63' Wharram/Boon Pahi 63 (1987) - SPIRIT OF GAIA

Spirit of Gaia is the Flagship of James Wharram Designs. She was designed in 1987 by James Wharram and Hanneke Boon and built over the next 5 years with the help of volunteers. She was launched in Devoran at the Wharram base in Cornwall in May 1992.

We sailed her round the world in the 1990s, attending the Great Gathering of the Canoes in Raiatea in 1995, and studied Pacific canoe craft during our voyage. After sailing up the Red Sea into the Med, we spent many years sailing in Greece.

Hanneke carried out a major refit from 2012-2016 with the help of volunteers. After the passing of James Wharram in 2021, she sailed her the length of the Mediterranean to South Portugal (2022-23), one leg of the voyage with an all women crew. In 2024 we sailed her on a voyage to the Azores and the plan for 2026 is to sail back to her birth place in Cornwall after 34 years and on to Brittany where she will attend a Wharram Hui and the Douarnenez Traditional Boat Festival.