News

The Next Hui Gathering Is Here! Join us for a weekend of Wharram Micro Adventures. 3rd, 4th, 5th August 2024, in Cornwall, UK. All welcome – arrive with or without a boat. We are having another Annual Hui! This Hui will mark 70 years since James designed his first Catamaran ‘Tangaroa’ and we are excited…

A Gathering of Wharram Sailors and Enthusiasts Join us for a weekend of Wharram Micro Adventures. 11th, 12th and 13th August 2023, in Cornwall, UK. All welcome – arrive with or without a boat. What’s a Hui? It is a Polynesian word for ‘social gathering‘ and they regularly take place all over the Pacific. For…

This month of May in America is ‘Pacific Islander History Month’ and we at James Wharram Designs would like to join in and celebrate alongside them! As you may know, double canoes/catamarans are of ancient Polynesian origin. The modern day catamaran is a direct descendent of these original ocean-going vessels. At Wharram Designs we have…

A Final Farewell On 23 July, a motley fleet of self-built catamarans gathered off Cornwall to give James and Ruth Wharram their final escort. It was a fitting farewell to a legend. In the late summer of 1955, walkers at Falmouth’s Customs House Quay marvelled at a somewhat eccentric-looking, seven-metre short craft loaded with provisions…

Aboard Ontong Java Ontong Java at sunset On the 16th March I moved onto another boat. Largyalo was expecting a group of guests, who would be sailing on to St. Maarten. My new home for the next two weeks was Ontong Java. She had crossed the Atlantic a week after us and was moored off…

Part 2 – The Atlantic Voyage North Western Cabo Verde islands From Midelo we sailed round the west side of Sao Vincente to Sao Pedro, rounding the lighthouse mounted on the steep cliff face. We anchored off the beach where again there was a lot of wind and breakers made landing difficult. Here, for the…

December 2021. James had just died and I was deep into the organisation of the funeral and the big task of announcing his death to the world of yachting. Then three days before Christmas I received this message from our good German friends Petra and Berti aboard their 65ft Pahi ‘Largyalo’: “Dear Hanneke, would it…

This eulogy was delivered by Matt Knight at James Wharram’s funeral service, which took place at 3:00pm on Thursday 30th December at Truro Crematorium. Hi everyone. I’m Matt. And apart from being truly honoured to be here to help send James on his way to his next adventure, I am here above all as a…

By now most of you will have heard the news that James Wharram died on 14th December 2021. On the 30th December we held James’ funeral at Penmount crematorium near Truro. Forty five family members and close friends were able to attend, but all followers and friends of James were given the opportunity to join…

Article available in English, French and German. We are very sad to announce that on the 14th December James Wharram left this earthly world, joining Ruth, Jutta and his many close friends that departed before him. At 93 years old his spirit has set out on the voyage to sail the oceans of heaven. James…

The new compact edition The new second edition of the autobiography of James Wharram and Hanneke Boon is now available! This more compact edition at the lower cost of £16 contains all the text and illustrations of the special first edition. An easier size to fit the bookshelf on your boat. A must for all…

Mana, Heron and Moku rafted together on the Helford Finally after three years of no Wharram Hui we were able to get a small gathering of Wharram catamarans together in Cornwall in the Fal estuary. The 2019 Hui was scuppered by me (Hanneke) spending a large part of the summer in hospital (for a heart-valve…

The Lapita Voyage website, which has been offline for some time due to issues with the domain, is now online and available to browse again, under a slightly different web address: www.lapitavoyage.org Background The ‘Lapita Voyage’ began in the first week of November 2008, when two 38ft double canoes, designed by James Wharram Designs, based…

People of the Sea, the new book by James Wharram about his life was finally published on 17 September. After years of writing and many months of preparation James’ new book is finally published. We have worked closely with Lodestar Books, the publishers to create a colourful, poetic and informative book. Finally the book that…

