James Wharram Article - Sail Magazine 02 July 2021

[Deleted member 36384]

An interesting article about the James Wharram's early days building the boat that he first sailed sailed across the Atlantic. The article is an extract from Wharram's biography.

James Wharram's First Catamaran Build

 

[PetiteFleur]

Very interesting, we met James in the late 60's, stayed a weekend with him in Wales, and ended up buying a set of plans for his 46' Oro catamaran. We were a group of six and built the boat in a barn near Dunstable and launched at Woolverstone when all they had was swinging moorings. Unfortunately the group split up and the boat was sold a year later but I stayed in Suffolk. I still have some of his original pamphlets and leaflets stored away . Although I as keen on catamarans at the time I now have a Moody 33mk2.

 

[Slowboat35]

I met him in Greece last autumn, what a charming, hospitable couple he and his partner are. Wonderful privilege to look over his beautiful 60 odd footer and marvel at the sheer ingenuity involved in every little feature.

 

[NealB]

I've been an admirer of James Wharram since my early teenage.

Amongst the many and varied boats I've owned, perhaps the most unusual, innovative and exciting was a Wharram designed Pahi 31.

She was capable of a fair turn of speed, as long as the wind was on, or abaft, the beam, and she was a joy to helm in a following sea.

She gave us many adventures: along the south coast, out to the Scillies, then up the Irish Sea, taking in Ireland , Wales, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, and up as far the Clyde (where we ran out of time, and had to head back home).

The world needs more James Wharrams.