Hanneke Boon: Life After Wharram

Hanneke Boon is currently embracing a vibrant new chapter in her life. Two years have passed since the loss of her life and business partner, James Wharram. Despite the challenges, she has bravely crossed the Atlantic, delivered engaging presentations, and continues to share her innovative boat designs with amateur builders around the world.

“I’m very active these days,” she shares enthusiastically. “I recently presented at the Flushing Sailing Club and it was a great success! James was typically the one who took the lead during presentations, but I’ve realized that I might have a knack for it too.”

James Wharram, known for his contributions to PBO, was a trailblazer in offshore multihull design.

Together with Hanneke, he managed his company, James Wharram Designs, and sold over 10,000 plans for ply-epoxy catamarans, earning the prestigious Ocean Cruising Club Award of Merit in 2012.

James’ unconventional life, both on land and at sea, made him an icon in the sailing community—a person who often challenged societal norms.

However, it was the combined brilliance of James’ innovative designs and Hanneke’s drafting skills that truly made history in the world of yachting.

The tale begins back in 1956, 12 years prior to Hanneke Boon’s arrival in James’ life.

28-year-old James drew inspiration from the ancient Polynesians and made his very first Atlantic crossing aboard a 24-foot ‘double canoe’ named Tangaroa, accompanied by partners Ruth Merseburger and Jutta Schultze-Rohnhoff.

Just three years later, the remarkable trio completed the first west-to-east transatlantic crossing by a multihull on the 40-foot Rongo, which they had built in Trinidad.

“The two women got along famously; they were happy to share their man,” James recounted in his 2020 autobiography People of the Sea, co-authored with Hanneke Boon.

However, when returning with the two ‘German fräuleins’ and baby son Hannes, the acknowledgment of their ambitious 4,500-mile voyage from New York was largely overlooked; instead, his groundbreaking contributions to yacht design were obscured by his personal narrative.

“Whether it was my early entanglement in the sexual revolutions of the ‘60s or my commitment to modeling my designs after the sailing canoes of ancient Pacific cultures, it’s all a blur now,” he reflected. “Moreover, growing up in northern England, I recognized that yachting was predominantly a pastime for the affluent in the south.”

James rejected suggestions that he was part of a social movement; instead, he viewed himself as simply ‘living in a naturally or openly Polynesian manner, akin to what was first documented by Captain Cook and Bougainville.’

In the spring of 1961, James, his two partners, and Hannes set sail from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, aiming for the Pacific. Tragically, Jutta, Hannes’ birth mother, struggled with mental health issues.

In a devastating episode linked to her past trauma from World War II, she took her own life by jumping from a tower in Gran Canaria.

“Perhaps, with our modern understanding, she could have engaged in therapy and found healing. Unfortunately, during that time, such avenues were limited,” James expressed.

After Jutta’s passing, James redirected his focus away from the Pacific and, alongside Ruth and Hannes, they navigated 10,000 miles around the North Atlantic on Rongo. “Though my body and mind were often consumed by the extreme cold, a small part of me reveled in Rongo’s ability to brave the tempest,” James noted.

It would take another 33 years for him and Ruth to finally reach the Pacific—home to the Polynesian crafts that had not only inspired his designs but also fueled a lifetime of adventure.

The man who sailed back into Dún Laoghaire harbor in August 1962 was vastly different from the son of a construction worker who departed six years earlier.

James described his journey aboard Rongo as “stormy, hard, and rough,” ultimately shaping him into a seasoned catamaran designer.

He envisioned catamarans that would gracefully glide over tumultuous seas.

Foremost among his aspirations stood Tehini, which translates to ‘darling’ in Polynesian. He envisioned her as lighter, stronger, and swifter.

Nevertheless, James acknowledged that achieving this goal would take him “three confusing, at times dark, but also exhilarating years.”

In 1963, his father reached out and commissioned a 20-foot trailerable catamaran. James set to work designing and building a ‘Wharcat’, though it sadly capsized during its inaugural voyage.