I am very sorry to announce that in spite of easing of the lockdown we do not think it is responsible to have a big gathering of people coming from far and wide to our village in Cornwall. With James 92 years old we cannot expose him to any risks. A Hui without a big…

Greetings fellow Wharramites, Wannabees, and Walkabouts. Mark The Date: May 15-17, 2020 Plot The Location: Pirates Cove Marina, 6664 Co Rd 95, Elberta, AL 36530 Latitude 30.321220, Longitude -87.533882 From Fort Meyers to Islamorada to a NEW VENUE on the Gulf Coast, the 2020 Hui Wharram will be held at the Pirate’s Cove Marina near…

A Visit Into The History Of Wharram In April James and Hanneke traveled to North Wales and visited the site where Rongo, the first multihull to cross the Atlantic from West to East, was moored on the beach in Deganwy (1964-1969) and Tehini was built on the end of Deganwy pier (1968-69). This is where…

Rongo during trial sail in Trinidad On 30th September 1959, 60 years ago, the 40ft catamaran Rongo sailed into the Conway River in North Wales after crossing the North Atlantic from New York. Rongo was the first catamaran to have made this difficult voyage, sailed by the now world famous catamaran designer James Wharram and…

The summer of 2018 in the UK was one of the warmest and nicest for many years. So it was a great pity that during the long planned Cornish Hui at the end of July (27th, 28th, 29th) the weather broke and strong winds and rain came rushing in over the weekend. Still the boats…

Ross Edgley has swum all the way round Britain! On November 4, 2018, Ross Edgley became the first person to swim around mainland Great Britain. He did so in the record time of 157 days. During this voyage he was escorted by the Wharram Pahi 52 ‘Hecate’ as the indispensible support ship. Ross started his…

Friday 27th July Arrive by boat or car and gather at ‘Wharram HQ’, in Devoran, Cornwall. The boats can moor alongside Devoran Quay, at the top end of Restronguet Creek. The quay can be reached about one hour before high water, which is at 18:00. Some bigger boats may have to moor further out in…

Keep Hearing From Us As a result of the GDPR coming into effect in the European Union on May 25th 2018, we now require your consent if you wish to keep hearing from us by email. We only send out 3 or 4 newsletters per year on average – you need not worry about inbox…

On 3rd April James Wharram and Hanneke Boon attended the 2018 Classic Boat Awards ceremony at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London. Awards were given for various categories of building and restoring Classic Boats. However, this year there was a special extra award presented to James Wharram for a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ as Pioneer catamaran…

Bonnie Fern was so kind to organize this report on this years Hui Wharram. I especially like to thank all that attended coming near and far to our gathering (Oops I mean ‘Hui’) of Wharram Polynesian Catamarans and ‘other’ craft. A very special thank you to Hanneke Boon for traveling from Cornwall, UK to be…

Micro Adventure Sailing Hui in the Fal Estuary on 4-6th August 2017. Eleven Wharram catamarans gathered in Devoran and sailed on a short Adventure in Carrick Roads, spending the night at Roundwood Quay. Smallest catamaran round-the-world Tiki 21 ‘Cooking Fat’, sailed by Rory McDougall, was part of the fleet. Micro Adventure Hui was a resounding…

Calling all Wharram catamaran owners – join us for a weekend of Wharram Micro Adventures. 4th, 5th and 6th August 2017, in Cornwall. There’s nothing better than a Hui! What’s a Hui? It is a Polynesian word for ‘social gathering’ and they regularly take place all over the Pacific. So we felt it would be…

Polynesian Catamaran Sail-In. North Fort Myers, Florida, May 19-21. North Fort Myers Beach Park (Best Western Waterfront). Open to ALL Multihulls and pretty much anything that floats! A “Hui Wharram” or “Hui-o-waa-Kaulua-Wharram” (Hawaiian) is a group or gathering of Wharram boats but any type of boat is welcome. Come even if you don’t have a…

At the end of November Matt Knight, owner of Pahi 53 Hecate, alerted us to a beautiful short video of Hecate and her exploits with big wave surfing. In the accompanying email he wrote:

