Wharram celebration planned in Falmouth
Plans are in place for a summertime celebration of James Wharram’s life, with a fleet of Wharram catamarans and other boats gathering in Falmouth.
Tributes have been paid around the world to the pioneering catamaran designer and sailor, who died aged 96 on 14 December.
Meanwhile James Wharram Designs will continue to operate, with his partner Hanneke Boon at the helm.
In a newsletter to the many thousands of Wharram boat owners and followers worldwide, Hanneke writes: “I would like to reassure you all that even without James as the figurehead our design business will continue.
“I, Hanneke, will continue to answer your building questions and will carry on with future design ideas. With Nicki running the dispatch oce, Georgia doing the accounts and Perky keeping our website up to date, nothing will change for our customers.”
She said the hui (a Māori word used to describe a ceremonial or social gathering) would take place in the second half of July, after the Douarnenez festival in France from 15-17 July, with the Wharram gathering pencilled in for 22-25 July in Falmouth.
Plans include the scattering of the ashes, on the outgoing tide from Falmouth, of Wharram and Ruth Merseburger, who set out from Falmouth with Jutta Schultze-Rohnhof (as pictured left) on their famous 1955 transatlantic voyage by double canoe.
Meanwhile a second edition of Wharram’s book, People of the Sea, was published in November, designed as a “more compact edition at a lower price that will fit your boat bookshelf better”. All the content and illustrations are the same as in the first “luxury” edition. wharram.com