“I was taken aback, horrified that I had squandered my father’s resources,” he recalled. “He simply reached into his pocket for his builder’s jacket… and said, dripping with disdain yet devoid of criticism, ‘And my bloody cigarettes are wet too.’”

After Jutta’s death, his abandoned dreams of the Pacific, and rejection by traditional yachting circles, James found himself devastated: “That capsizing shook me deeply. It forced me to confront ‘who or what am I?’.”

Nevertheless, Ruth—pragmatic and resourceful—encouraged him to channel his energy into writing a book.

With Ruth taking on a job to support their family, James rebuilt the Wharcat, completed his narrative Two Girls Two Catamarans, and secured his first commission for a 35-foot Tangaroa from a railway engineer he had encountered on Deganwy beach in North Wales.

Fast forward to 1968, James rented a workspace on Deganwy Quay, a former slate dock, and began his dream project: the 50-foot Tehini—one of the largest catamarans of that era.

It was during the construction of this vessel that James crossed paths with Hanneke Boon, who would later become his partner and co-designer, sharing both his life and vision.

Hanneke grew up in Amsterdam, where her family shared a profound love for boating. “We had simple, small boats that we took out on weekends and holidays,” she fondly reminisces.

“My father instilled a sense of joy in being on the water, making it clear that one didn’t require the luxuries of city life.”

Recognizing the growing popularity of Wharram’s catamaran designs, Hanneke’s father, Nico, an enthusiastic sailor, took his family on a camping trip to Wales in 1967, where they had the pleasure of meeting James.

It was during this visit that 14-year-old Hanneke first encountered the charismatic boatbuilder.

Energized by this summer adventure, the Boon family returned to Amsterdam, inspired to build a 22-foot Wharram catamaran. “This experience gave me my first taste of boatbuilding,” Hanneke recalls.

Over the next couple of years, the Boon family returned several times to assist with the building of Tehini. The entire process was beautifully captured in film by Ruth, showcasing the romance and free-spirited ethos of the time.

James described this eclectic group of international volunteers, including the Boon family, as “a band of practical dreamers, enchanted and willingly immersed in the construction of Tehini.”

There could hardly have been a more picturesque setting than along an estuary at the base of Snowdonia for building a boat. This captivating project attracted artists, writers, designers, and skilled craftsmen from around the globe.

Once Tehini was launched, James and the crew sailed her to Hanneke’s home in Holland, where a welcoming crowd of fellow Wharram catamaran builders awaited, including Nico Boon, who had by then become James’s agent.

In her childhood, Hanneke showed great talent in art, mathematics, and science but opted to take the ‘less challenging’ path by attending art school.

“James was genuinely impressed by my drawing abilities. He rarely sketched plans himself. Instead, he overflowed with ideas, technical knowledge, and building skills, but it was my draughtsmanship that filled that gap,” Hanneke reflects.

At just 19, Hanneke received an exciting invitation to join James Wharram and his crew on an ocean voyage. “It felt thrilling… I’m not entirely sure my parents were over the moon about it, but I had made up my mind,” she explains.

Joining them would be Ruth and three other women who had been part of the Tehini build. “I was headed across the Atlantic; this was the kickoff of my adult life, cementing my role as a boat designer. It was a lifestyle where I could blend all my talents—sailing, drawing, boatbuilding, crafting, designing, and mathematical analysis.”

In People of the Sea, Hanneke describes the Tehini crew as an “incredibly loving group” that embraced her warmly. Maggie emerged as the ‘mother goddess’, Ruth represented the sensible guide, while Lesley brought humor and homeliness, and Nuala added intellectual richness through her reading and conversation.

“James, whom we affectionately referred to as Jimmy, was at his peak—an extraordinarily dynamic and magnetic individual, too grand for any one woman to manage without feeling overwhelmed,” wrote Hanneke. “I was shy and spoke little but found immense joy in that feeling of ‘togetherness’. I didn’t just fall for Jim; I fell for all of them.”

With the conclusion of the Tehini voyage, James and his partners established a boatbuilding company in Milford Haven, where Hanneke excelled as a draughtsman.