This year has been fairly stretched here in the world of James Wharram Designs. Hanneke has been working tirelessly on finalising both the restoration work on Spirit of Gaia & the much-awaited Mana 24 project; we have a new staff member and the excitement of being contacted by 2 film companies who are interested in…

Mana has been officially launched at Devoran on 20th August. Around 60 men, women and children came to the launch. There were people from England, Netherlands, France, Finland, Germany, Austria, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Israel and Kyrgyzstan. This was not her first launching as we had taken her by trailer to the Brest and Douarnenez…

Well now that the dust has settled a bit from our big move from fabulous Islamorada to Downtown Fort Myers it’s time to reflect. Dan’s legacy in the Keys is a very hard act to follow. The venue in Ft. Myers did turn out to work pretty well according to most attending. Our weather turned…

We have just discovered with great pleasure that James Wharram has been nominated for ‘Yachtsman of the Year’ 2016 by ‘Classic Boat’ magazine. It is 60 years since James started designing and ocean sailing double canoe/catamarans and he is still there doing it. There are also nominations for Classic boats in various categories. You can…

On 27th September it will be 60 years since James Wharram, with Ruth and Jutta set sail from Falmouth on 23’6″ Tangaroa, to become the first people to sail a multihull both ways across the Atlantic. The “Falmouth Packet’ newspaper has been the first to publish an excellent article about this important event in the…

At last my little dreamboat, the Mana 24 (actually 23’6” hull length), is coming into being. I can go out into our workshop and see and touch the first hull. Sixty years ago I was sailing along the South coast of Britain on my first 23’6” catamaran, the Tangaroa (see my book ‘Two Girls Two…

Beautiful Weather, Nice Sailing and Great Camaraderie – Hui Wharram, Islamorada, Fl (The Keys), 2015 This year, as in most past years the weather gods cooperated. Winds were perfect, sun shone and temperatures were ideal. You expect something else in the Fabulous Florida Keys???? Nearly 70 Wharramites and Wharramite wannabees attended over the weekend and…

OceanWatch, a small and robust New Zealand NGO, will soon head to the Solomon islands to give aid in the ongoing aftermath of Cyclone Pam. Two Tama Moana designs were donated to the islands following the Lapita Voyage in 2008, and their work will include the repair of one of these that sustained damage during…

We have had a long friendship with Carl Cramer, publisher for 25 years of the American ‘Wooden Boat’ and ‘Professional Boatbuilder’ magazines. Last year Carl retired as publisher, but is continuing with other boat related enterprises. Last month he organized a Symposium on yachting in Amsterdam, called ‘Boatbuilding Live’ held on 17th November, the day…

A New Trailer Sailer Catamaran In The Pipeline… James Wharram’s vision for this new design: “At any one time there are always two or three design ideas floating around in my design consciousness. Social, political or personal events will bring a particular design to the forefront for a new launching (my staff call them my…

The 2014 Hui Wharram Provided a Sampling of Sizes and Styles. The 2014 Spring Hui Wharram (Hui is Hawaiian for “Gathering”) held in Islamorada Florida at the famous Lorelei Cabana Bar (www.loreleicabanabar.com) was a success again this year. Nearly 70 people attended during the weekend and spent quite some time crawling all over and sailing…

I’m very sad to announce that Ruth Wharram (nee Merseburger) has departed this life in the early morning of 4th September, at the age of 92, at home in Devoran. Her health had been failing over the last two years after a stroke the day after a fantastic 90th Birthday party. Ruth has been a…

In 2005 in France people set up the Golden Oldies Multihulls Association. Its aims are to support individual actions to protect the heritage of historic offshore multihulls. Most of its members own Classic racing multihulls designed before 1988, there are also Silver members with special multihulls of a slightly later date. On May 15th -20th…

