24Feb/21
Steering Gear Wear and Corrosion
With the snow melting and the weather warmed up (relatively), work on Bluster has resumed with the stripping out of the steering mechanism. The whipstaff bearing had a bit of play, butRead More…
09Feb/21
Engine Bearers and Thrust Bearing
The weather continues to be very cold this winter in Aberdeenshire, and now we also have 20 cm of snow. Consequently, not so much work has been done on Bluster. After muchRead More…
26Jan/21
Bluster’s 1GM10 Serviced and painted
Bluster’s engine was winterised, but otherwise in reasonable working order. It was badly rusted in places, the fuel and oil pipes were beginning to rust, and the paint was peeling off muchRead More…
22Jan/21
A90 – AWAY WITH THE TRAILER
After changing A90’s livery, time to go for the keels. But removal of the trailer had to come first. Travis Perkins first had to deliver some railway sleepers up from Newport ,Read More…
16Jan/21
Mike Dixon and A1 nominated for Classic Boat Award – Vote Now!
Hello everyone. You may have read the Classic Boat article published in the November edition last year about A1 and her restsoration. The article aimed to bring together the historic place A1Read More…
14Jan/21
A90 – CHANGING COLOURS
Risking the opprobrium of AOA members I changed A90 ‘s traditional Atalanta livery of Blue & White to that of my very first yacht, a Red & White Silhouette Mark II. TheRead More…
08Jan/21
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
On the 8th February 2019 Dominic Dobson brings A90 all the way from Ilkley Moor to North Dorset and a bag full of ‘The Patience of a Saint’ ! Arriving after darkRead More…
03Jan/21
A182 Skimmer – Restoration Project (Virginia Beach, US)
A182 Skimmer has been in storage in Virginia Beach, USA, since 1985 in a tent, and been kept dry. She is now looking for someone to complete her restoration. She is lyingRead More…
28Dec/20
Getting Bluster’s Engine Out
Bluster currently has a Yanmar 1GM10 diesel engine, a replacement for the Volvo Penta that she previously had. It has been fairly reliable, but the paint was peeling off the lower halfRead More…
18Dec/20
Diaphony A5 on going work
A few pictures of Deck and a illustration on forming precise curves which are then laminated. This was done a few years ago Picture of mast spreader bracket to Fairey item incorporatingRead More…
27Nov/20
How A105 became ‘Taku Maru’
We were delighted to hear from the son of Taku Maru’s original owner, Philip Booth, about his recollections of her and how she got her name. I am really delighted to seeRead More…
21Nov/20
A166 Hullabaloo For Sale – £400 in boatyard on Portland
Through a series of unfortunate experiences A166 is in need of a new home. She is in Clark’s Boatyard on Portland. Contact Tim or Denise at 01305 860265. Although originally covered theseRead More…
21Nov/20
Atalanta 26 For Sale – A161 Amber Ellen
Atalanta 26 for sale – A161 Amber Ellen. Based near Ullapool Amber Ellen is offered with a trailer and some interesting modifications including wheel steering. With varnished hull and decks she now needs some attention and TLC. The exterior needs re-finishing and decks may need some repairs. The hull is in sound condition. Amber Ellen has had some interesting modifications through the years including raised tubular toe rails and wheel steering.
20Nov/20
A140 Kate Thomas – Two Views of Ownership in the 1990s
A recent tidy up by one of the AOA ex Bulletin Editors brought to light a new document written by an owner’s wife offering a different perspective on the ownership, sailing and trailing of an Atalanta.
09Nov/20
Repairs to Bluster’s Bow
Work has continued on repairing the bow area of Bluster. The deck area had some rot wherever it had been penetrated by a screw or bolt, allowing water to get into theRead More…
26Oct/20
User contributed photo – T1 Nuru Albahar in the early 1980s
Titania T1 was owned by the Dixon’s in the early 1980s, in Ireland. Jim Dixon kindly posted this photo of her. Title: T1 Nuru Albahar in the 1980sCaption: T1 Nuru Albahar inRead More…
13Oct/20
Classic Boat A1 Design and Restoration Review
With the completion of A1 Atalanta last year it seemed like a golden opportunity for the Association to have another push at publicising our excellent wards. A1 was a very special boatRead More…
13Oct/20
12 October 2020 – A154 Deannie Obituary
The decision to scrap A154 was taken in October 2020. To all intents and purposes A154 is no more although she lives on through parts salvaged by the AOA to be usedRead More…
05Oct/20
A154 Deannie – Last chance to save her
It is planned for Deannie to be scrapped over the weekend of 9-11 October. This week is the last chance if anyone wishes to save her. I you are seriously interested andRead More…
28Sep/20
Bluster’s Foredeck Repairs
The foredeck from the cockpit to the forehatch has now been repaired and just needs fairing and some longitudinal slats replacing. The top laminate repairs on the bubble have now been fairedRead More…
28Sep/20
A115 Mara For Sale – £800
I have taken the decision to let A115 go to a new owner. Sadly I don’t have the time to work on her where she is as there is no power andRead More…
28Sep/20
F3 Dunsheen Restoration Project
I hope there is a competent person out there who would take on the restoration of F3 Dunsheen and sail this lovely boat. She is a good example of this classic classRead More…
02Aug/20
A124 Helene For Sale – £6500 incl.trailer SOLD
Lying in Ipswich. Please contact Nick for details by email or by phone on 07711 088762. A124 is for sale to allow to pursue my Atalanta and sailing aspirations in different directions.Read More…
28Jul/20
Cockpit Restoration
I am now restoring Bluster’s cockpit at deck level. Getting the jib sheet tracks off (all four of them) was a struggle as many of the brass bolts were corroded into theRead More…
23Jul/20
A124 meets A1 – not for the first time?