“James had an incredible way of making us all feel valued,” she recalls fondly. “He nurtured our innate talents and encouraged their development.”

They ventured into researching and advancing glassfibre construction, building prototypes and experimenting with innovative ideas.

“We aimed to introduce foam sandwich construction, though we doubted its suitability for self-builders,” Hanneke shares. “There were challenges with maintaining proper shape, yet the boat we created is still in existence—it belongs to a French owner.”

In 1976, they relocated to a riverside property in County Wexford, Ireland—a decision Hanneke describes as “less than ideal,” especially as it commenced with their arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

In a few trips, they transported their belongings across the Irish Sea to the River Barrow, where they began anew in a humble cottage, devoid of running water, a toilet, or electricity.

Here, they worked on two multihulls intended for the 1978 Round Britain race. Remarkably, both vessels were completed in time.

However, the 31-foot proa, designed for speed, capsized during trials and didn’t make it to the start line. The 35-foot foam sandwich Areoi performed admirably, completing the second leg of the race fastest but suffered a mishap with its genoa during the final leg.

“Our sailing dreams and ambitions that initially bound the group together started to fade amid constant stress and hard work,” James reflected. “After the Round Britain race, we attempted to refocus on our goals and the development of our land.”

As they worked to enhance their living conditions, Hanneke dove into the development of the new 31-foot Areoi, marking the debut of the commercial Pahi design.

Regrettably, client interest was sparse—the cost of crossing the Irish Sea proved prohibitive—and by February 1979, a prolonged postal strike in the UK was catastrophic for their mail-order business. Checks that came through were outdated.

A Caribbean charter endeavor commissioned for Tehini failed to attract bookings, and a land dispute became the final straw. The group splintered, leading to conflict, with only Ruth and Hanneke remaining loyal to James.

“People often understand how challenging divorce can be, but what about having to divorce three women simultaneously!?” James mused. “It left deep emotional scars for us all.”

By 1980, the introduction of West epoxy offered new possibilities for home boatbuilders. After meeting Meade Gougeon, one of the founders of the company, James decided to incorporate it into his new designs.

The Tiki 21 emerged as the first significant design in this new range, featuring the innovative Wharram wingsail rig.

“These groundbreaking designs led to an extensive collection of wood-epoxy models ranging from 17 to 65 feet, all crafted with an unwavering commitment to simplicity and cost-effectiveness,” Hanneke explains enthusiastically.

“One way we achieved this was by ensuring every piece of cabinetry also served as a structural element, keeping the weight and costs down.”

In 1985, Hanneke welcomed her son Jamie, who was among the first to experience water births in the UK, and she continued to work on the designs.

Launched in 1992, Gaia featured private double cabins or ‘cottages’ at either end, with a shared communal area in the middle.

This arrangement fostered a dynamic environment where various crews could live, work, and teach as they traversed the world.

“It was like a village green,” Hanneke explains. “We designed it with a central hearth and a hatch we affectionately referred to as our ‘well’ for collecting sea water, which we used for everything from washing up to a makeshift toilet.”

When Jamie turned seven, he joined his parents on a worldwide expedition aboard Spirit of Gaia, returning home intermittently for school.

“We wrapped it up when he was 12, so he missed a fair amount of schooling,” Hanneke reflects. “Looking back, he told me he appreciated the experience, but yes, it was certainly an unusual upbringing. It was not perfect, yet he was immersed in incredible experiences across diverse countries. He found himself often surrounded by adults since there weren’t many kids around, which might have been somewhat disadvantageous for him.”

She narrates how Jamie would venture ashore in the Pacific Islands to connect with local children, often using games like noughts and crosses drawn in the sand despite the language barrier.

“He adored swimming too,” Hanneke adds. “I introduced him to baby underwater training shortly after he was born, and he’s always been a natural in the water.”

In 1997, the trio—James, Hanneke, and Jamie—returned to Australia to complete their global voyage aboard Gaia.