James recently received an unexpected letter from the Ocean Cruising Club Awards Chairman with this notice: “I have great pleasure in writing to you to inform you that the committee have voted you as the winner of The OCC Award of Merit that is awarded to members and non members for ‘an outstanding voyage or…

Ruth and James aboard Annie E Evans 1953, Thames Estuary. Last year James was given the honour by being invited to become Patron to Queenborough Harbour Trust by one of its founder members, Eddie Johnson. In the 1970s Queenborough was a popular venue for meetings of Wharram catamarans (organised by the PCA). Eddie as a…

We will be holding the Spring Wharram Rendezvous (a Hui Wharram) May 17-18-19, 2013 in Islamorada, FL (Florida Keys) at the world famous Lorelei Cabana Bar. A “Hui Wharram” or “Hui-o-waa-Kaulua-Wharram” (Hawaiian) is a group or gathering of Wharram boats. There is no easier way to fulfill your sailing dreams – from sailing the trade…

We are pleased to announce that all 33 issues of The Sailorman have been made available for download on the Polynesian Catamaran Association Website! The archive is now complete – all 108 PCA publications in one place for you to enjoy.

This is my first writing of 2013. I spent the Christmas break and the first week of 2013 reading and keeping the fire going, while outside it rained and rained! Hanneke, who is the ultimate crafts-woman, spent this time re-modeling part of our small living room, fitting much needed bookshelves for our ever-increasing library. We…

As we are an International company and a global enterprise it is for me no surprise to be sending a book, Study Plans or Building Plans to far off places. However one country has stood out in our office with the number of Wharram builders rocketing in the last year – that country is Brazil!…

The Polynesian Catamaran Association has been a voluntary club for people interested in the designs of James Wharram since 1967. Due to a direct request from James and Hanneke an archive of all the past PCA publications has now been created, and made available on-line. We hope you enjoy reading all 75 of The Sea…

Wharram Study Plans provide more detail than is available in our Design Book, and are intended to help you decide if a particular boat design is right for you. As well as continuing our traditional printed format, we are proud to announce the release of our digitised range of Wharram Study Plans. Within seconds of…

A few weeks ago I/we, trailing our 27ft Amatasi, returned from the French Brest / Douarnenez Traditional Boat Festivals. The huge Sea Festival in Brest, ‘Les Tonneres de Brest‘, takes place every four years, Douarnenez’s ‘Temps Fête‘, across the Bay is a bi-annual event. So every 4 years the two events are united at the…

Nearly seventy people enjoyed informal conversations and stories by our honored guests James Wharram and Hanneke Boon (World Sailors and Designers of Wharram Catamarans) before dinner at the seventh annual Wharram rendezvous (Hui Wharram) in Islamorada Florida last weekend. James and Hanneke were invited by David Halladay of Boat Smith Florida and they came across…

On May 15th, my 84th Birthday, instead of having an ‘I have survived’ birthday party, I was cramped up on a Virgin Airline seat flying to Miami, America (I am certain airlines are reducing the distances between seats year by year). David Halladay of ‘Boatsmith‘, our American franchised builder wanted us to come over to…

Due to Hanneke breaking her leg in March the work trip to Greece had to be postponed and will now take place during September 2012. Hanneke will be taking Spirit of Gaia to Messolonghi Marina/boatyard (a new marina under Dutch management), just West of the Gulf of Corinth in Greece. She will be doing renovating…

The Spring Wharram Rendezvous (a Hui Wharram) May 18-19-20, 2012 will be held in Islamorada, FL (Florida Keys) at the world famous Lorelei Cabana Bar, marina and mooring area (MM 82 bayside). This year will be a special occasion as James and Hanneke will be attending the Hui. So we hope lots of boats and…

Dear friends, Some people make fun or deride the development of Christmas cards with personal story greetings. Indeed I have done so myself, but I am beginning to think that one time of the year to catch up on the life story of one’s friends is not such a bad idea. 95% of our income…

