06Sep/23
‘Sailor and Cowboy’ – book added to Archive
We came across this book recently by Finn Ziem after someone found his Youtube video about crossing the Atlantic – twice – in 1980 and 1981. Book description: This is the story ofRead More…
04Sep/23
A170 Butterfly across the Atlantic 1980
All images on this page are the copyright of Finn Ziem, from within the Youtube video below. We have just heard about Norwegian Finn Ziem’s double crossing of the Atlantic Ocean inRead More…
01Sep/23
Afloat
This year we finally made it back onto the water. A berth on the Tamar became available in early August. This was followed by a rush to finish a few jobs onRead More…
09Aug/23
Helene is for sale – £4500 or best offer – SOLD
A124 Helene — a British Classic with a Big Personality — is offered for sale. She is sound, well looked after and a pleasure to sail. Very comfortable cockpit. Helene has benefitedRead More…
Blue Jackaroo for sale.
Blue Jackaroo for sale on Ebay for a pound : I confirm that I have rights to the material uploaded above and agree that the AOA may use this material on theRead More…
29Jul/23
Restoration update pt2
Busy weekend actually bolting fittings on.. such a good feeling ! Helpful working where I do ,enables me to think through jobs and get them right first time. On a different note Read More…
29Jul/23
Restoration update
Final fitment of Engine bearers Brackets and nuts and bolts all in 316 s/s. Chain plates trial fitted Today fitted only one tricky and messy job with Butyl sealer..I have found brakeRead More…
07Jul/23
Alde & Ore Rally – Diversion
We left Wrabness at 4 on Thursday and spent the night in Hamford Water. Weather fantastic and the Backwaters magic. This morning we sailed out and up the coast choosing to divertRead More…
05Jul/23
FULMAR Trailer sailer For Sale £2000
FAIREY FULMAR 20 ft Sitting in Owlesbury near Winchester. Compact, trailable, sailing cruiser with remarkable internal space, having four 6ft 6in berths Head room 5ft 9in. Ready to sail this summer. PetterRead More…
23Jun/23
Two Atalantas on the River Stour together on Midsummer’s day
A89 Colchide and A124 Helene arranged to meet on the River Stour on Midsummer’s day. Is this the first time two Atalantas have sailed together this year? Title: 21 June 2023 (16)-9bb4654cCaption:Read More…
Challenging
Sugar Plum doing some challenging pilotage in the North Channel of Loch Moidart. Title: North Channel Moidart-3a98cb90
06May/23
Helene’s cabin update
This spring the painters and decorators had a go at updating Helene’s cabin. Interesting comparison with Nick’s 2015 photo below. Title: 2015 08 Helene East Coast 021-f6d16bbeCaption: August 2015 : I confirmRead More…
03May/23
New mylar keel gaskets
Following work this spring to address water ingress along the bottom of Helene’s keel boxes, new slot gaskets were installed using Hawk 150mm mylar gasket material obtained from RS Sailing. The badlyRead More…
30Apr/23
Feli broken up.
A48 Feli has been broken up. She sank at her moring in 2015 during a storm. I got her re floated and took her out of the water. Unfortunately the stern wasRead More…
23Mar/23
Centre line repairs
Over the last several years water has leaked into Helene’s forward cabin. The amount was relatively small – more annoying than anything else – but something was not right. Everything pointedRead More…
12Feb/23
A77 under sail
Photo of A77 Blue Goose sailing. Title: A77 under sail in USA1.1-8758af51Caption: Out for a sail : I confirm that I have rights to the material uploaded above and agree that theRead More…
Mallette promoted anew to restoring and still married/spliced.
Thanks for the resources over the years. Word to the wise: It would have been easier to buy one in better condition! Should you undertake a similar restoration be prepared for ChristsRead More…
22Jan/23
WINTER COVER – DIY
I did learn before I bought A90 that the enemy of an Atalanta was not sea water but rain. So off to Sturminster Newton and Hansons’ massive material warehouse. Then bumping backRead More…
30Dec/22
Repairs to top sides
The Uffa fox event was the perfect excuse for me to finally address the top-sides. Mary was in good condition when I took over her care. But the paint had definitely goneRead More…
27Nov/22
Does anyone own Baby Seal?