Meanwhile, Ruth, now 76, had realized her dream of sailing the Pacific and chose to remain in Cornwall to manage the design business, overseeing finances and the distribution of educational materials and building plans.

“Ruth was a true powerhouse,” James noted. “She dedicated countless hours each day corresponding with Wharram builders and sailors, many of whom became dear friends.”

They revamped Gaia in Brisbane before embarking on their 10,000-mile return to the Mediterranean.

As they departed the Great Barrier Reef, they unexpectedly spotted a Pahi 42 and a 40-foot Narai. Both vessels glided by effortlessly, evoking a profound sense of belonging for James.

He celebrated his 70th birthday ashore in Ashkelon, Israel. Aware of the growing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, they decided not to leave Gaia there for extended periods.

After a brief three-month visit back home to reconnect with Ruth, they returned to Gaia and set sail northwest, where new adventures awaited in Corfu. “Sailing the Mediterranean brought me a quiet inner joy,” James reflected. “I could feel the layers of history all around.”

After six years, their round-the-world journey came to a successful end. Spirit of Gaia had safely traversed three oceans, weathered storms, and endured the challenging sail up the Red Sea.

“What stands out is that we encountered no structural issues—nothing we designed and built failed us,” James emphasized, crediting their success to the simplicity of their craft.

“There were no complicated systems at play. Gaia’s uncomplicated construction, utilizing plywood, epoxy, glass, and rope lashings, proved to be remarkably durable.”

Upon leaving the boat in Greece, James and Hanneke returned to Cornwall, where they embarked on creating new designs influenced by the traditional crafts they had studied during their travels.

This new direction encompassed designs that melded plywood hulls with solid timber beams and spars, combined with traditional Pacific riggings and paddle steering methods.

Time and again, they revisited Spirit of Gaia, sailing her in the Mediterranean. During one such encounter, they fortuitously crossed paths with PBO contributor Nic Compton, who later penned a captivating account of their global voyage in 2020.

Spirit of Gaia was intentionally kept simple, lacking a fridge or intricate electronics. Its only accessories included GPS, a compass, and two 9.9hp outboard motors for maneuvering in tight spaces.

“I don’t lean heavily on motors,” Hanneke shares. “When the winds are favorable, we sail, and in calm conditions, we take it slow. Transitioning across the equator through the doldrums can mean weeks without wind. During one stretch, it took us three weeks to travel from Christmas Island to Sri Lanka. On some days, it felt like there was no wind at all, yet we still managed to cover 25 miles by day’s end. Using motors in such scenarios seems pointless; patience is key.”

She also reflects on the Lapita voyage, a five-month journey she led alongside James and German partner Klaus Hympendahl.

In 2008, Hanneke and Klaus expertly navigated two 38-foot Ethnic Tama Moana designs across 4,500 miles from the Philippines to the eastern Solomon Islands, both vessels sailing without engines.

Upon arrival, they generously gifted the boats to the local inhabitants. Although Hanneke had been sailing since childhood, for many years James had been the one at the helm.

During the Lapita Voyage, however, it was Hanneke who took charge, marking her ownership of the expedition.

“James remained onboard as the Admiral. I mean, he was 80 at that point, which restricted his mobility. While he still managed to steer, he didn’t navigate or take command—leaving the captain antics to me!”

As their adventure wrapped up, James faced health challenges as he experienced a stomach issue later diagnosed as bowel cancer.

He recalled, “This was the most challenging sailing experience I’ve ever had, physically straining in every way. While many memories of this journey are unpleasant, I cherish it—my life’s work of rediscovering the sailing culture of the Polynesians came full circle after 50 years.”

Tragically, in 2011, Ruth suffered a stroke that robbed her of her ability to read. James and Hanneke paused their maritime endeavors to care for her until she passed in 2013.

“She lost her ability to communicate through letters or emails with her numerous friends,” James reflected. “To many, she was referred to as the ‘mother’ of the Wharram community. If she hadn’t joined me in 1951, my life would have taken a considerably different route.”

