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Recent Website Activity


Showing Blog-posts and Forum conversations for the last 18 weeks
(18 October 2024 to 22 February 2025)

Boat Blogs and Comments

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NEW POST> Alternative Rigs
February 5th, 2025 by
Atalanta alternate rigs - gaff and junk

This post is taken from the most recent 2024-25 Annual Bulletin.The article generated some discussion amongst AOA members.It is reproduced here with some of those comments with the hope of encouraging aRead More…

NEW COMMENT: February 6th, 2025 by David Ewing
I was also considering a bow spirit for a cutter rig and bigger asymmetrical kite. David

NEW COMMENT: February 6th, 2025 by David Ewing
Also spotted this, it’s an old design but somewhere in the middle of an old gaff, modern square to

NEW COMMENT: February 6th, 2025 by David Ewing
One more for the wish list.. the keel boxes could be extended for 8 to 9’ of draft!! With a re-ji

NEW COMMENT: February 9th, 2025 by Fairey Mary
I thought about this, not in any real sense but in a kind of daydream. I agree the keels are a sign

NEW COMMENT: February 9th, 2025 by Fairey Mary
I was definitely considering the retractable bowsprit and lightweight genoa. Mary is 3/4 rig so run

NEW COMMENT: February 10th, 2025 by Chris Green
The Gunter rig (as A80 ) is a proven alternative for the Atalanta - there is an PBO article about he

NEW COMMENT: February 20th, 2025 by Jim Sumberg
As a thought experiment, consideration of different rigs for the Atalanta is certainly engaging. But

NEW COMMENT: February 20th, 2025 by AOA
An interesting provocation! Perhaps an element of sense too, although we shouldn’t under-estimate


NEW POST> Reflections on dropping the mast
January 16th, 2025 by
A89-Hamble-Jan_25-Mast_down

Thanks to Simon West (A5 Diaphony) for helping – we managed to drop the mast (literally) onto the deck and not into the water (nearly!). Colchide does not have the handy frameRead More…

NEW COMMENT: January 27th, 2025 by AOA
Well done to the both of you for getting it down. Sounds a bit hairy. Being able to raise and lower

NEW COMMENT: February 1st, 2025 by Chris Green
The inboard leg can also be made removable as a bolt-on. The system on Elle was made this way - the


NEW POST> Orwell to Oxford
January 4th, 2025 by
Lamb_and_Flag

OK lets do this thing…. I have started my preparations by watching tweedy pubs on youtube.  So the goal is a pint in the Lamb and Flag with a toast to theRead More…

NEW COMMENT: January 11th, 2025 by Stephen McCann
Could you come up before the AGM and then head back down with A89 Colchide in a 2-ship (possibly 3 i

NEW COMMENT: January 11th, 2025 by Fairey Mary
You mean up the Thames? How far?I would come up as far as a photo opportunity in the city but t

NEW COMMENT: January 27th, 2025 by AOA
What a great idea! I believe Gellie and Hiran once did a photo shoot under Tower Bridge (although I


NEW POST> Keel mechanics refurbished
December 18th, 2024 by
IMG_3687

Curlews keels and mechanisms have been removed and restored, fortunately a straightforward job as the stirrups had already been upgraded to stainless. The keels are in good condition but have shot blastedRead More…

NEW COMMENT: December 28th, 2024 by Murray
Very good!

NEW COMMENT: December 30th, 2024 by David Ewing
Blasted and primed

NEW COMMENT: December 30th, 2024 by AOA
David, wow! This is all looking a bit thorough and smart! Out of interest, what primer did you us

NEW COMMENT: January 8th, 2025 by David Ewing
To be honest I don’t know! The plan is to epoxy when the weather warms up. The blasting compan


NEW POST> Classic Boat
October 24th, 2024 by
B2F01B07-3066-426E-830E-EF77E5407EA0

Great article on Fairey plus a bit of Fame for Richard James!! [Webmaster addition: You should be able to read the article in the box on the right. If not you canRead More…

NEW COMMENT: November 3rd, 2024 by AOA
Steve, thanks very much post posting this. I have tried to add the article from the Classic Boat w

NEW COMMENT: November 12th, 2024 by Chris Green
It is worth noting that Uffa Fox did not claim the design credit for the Atalanta in any of his cont


NEW POST> End of season lift out at Dell Quay
October 20th, 2024 by
IMG_0353

This year I opted for the Dell Quay Sailing Club lift-out instead of recovery on the trailer. Some pictures of Elle being lifted on her own internal strops. The mast was loweredRead More…

NEW COMMENT: November 3rd, 2024 by AOA
Chris Just caught up with these pictures. Such a great way of lifting, using the three-part strop.

NEW COMMENT: November 3rd, 2024 by Chris Green
During the lift - overheard comments of a couple of observers wondering about the strength of the 6


RIP Colin Twyford
October 14th, 2024 by
Colin Twyman sailing A95

Photo: Colin sailing his beloved Atalanta A95 Hiran It is with sadness that we have to report the death of Colin Twyman. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Colin ownedRead More…

NEW COMMENT: October 25th, 2024 by murray reid
Indeed. Spent time with Colin on Hiran back in the day. He was a real gentleman, very generous and a

Forum Topics (shaded) and Replies


NEW TOPIC>Navigation Lights (New Topic)
January 26th, 2025 Harald Gross-Redman

does any body know where i could get the original navigation lights of a Atalanta 26

NEW REPLY:January 27th, 2025 by AOA

Hi Harald ‘Original’ can mean lots of different things – Fairey changed fittings over time. Do you have an image of the type you are looking for, perhaps by looking at theRead More…


NEW TOPIC>Tax? (New Topic)
January 12th, 2025 Fairey Mary

It is that time of year that I need to go through my accounts and chase the cockroaches out. I am not an accountant and am not giving or inviting tax orRead More…


NEW TOPIC>Model Atalanta (New Topic)
November 30th, 2024 Dinah Pryor

We have a beautiful working model of Atalanta 22 that we would like to pass on to someone who would appreciate her. The boat is 39 inches long and built of mahogany.Read More…

NEW REPLY:January 27th, 2025 by AOA

Dinah, thank you for offering the model through the AOA website. A22m is now entered on the Atalanta Register so that we can collate memories of her and record her voyages intoRead More…

NEW REPLY:December 1st, 2024 by Nick Phillips

Dinah I love this model. Your father must have spent many hours making it. And it has lifting keels and rudder too! There can’t be any other crews who have sailed aRead More…


NEW TOPIC>2024-25 Annual Bulletin (New Topic)
November 3rd, 2024 Stephen Taylor

This is a further reminder/plea from your Bulletin editor as a follow up to the contributions request in September and some additional follow up emails.  The “deadline” noted then was the 3rdRead More…


NEW TOPIC>The Thames (New Topic)
October 31st, 2024 Gregory Manning

I really like the suggestion that an Atalanta up the Thames would be a good idea.  Could we plan a flotilla to get Tower Bridge open.  I realise that is a bigRead More…

NEW REPLY:October 31st, 2024 by Stephen McCann

Totally agree – though, what about ‘down’ the Thames vice up? Happy to host at mine and launch over the road at Benson. (or even enter at Oxford). Would make the routeRead More…


Sail handling from the cockpit
July 19th 2024 by Gregory Manning
NEW REPLY:October 21st, 2024 by Fairey Mary

I like to work Mary’s sails from the cockpit.  I do get bruises on my rib-cage and at 6ft I can generally reach, if I stand in the companionway.  The greatest dangerRead More…