Mana 24 Launching | James Wharram Designs

August 2016

Mana has been officially launched at Devoran on 20th August.

Many people gathered at Wharram HQ. Mana is on the water behind them. — Around 60 men, women and children came to the launch. There were people from England, Netherlands, France, Finland, Germany, Austria, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, Israel and Kyrgyzstan.

This was not her first launching as we had taken her by trailer to the Brest and Douarnenez traditional boat festivals in July. She was not fully finished then, still in white undercoat, but she first floated in the sea off the slipway in Brest. After a couple of days of fitting windows, raising masts and rigging her, we first sailed Mana with the fleet of multihulls in the ‘night parade’ off the quays in Brest.

Mana on the slipway in Brest, France. She has no windows. — Mana waiting for the tide on the slip in Brest, about to enter the sea for the first time. Note that she still has no windows.

The mizzen mast head being adjusted — Pierre-Yves adds finishing touches to the mizzen mast head.

Pierre-Yves working on a gaff for Mana, on the pontoon at Brest — The gaffs were finished on the pontoon.

Mana on the pontoon at Brest at low tide — While most of the multihull fleet were out sailing we made use of the high quayside to raise the mainmast.

Mana and James Wharram had been specially invited to Brest by the ‘Golden Oldies Multihull Group’ to be part of their ‘classic’ multihull fleet, consisting of many restored racing trimarans from the 1980s as well as Tiki 31 ‘Brillig’ sailed from Cornwall by Tino Rawnsley and family. James, who sailed his first 23’6” catamaran ‘Tangaroa’ across the Atlantic 60 years ago, has been honoured by being appointed the ‘Father’ of this group. Mana, at the same length as Tangaroa, had been designed to celebrate this 60th anniversary.

While moored in Brest, Mana received her first blessing by the retired ‘sailing’ vicar of Devoran, Mike Palmer, who also blessed Spirit of Gaia at her launching in Devoran in 1992. He now lives in Brittany where he owns a beautiful classic yacht.

Banners on Tiki 31 Brillig — These banners were made by the Golden Oldies for all the boats in their fleet, giving their history and design data.

Tiki 31 Brillig sailing — On her first sail in the night parade Mana sails close to Tiki 31 ‘Brillig’ whose crew were a great support to the exhausted crew of Mana.

Mike Palmer reading from his notebook — Sailing vicar Mike Palmer reads his blessing for Mana.

First sails on Mana were successful in spite of a mainsail that was not setting right (this has now been corrected by the sail maker). After a couple of trial sails, we sailed in the 25 Nm parade from Brest to Douarnenez, which was windward sailing all the way. Mana averaged 6 knots (1.3 x √WLL) to windward in a force 4 and we read 7.3 knots on the GPS (this is 1.6 x √WLL !). We are sure she will be capable of greater speeds in the right wind conditions, like the Tiki 21 and 26. She was light on the helm and kept her course when letting go of the tiller. She also tacked easy without a headsail. We are looking forward to further sail testing in the next weeks.

Pierre-Yves steering Mana — Departing for the 25Nm parade to Douarnenez with Pierre-Yves at the tiller. Some of the beautifully restored racing trimarans in the Golden Oldies fleet in the background.

On return from France, Mana was returned to our workshop where Hanneke and Pierre-Yves, a French yacht design student doing an interneeship, worked hard on the finishing painting and final details. A date was set for the official launch on the spring tide when there is enough water in the creek behind our workshop in Devoran.

Mana hull suspended from roof beams — We applied the antifouling with the hulls suspended from the roof beams. We used a new product called Aquacoat, a two-coat system, which gives a non-stick silicone finish, rather like modern non-stick ovenware. We were given a pot to test by the makers. It is not cheap, but it should last for years and is non poisonous! We will report on it next year.

Pierre-Yves with facemask on, applying a silocone coat on Mana hull — Applying the second, silicone coat over the black base coat. It is strange and sticky, but evens out after rolling and forms a glossy slick coating.

The forecast for Saturday 20th August was strong, gale force, Westerly winds with possible rainsqualls, but turned out sunny in the afternoon. At noon an impromptu group of volunteers started to gather to help us with moving the boat and clearing the shop for the party. It was wonderful to be helped by such a lovely, enthusiastic group of young people, all involved in traditional boatbuilding and sailing. It was like a continuation of the atmosphere of Brest and Douarnenez. The crew of the Dutch sailing trading ship ‘Nordlys’ heard about the launch on their arrival in Brixham from Portugal and jumped into a van and drove all the way to Cornwall to be there. Many of our old sailing friends came, some remembering past launchings of Spirit of Gaia (1992) and Amatasi (2012).

Volunteers assembling Mana outside — The crew of enthusiastic volunteers assembles the boat by the creekside.

James talking to a volunteer outside by Mana — James in discussion with one of the eager helpers.

A table of food surrounded by party guests — The food is prepared and the party gets underway.

Rory McDougall at the party holding a beer — Rory McDougall came to name the boat.

Hanneke making a speech at the party — Hanneke addresses the assembled crowd and explains the history of the design of Mana.

James and Jamie Wharram — James and son Jamie

At around 7 o’clock, after a short delay while a rain squall passed over, Mana was named by Rory McDougall, who is famous for sailing his Tiki 21 ‘Cooking Fat’ round the world in the 1990s and coming in second in the Jester Challenge of 2010. Last year he was awarded the ‘Jester Medal’ by the Ocean Cruising Club.

Small children under Mana platform — The little ones shelter under the platform while a rain squall passes.

Party guests gathered outside by Mana — In a dry spell between rain squalls Rory gets ready to pour Champaign over the bows.

Mana floating on the creek — Mana now floats in the creek, eager to get out to sea to really show us what she is capable of.

Many people have been asking us for a price for the kit. With all the building work we have not had much time to finalize this, but we do know that the cut plywood (partially epoxy coated), timber, platform panels and full epoxy kit (i.e. all you need to build the basic boat) will be priced at approx. £6,500 (ex. VAT and transport). Additional packages will be available later for paint, sails, masts, ropes and fittings, though some people may prefer to source some of these themselves. We expect the final price for the completed boat to be around £10,000.

In the coming weeks Hanneke and Pierre-Yves, the French design student, will be working on finalizing the kit details!

Do contact us if you are seriously thinking of building the Mana. The first kits could be cut very soon.