In 2019, Hanneke married James, who by that time had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Despite this, their sailing adventures continued. “James retained his adventurous spirit and it served us both well,” Hanneke mentions. “Physically, he was in pretty decent shape. Even with a recent knee replacement, he could still board the dinghy with ease, and at home, he preferred sitting on the floor, which made it easy for him to stand back up.”

The Wharrams’ final cruise occurred in 2021, where they explored the Ionian Sea with friends.

“Despite some cognitive disconnect, he never lost his fascination for being at sea. While he could no longer understand the rationale of our routes or fully grasp the geography, he still longed to see the charts and intended destinations, which occasionally sparked frustration and arguments between us,” Hanneke shares. However, she remained resolute.

True to his nature as an adventurer, James yearned to keep exploring, often finding joy in camping and traveling in a modified VW transporter that Hanneke aptly dubbed his ‘land yacht’. “We’d load his electric scooter in there and take off on mini-adventures. Even in Cornwall, we’d frequently seek out spots by the sea,” she recalls. “James was a unique individual. Most people retreat into themselves as they age; instead, he confronted the world head-on.”

By December 2021, James became weary of what he termed ‘further disintegration’ and courageously decided it was time to end his own life at the age of 93.

“He lived his life with immense courage, and it was with the same strength that he chose to conclude it,” Hanneke wrote in his obituary.

Just two years prior to James’ passing, he and Hanneke completed People of the Sea, a heartfelt narrative capturing their lives and the evolution of their boat designs.

Shortly after James’ death, Hanneke received an invitation to embark on an Atlantic crossing with friends aboard a sister ship of Spirit of Gaia.

“I thought to myself, why not? So, I flew out to Lanzarote, and we sailed to Guadeloupe together,” she remembers. Around the same time, the Ocean Cruising Club posthumously honored James with a Lifetime Achievement Award. They wanted to know if she could attend the award ceremony in Annapolis.

A plan unfolded, and after arriving in Guadeloupe, Hanneke made her way to the U.S. for the prestigious ceremony.

Getting back on the water has played a crucial role in helping Hanneke process James’ passing. “Going sailing and undertaking long trips again has felt rejuvenating,” she states. “Serving as crew on the Guadeloupe voyage was delightful; I didn’t carry the burden of responsibility.”

The sailing experiences reignited Hanneke’s determination to take Spirit of Gaia back out into the ocean. “She had been in Greece for quite a while, becoming an Ionian boat. I thought Portugal would provide a fresh start; it’s easy to access from Cornwall,” she says.

This past autumn in 2022, Hanneke set sail with Spirit of Gaia to Sicily, where the boat was safely overwintered. The following spring, after her antifouling with Coppercoat by a team of enthusiastic volunteers, Gaia went on to Ibiza, where friends kept an eye on her.

In the fall, Hanneke undertook the final journey with an all-female crew, guiding her to her new home in Portugal.

Meanwhile, back in Cornwall, at a plot of land the family acquired in the 1980s, the Wharram clan is diligently at work.

Hanneke’s bungalow sits at the center, accompanied by a spacious workshop and design studio. Jamie and his wife have established a residence in one corner, supported by a few additional team members, including their IT expert/webmaster and social media manager.

“Business is thriving,” Hanneke beams. “We’re enhancing operations by digitizing all drawings rather than just photocopying them. Thanks to social media, a broader audience can witness our activities. Remarkably, the Wharram Catamaran Facebook group has amassed over 11,000 members! James always hoped that his catamaran designs would ‘continue to inspire and bring joy to countless modern sailors and travelers while honoring the timeless contributions of the ancient Polynesians’.”

It’s clear that he accomplished his vision, and with Hanneke steering the ship, the lineage of the Wharram family’s self-built catamarans appears destined to thrive for generations to come.

• People of the Sea is published by Lodestar Books, £16.
• Explore articles, blogs, videos, and order Wharram catamaran plans at wharram.com
• Watch Ruth’s films documenting the building and sailing of Tehini on the James Wharram Designs YouTube channel.