James Wharram

JAMES WHARRAM's life was changed forever when, in his early twenties, he saw Thor Heyerdahl's film of the 'Kon Tiki' voyage, and in Manchester Central Library encountered a book on Polynesian double canoe saiing craft. He determined to disprove Heyerdahl's assertion that Polynesia could have been settled only from South America, and not from south-east Asia, which would require water craft more sophisticated than a balsa raft. He has dedicated his working life to demonstrating the...See more

JAMES WHARRAM's life was changed forever when, in his early twenties, he saw Thor Heyerdahl's film of the 'Kon Tiki' voyage, and in Manchester Central Library encountered a book on Polynesian double canoe saiing craft. He determined to disprove Heyerdahl's assertion that Polynesia could have been settled only from South America, and not from south-east Asia, which would require water craft more sophisticated than a balsa raft. He has dedicated his working life to demonstrating the seaworthiness, windward ability and practicality of the Polynesian double canoe form, and has probably sailed more sea miles in craft of this pattern - all to his own design - than any other person. See less