The weather continued, kindly, to be unseasonal through the weekend 26th-27th May. Atalanta owners and fans from around the UK enjoyed a glorious sunny weekend exploring history at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, Fort Amherst, the museum of the Royal Engineers and Upnor.
It was lovely to catch up with owners past and present. Attendees included older and younger generation owners of five boats and three people who had been bought up from childhood sailing Atalantas still in the same family, or only recently sold. It was great to have five of our youngest owners there. Owners present ranged from twenty-five years old to over eighty. There was plenty of talk throughout the weekend about sailing and maintaining Atalantas, and sailing plans for the year.
Most of stayed in local hotels but two owners came by boat. Ian had left his Atalanta 31 on the River Humber and was living on his Westerly home at Queenborough. Alistair had bought A102 Atalanta Mary down from the River Orwell so the AOA burgee was flying in Chatham Maritime Marina. After hosting visits on Sunday morning Alistair set off for his journey up the Thamed to Benson, where A89 Colchide is spending her off-season. Atalanta Mary attracted attention throughout the weekend and the trip up-river.
We dispersed around the historic attractions in the Chatham Historic Dockyard and Chatham more widely over the Saturday and Sunday, coming together for lunches and a dinner at Medway Yacht Club. Oh yes, and the AGM.
Medway Yacht Club and Upnor
Medway Yacht Club, in Upper Upnor, hosted us for dinner on the Saturday night. The meal they provided was extremely good and the views from their very comfortable clubhouse added greatly to our enjoyment. They are highly recommended as an event venue.
Chatham Historic Dockyard and Medway Queen
The building is 1/4 mile long, the length determined by the need for warships to have anchor cables long enough to anchor in 40 fathoms without the need for splices.
Fort Amherst
