News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

HUI WHARRAM SPRING 2011
Florida Keys,
May 20-22
By Dan Kunz
Wharrams at anchor off the Lorelei in Islamorada, FL. Photo by Libby Hueschen.
The best new build award went to Ray Barkley
for his absolutely gorgeous Tiki 30, Mahiya.
Photo by Libby Hueschen.
Well, another year has passed for
the annual Hui Wharram (short form
in Hawaiian for a gathering of
Wharrams) at the Lorelei Cabana Bar
in beautiful downtown Islamorada,
Florida Keys. The three-day event
was well attended and everyone
enjoyed a great time.
As I write this, the last two boats
have just left (beating to windward…obviously
not “proper British
gentlemen” in the seafaring sense!)
and our land-locked attendees who
came just to visit and share the camaraderie
are wending their way to
their homes via car and plane.
We welcomed a Melanesia 17
outrigger, two Tiki 21s, two Tiki 30s,
a Pahi 31, a Tangaroa 36 and Gene
Perry’s new-to-him (very old boat)
Piver 27. Gene was sailing down
when his mast broke, and he still
made it here and will be motoring
home for the next five days or so.
Now that is dedication!
All of the boats were open for
inspection and picture-taking. Rides
were provided on the Melanesia 17
(now outfitted with a traditional
“crab claw” rig), the Tiki 21 and the
Tiki 30. Lots of good ideas were
swapped, and I heard commitments
from some of the attendees that they
will begin building within the year.
Always nice to have more Wharrams
on the water.
During the event, we had more
than 50 people stop by, and about 40 stayed for the Dutchtreat
dinner on Saturday night. It was a great event in that
the weather was absolutely perfect, and the Lorelei did a
great job of feeding the hoard. We shared the beach with a
wedding, and I’m pleased to report that the wenching by
Wharramites was kept to a discreet minimum.
We had door prizes from Chuck and Corrine Kanter,
Frank Papy, Scott Williams, Latitudes and Attitudes magazine,
Lorelei, Boatsmith, and AERE’ Docking Solutions.
Ceara, a local teen sailor, provided great assistance by
selecting the winners for each door prize. The History of
Diving Museum in Islamorada provided substantially discounted
admission coupons to all attendees. We were also
provided with packages of information, including charts
and coupons from the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce.
SOUTHWINDS magazine and the Islamorada Free Press newspaper
provided copies for everyone.
We held a brief memorial for Bob
Jones and Gil Grove, two dedicated
Wharramites who sailed over this
past year. Everyone was honored that
Gil’s wife Annie attended the dinner
and brought a plaque that honored
Gil. And then, we partied hard…they
would have wanted us to.
As usual, we awarded the plasticcoated
signs that announced the Hui
Wharram. These signs have become
the most coveted items of the evening
(how is that for spin!). They are great
for hanging in the cabin or home,
using as placemats or even scooping
puppy poop. Their functionality is
boundless! Attractive, too. This year,
in keeping with the lashing methods
of building Wharram boats, they came
with the lines that tied them to the
trees at the Lorelei. Doesn’t get much
better than that.
The award for the farthest distance
sailed to attend the event went to Greg Russel. His
Pahi 31 came from Panama City, FL, by way of the Bahamas
and the Dry Tortugas. Paul Garcia came in from California
and won his sign for the farthest distance traveled to get to
the event. (Note: We need some people from Texas to sail in,
and others from Hawaii or Europe to fly in, so we can stop
giving these guys these two awards—or, I’ll just change the
damn criteria). The best new build award went to Ray
Barkley for his absolutely gorgeous Tiki 30. (Lots of really
kewl new and innovative ideas on that boat!) Gene Perry
received one of the coveted signs not only for his fortitude
in making it here with a broken mast, but because he is our
inspirational leader! We also honored Gil Grove’s wife
Annie with a sign in his memory.
We are already looking forward to next year’s
event…we hope for the same place sometime in May of
2012. Details will be sent to Wharramites in February.
36 July 2011 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com