Hi. Does anyone own Baby Seal? I would love to hear that she is still around. My Uncle, John Berry of HM Coastguard in Margate, Spurn Point and Liverpool, bought this boatRead More…
26Nov/22
A3 Andana and A137 Baby Seal
This photo was found in my late Uncles records. He owned Baby Seal and look like this might be a rare photo of A3…! : I confirm that I have rights toRead More…
First owner
My father Dr Francis George Elvins was the first owner, from 1960 until 1971 when he died. He kept her moored on Wareham Quay, Dorset where he lived. He crossed the channelRead More…
12Nov/22
Winter Quarters, 2021/22
This is a late, but nevertheless. Helene was lifted on 18 October 2021 at Mistley Marine on the River Stour in Essex. It proved to be a somewhat quirky but very pleasantRead More…
06Nov/22
Atlantic crossing A115 moves South with new owner
We are delighted to hear that A115 ‘Mara’ has been sold. Her new owner has moved her to the South Coast to complete her restoration. This is great news. In 1975 EricRead More…
25Oct/22
A sad day for A179 Emma Duck
A small team visited Rye last week to rescue parts from A179 Emma Duck before she is destroyed. The Secretary and Committee have worked hard in recent years to support the ownersRead More…
18Sep/22
Memories of A19 Valare
The boats travelling to the UF50 event in August stopped off at Brighton. They were spotted by Mark Whittle who sailed A19 Valare in the 1970’s as a young boy. Mark veryRead More…
01Sep/22
Zambra ongoing works
It’s been a busy few years so Zambra has had to take a bit of a backward step but this year, finally, I’ve managed to get her going forwards again. Thought IRead More…
10Jun/22
A38 has a new custodian
Members have enjoyed following the news from Harry Budden in Canada of A38, The Beaver, over the years. In 2019 he sent news and pictures of his journey across Canada from NorthRead More…
14May/22
A124 Helene reaches new heights
I popped by to help ready Helene for final fitting out tasks – putting her ‘in the air’ for work inside the keelboxes on the new posts at the rear. It isRead More…
Christchurch A5
Title: A5 Diaphony a long time agoCaption: A5 Diaphony a long time ago Title: 20200921_202043-c0bc6bc5 : I confirm that I have rights to the material uploaded above and agree that the AOARead More…
25Apr/22
A5 restoration
Have decided to fit the keel mechanism from Jack of London T4 as it was all made from stainless steel ,Problem is getting this lot to fit in the keel box asRead More…
02Apr/22
A89 with new Tiger stripes
I have always like the “Tiger design” NATO jets, so yesterday, I gave Colchide a “Tiger design” to her hull. Title: A89 Tiger Paint JobCaption: A89 Tiger Paint Job : I confirmRead More…
21Jan/22
book reference – A21 ‘Chuff’
Mentioned in the book “The War That Never Was” by Duff Hart-Davis page 29 one page only. The boat, A21 ‘Chuff’, was flown to Aden in the early sixties or earlier byRead More…
20Jan/22
‘Out of Arklow’ – book added to Archive
We came across this book recently by Danny O’Neill. Danny owned A78 Marianda in the 1980s and 1990s. The book is about Danny’s life at sea on eighty different boats as aRead More…
10Nov/21
Elle moves to winter quarters
Elle is being stored in a barn this winter. Located in Dell Quay, Chichester Harbour – Apuldram Manor Farm. The storage allows the luxury of working on the boat throughout the winterRead More…
24Oct/21
A49 seems to be in need of rescue
Just saw this on Boat Scrapyards site. The boat is in Cheshire : I confirm that I have rights to the material uploaded above and agree that the AOA may use thisRead More…
15Oct/21
A15 Artemis II – Unique and in fine condition – £4000 ono SOLD
Presently afloat and in commission in Chichester harbour. Artemis II is in good condition with a Sabb marine single diesel engine and a new under boom cockpit cover. All fresh painted thisRead More…
13Oct/21
1966 – We nearly drowned
The AOA caught up with the son of an ex-owner at the Southampton Boastshow in 2021. This was great – it filled in an ownership gap in our records and provided theRead More…
The Wrabness tender mystery. Part 2
On taking over a boat it is common to inherit a certain number of “special” items. Dredged from the depths of locker or lazarette, damp and probably rusty, their identity andRead More…
23Sep/21
The Wrabness tender mystery. Part 1
The plan was for an overnight to Pin Mill or the Walton Backwaters. We left Manningtree under sail around 1130 anticipating the ebb, without even a cat’s paw of breeze. TheRead More…
09Sep/21
A1 Generating Chatter At Southampton
After a great deal of effort by Mike A1 is moored in the ‘Class Association’ area of the Southampton boatshow, alongside the Old Gaffers Association. She has already generated ‘chatter’ – sheRead More…
22Aug/21
Out of hibernation
I am really glad that I managed to find ‘hibernation’ for Mary over the lock-down. But it is time to get her back in the water enjoy a sail and make sureRead More…
20Aug/21
A117 Turtle project with trailer, free to be restored
Free for restoration. Turtle is currently sitting on a four wheel trailer in Truro. If someone out there will take her please do, just send a lorry we can pull her onRead More…
17Aug/21
Cockpit Corner Reinforcement and Repairs to Aft Bulkhead
Bluster has guard rail stanchions at the aft end of the cockpit. These were bolted through the stringer and the deck with a block beneath and above. Unfortunately, after being pushed aroundRead More…
30Jul/21
Cockpit comfort – orientation and curves
Since the mid-1990 I have owned a number of small boats including a Devon Yawl, Cornish Shrimper, Cornish Crabber (Mk 1), Kingfisher 22+ (jink rig), Anderson 26 (lifting keeI), Golden Hind andRead More…
24Jul/21
The times they are a changing, dear Maurice
To escape the worst of the expected heatwave I thought I would visit what has quickly become my favourite anchorage, and do some relaxed mud listening. After a beat down the StourRead More…
02Jul/21
Repairing the Split in the Topsides
As reported in Bluster’s last blog post, there was a worrying split in the topsides at the starboard aft end of the cockpit where the aft deck moulding is joined to theRead More…
12Jun/21
Repairs around the rubbing strake
The hot sunny weather we are having in Scotland at the moment is ideal for wood repairs as the exposed laminates are nice and dry before being sealed in with epoxy. WaterRead More…
10Jun/21
A184, Aquilo II, £5,500
Aquilo II is in a barn on her trailer near Bridport in Dorset. She is possibly the last ever 26ft Atalanta to be launched, which she was in 1969. She has beenRead More…
A165 Sloeberry was Mavista pre 1996
My father Dr.Peter Ewart Burden re-named this boat. We nearly lost her and our lives once-sailing from Ramsgate on a halcyon day ,force 3 forecast to be caught in squall. My husbandRead More…