A124 Helene was launched at last on Monday (with much thanks to Mike Dixon for driving miles to assist). It felt good to have water under the keel again and looking forwardRead More…
21Jul/20
T4 about to be scrapped
Titania T4 will be chopped up tomorrow, 22 July 2020 at boatscrapyard.com in Gosport. If you want any bits from her, please phone Steve on 023 9298 4666 ASAP or contact LukeRead More…
18Jul/20
Bluster Refit Progress
Making the most of the warm weather and Covid19 lockdown to work on repairing the deck laminations and replace the rotten frame tops. Progress is slow, but steady. Title: Side Deck ProgressCaption:Read More…
04Jul/20
Aft pushpit
Not sure I every shared any photos of the new aft pushpit. This push pit works by providing storage for a modern life ring, Seago lift raft complete with easy release (justRead More…
Replacement keel bolts
A 31/11 has 316 L stainless steel keel bolts and controling plates (Posted by F O’Riordain using the AOA Website ‘Guest’ posting facility) Boat Name (if known): Petesark
11Jun/20
Renovation update 11th June 2020
Replacement engine arrived today now the fun begins fitting it Nanni 14hp with heat exchanger..Sorting out bearers tomorrow. My New Mast which I picked up on holiday in Cornwall a few yrsRead More…
11Jun/20
Side Deck Strengthening
On Bluster, between the companionway bulkhead and the main bulkhead the side deck and blister were joined without any reinforcement other than the quarter round on the outside. This led to separation,Read More…
10Jun/20
A55 For Sale on eBay as restoration project
A55 is for sale on eBay (finishes 14th June at 14.23) as a restoration project. She has been stored in a barn for a few years. Condition hard to tell exactly fromRead More…
drg number 24833
Hello fellow owners I am looking for drg no 24833 Mast head rig metal mast are they available still and how much.. regards Simon
06Jun/20
Furlough work
3 months Furlough Had to do something Full speed ahead on Diaphony working on the keel boxes Mtg brackets blasted and Galvernised and painted with Epoxy Primer as are the Keels justRead More…
23May/20
A5 Rudder
Mk1 Rudder in very good condition has finally found its way on to Diaphony A5 . And have lowered the top pintle down about 2 inches, also replaced lower pintle with aRead More…
21May/20
Scoop – A89’s secret weapon for East Coast Race
Our East Coast representative has sent us this scoop from secret waters somewhere near Harwich. Getting the Atalanta to go faster has pre-occupied many in recent years (check out this thread). Well,Read More…
20May/20
A160 Moyra video of sailing holiday in 1968
There’s a video of this boat A160 ‘Moyra’ from an 8mm film I made in 1968. David Clover. Read about the history of the London Sailing Project, now Rona Trust, on theirRead More…
Engine transplant
Is there anyone running a Yanmar GM20 in an Atalanta 26 I already have a RCA Dolphin 12 hp two stroke twin fitted in the boat. I would like to know ifRead More…
17May/20
A109 – You might want to look the other way
In 2001 the owners of A7 bought A109 Beltine for spares. A109 was subsequently broken up as can be seen in the photos. Coincidentally A7 was bought by an owner who usedRead More…
05May/20
Fairey Marine Promotional Videos
We have recently placed five Fairey Marine promotional films on the ‘Videos’ page. These are entertaining and provide an interesting insight into sailing in the late fifties / early sixties as wellRead More…
30Apr/20
A35 features in Audio-Visual treat
Further to the investigations in what happened to A35 Scherzo after the Conservatoire International de la Plaisance closed down in the 1990s we have continued to search periodically. I came across thisRead More…
29Apr/20
A76 and A98, a sad loss and an idea for the future
We were saddened to hear at the beginning of last year that the long term owner of A76 Inshallah and A98 Beki had died. The owner had been restoring both boats inRead More…
26Apr/20
A148 Johara for sale £3,000 – SOLD
It is with a heavy heart that I offer A148, Johara for sale. I moved to the Isle of Harris with the intention of finally sorting her out but a combination ofRead More…
22Apr/20
A126 in the late 1970s
Happy memories of A126 Apple The AOA were very glad to be contacted in April 2020 by an ex-owner of A126 Apple with a little bit of history and some photographs. HavingRead More…
Spotted on Facebook group “Rotting in a Boatyard”
Title: New ham TruroCaption: Position: 50 15’ 09” N 05 02’ 32” W Title: Petesark in distress in CornwallCaption: Petesark in distress in Cornwall
02Apr/20
1958 Daily Express Boat Show Prize – An Atalanta!
In 1958 the prize for Daily Express National Boat Show was an Atalanta! Specifically A70 Catalina! John Dixon kindly provided the cutting tin the photograph (much appreciated!) which triggered this post. TheRead More…
10Mar/20
A65 Joann For Sale – £4000 incl. unique trailer SOLD
A65 Joann is for sale. A special Atalanta, Joann has a Titania coachroof ‘blister’ over the main cabin providing increased headroom there. She also has a standard Atalanta blister fitted to theRead More…
03Feb/20
F14 Noggin for sale £5,950
Noggin has had a great deal of work done in recent years by professional boatbuilder Alan Staley and the previous owner. She is wonderful condition, looking very smart and awaiting a freshRead More…
22Dec/19
A1 Restoration – The Final Push
I took on the restoration of A1 ‘Atalanta’ in 2016. This post begins a series in which I will document the work done, in text and photographs. There has been an extraordinary interest in A1’s progress. Many thanks to all who have expressed interest.
Contact from Norbert FRADIN in Bordeaux
I have today received a reply from Norbert Fradin of the Musée Mer Marine at Bordeaux. He briefly states that he is, unfortunately not capable of giving us any information concerning theRead More…