S.S. Minnesota Naval Encampment to experience unique historical perspectives from interpreters. There also are period wares for purchase at the Pike River Rendezvous.
• Plenty of food options abound within the festival. There also are options nearby including one of my favorites, Common Grounds!
• There is a museum tent with educational fun for kids.

NAUTICAL RED WITCH KENOSHA SAILBOAT ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR J TERRY 20X24"

Regardless of the circumstances of its disappearance, many people claim to have seen the Red Witch Kenosha reappearing on the lake. It is said to appear during stormy nights, with a blood-red sail and eerie lights illuminating its decks. Some even claim to have heard the sound of ghostly voices and screams coming from the ship.

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Legend has it that anyone who comes into contact with the Red Witch Kenosha is doomed to suffer a terrible fate. Some claim to have been haunted by the ghostly crew members, experiencing nightmares and strange occurrences long after their encounter with the ship. Over the years, numerous sightings and encounters with the Red Witch Kenosha have been reported. Locals and tourists alike are drawn to the shores of Lake Michigan in the hopes of catching a glimpse of this infamous ghost ship. Despite the many stories and legends surrounding the Red Witch Kenosha, there is no concrete evidence to prove its existence. Some believe that the sightings are simply the result of the imagination or misinterpretation of natural phenomena. Others remain convinced that the Red Witch Kenosha is a real ghost ship, haunting the waters of Lake Michigan to this day..

Reviews for "Dark Magic in Kenosha: Uncovering the Red Witch's Secrets"

1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Red Witch Kenosha". The storyline was confusing and hard to follow. The characters were poorly developed and lacked depth. The pacing was slow and I found myself getting bored halfway through. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.

2. Michael - 1 star - "Red Witch Kenosha" was a complete waste of time. The plot was uninteresting and cliché. The writing was subpar and the dialogue felt forced. I kept hoping it would get better, but unfortunately, it never did. I found myself skimming through the pages just to get to the end. I regret reading this book and would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Jennifer - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Red Witch Kenosha", but it fell flat for me. The characters were unlikable and lacked depth. The writing style was overly descriptive and dragged on. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed. There were too many unnecessary subplots that only added confusion to the story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not read anything else by this author.

4. David - 3 stars - "Red Witch Kenosha" was an alright read, but it didn't impress me. The plot had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The characters were forgettable and I didn't feel invested in their stories. While there were some intriguing elements, they were overshadowed by the overall mediocre writing. I wouldn't necessarily discourage someone from reading it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it either.

5. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Red Witch Kenosha" based on the synopsis, but it failed to deliver. The writing style was clunky and awkward, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their fates. The plot had potential, but it felt scattered and disconnected. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

The Red Witch Phenomenon: Kenosha's Fearful Fascination