I am in the process of answering a letter (yes, a letter written by hand and sent by post!) from Pierre La Plante of Canada. Pierre is a long ago customer. He sticks in my memory as a young man, who many years ago sailed his Hitia 17 down the St Lawrence River, Canada. After…

This week on the high (spring) tides we have made our first sails on Amatasi, I should say rows, as there has been very little wind. Here in Devoran the spring tides are unfortunately always in the late afternoon, so leaving us only a short sailing slot before sunset. Anyway, she is easy to row,…

On Wednesday 12th October Amatasi was launched. The day was chosen weeks ago for the full moon with a spring tide, a propitious day. Nineteen years ago ‘Spirit of Gaia’ was launched at the full moon, her launching was a great memorable event and she has been a happy ship ever since. We hope the…

About a year ago I had a new artificial knee joint fitted to my starboard leg, for recovery I’ve been pushing with local walks and along Cornwall’s rugged coastal path to get back into ‘leaping on board’ condition! Last week I proudly pushed uphill along Lemon Street, the granite paved main street of our local…

Well, Beale Park Boat Show is over and another year will go by before we have another “rush” to be there. The English yacht magazine, ‘Watercraft’ July/August 2011 has a leading article, on why a proposed new boat show to be held in Liverpool failed to ‘take off’, due to the high expense of exhibition…

Rush, push, scramble, deadlines to meet. We have in English the concept of the “Grumpy Old Man”. Whether I have become a grumpy old man, it appears, depends on the day, or the events around the day when you see me. Assuming that I am a “Grumpy Old Man” what do I dream about? Well…

Last Friday Hanneke finally returned home from hospital after 4 weeks. It has been more of a drama than expected. She went in for a re-do heartvalve replacement after the one that was fitted 6 years ago started leaking badly in the last year. In recent months she had been feeling ill and tired and…

In July I described how our 27ft Amatasi emerged as Classic Boat’s prize-winning eco-design sailing craft. At the beginning of December our first volunteers, John and Michael began clearing out our work shed to prepare for the Amatasi build (anyone who has the space to save/store things can imagine how cluttered our shed had become)!…

Over the last two weeks of July I was being interviewed by a French yachting journalist (Jean-Yves Poirier – one time Wharram French agent and long-time friend) for an extensive biographical article in the French Yacht magazine, Chasse Marée. Going through my past life and old files we were constantly distracted by the many offshore…

The July issue of Classic Boat magazine features the winners of this year’s design competition for an Eco Fishing Boat. They wrote: “The brief was for an under 10m boat that would not need a license for fishing under sail or oar. Many entries nodded to traditional types, but the winner was surprisingly radical.” Amatasi…

In the early hours of Saturday 26th June Rory sailed his Tiki 21 ‘Cooking Fat’ into Newport, Rhode Harbour, finishing second in the Jester Challenge, just 2.5 hours after the Russian 25ft yacht ‘The Grand’, having sailed in 34 days from Plymouth, UK. In this office it was joy and Laphroaig whiskey all round. Congratulations…

The PCA was founded in 1967 by a small group of the first Wharram builders. It started with the writing of a thin, rough, but very poetic magazine, called ‘The Sailorman’. Who were these first Wharram builders? During WWII thousands of young Englishmen were taken out of the pre-War English class system into the Army,…

Boatsmith Inc. the professional Wharram yard in Florida, have finished their first fiberglass production Tiki 8m and took it out for a sea trial. All went smoothly and the boat sailed really well. The wind was very light but the boat zipped along. Here’s a YouTube video of the Tiki under sail during the trial.…

It has been a long time with little news from the Wharram office. There is a reason for this, James has not been well. Ever since returning from the Lapita Voyage in March, James was suffering from discomfort in his gut. In fact this was one reason for him returning before the finish of the…

At Beale park Boatshow (UK) this coming weekend (June 5-7) James and Hanneke will be presenting the Lapita Voyage, with two public lectures by James with slides and film. Come along on Saturday at 3pm or Sunday at 11am to hear about the voyage. A feat of endurance for any sailor but made even more…