Read about the Fairey Atalanta design on this page – brochures, details of the design and also how to get the best from the boat. See brochures and details of the design and also how to get the best from the boat. You may also enjoy reading more about the Atalanta in these other pages:
Register and Boat Histories
AOA Documents & Drawings
Atalantas For Sale
Original Brochures & AdsAtalanta 26 (Mk.2) Spec.
- Length 26ft.
- Beam 7’9″
- Draught 1’6″ – 5’9″
- Freeboard forward 3’2″
- Freeboard aft 2’6″
- Headroom under coach roof 5’9″
- Mainsail 155 sq. ft.
- Foresail 85 sq. ft.
- Genoa 115 sq. ft.
- Most boats have an inboard engine.
- Twin drop keels each weigh 475lbs (215kg), winched by hand
- Lifting rudder
- Displacement 2 tons
- Sleeps 4 in two cabins, with quarter berths for 2 extra
With her elegant lines, light displacement, lifting keels and rudder the Atalanta 26 clearly demonstrates her dinghy ancestry. Over the years her sailing ability to windward and in strong winds has won high praise and the boats have proved to be utterly trustworthy on the open sea even in Force 8 winds. The retractable twin keels, with a total weight of almost 1000lbs (430kg), provide ample stability to well over 90 degrees of heel.
The hot moulded hull, deck and coachroof of the Atalanta 26’s form a light, strong, homogenous and entirely watertight hulls. These have proven long-lived and are easily repaired by amateurs when required.
The centre cockpit is spacious and adequate for six people. A vertical whipstaff tiller is a novel feature leaving the cockpit unencumbered but hinging forward to allow easy access to the aft cabin.
The ‘go anywhere’ quality of the boat is one of her key features. Fully down the keels give 5ft 9in draught, and fully retracted the boats floats in just 18″ of water. The unique clamping gear on the keels prevented them from moving or working at sea, but does not prevent the keels from kicking up on striking an underwater obstacle or on going aground.
Moreover, at around 2 tonnes many owners trail the boats significant distances in the UK, Europe and the USA, often using the boat as a caravan en route. Atalantas are equally at home at sea and ditch-crawling and can be beached on any reasonable surface.
Click on items in the index below or scroll further down to browse the articles
Introduction
0So what is so special about an Atalanta?
Ereina sailing near the cleddau bridge within Milford Haven[/caption]Well on a practical level it is a combination of the following:Safe at sea, even when the weather deterioratesThe ability to creep into places<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/so-what-is-so-special-about-an-atalanta-3/">Read More...</a>
0The ultra modern 50 year old yacht – a true classic
Although these boats meet the definition of “classic yacht” (designed or built before 1960) they seem to be too modern for “real” classic boat enthusiasts. They are not made from planks of<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-ultra-modern-50-year-old-yacht-which-is-a-true-classic/">Read More...</a>
0The original trailer sailer
The Atalanta is the original trailer sailor. From the very beginning in 1955 owners were regularly trailing them to the south of France for summer holidays. In those days large family cars<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-original-trailer-sailer/">Read More...</a>
0A Family Boat
Claims that the Atalanta was a suitable boat for families, on account of her roominess and sea-kindly qualities, were soon confirmed by several accounts of cruises in which children accompanied their parents.<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/a-family-boat/">Read More...</a>
0Seaworthiness
The Atalanta has always been considered to be a seaworthy vessel. Few trailable 26 footers can claim this distinction. It is a special feature of these boats. Many of the early AOA<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/seaworthiness/">Read More...</a>
0Sailing Performance
See also the poston Atalanta Handicaps for use when racing Diagram showing likely speeds on different points of sailing Both the Atalanta and the Titania are capable of making swift offshore passages.<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/sailing-performance/">Read More...</a>
0Variable draft
Sailing with variable draft Atalanta’s can be sailed with the keels lowered or partly raised. It is usual to keep them fully down when offshore to maximise the righting moment. However<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/variable-draft/">Read More...</a>
01964 Atalanta Specification
1964 Atalanta Specification for Atalanta 26 (issued in 1964) STANDARD BOAT: £3,360 Ex Works Hot pressure moulded hull consisting of 4 laminations of 2.5mm Agba on mahogany main frame fitted with bulkheads<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalantaspec/">Read More...</a>
Design and Construction
0Atalanta Construction
After the Second World War Fairey Marine applied the technology developed to make aircraft to boats. Starting with dinghies such as the Firefly, Swordfish, Albacore, and Falcon they started building the Atalanta<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalanta-construction/">Read More...</a>
0Clever Interiors
What sort of accommodation does an Atalanta have? Well if we start at the bow, there is a traditional forward heads. Behind that there is a saloon, with a berth on each<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/interior/">Read More...</a>
0The Forehatch
It Opens aft It is right in the eyes of the boat – so it could hardly open the other way! You can see from the photo how useful it is. See<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-forehatch/">Read More...</a>
0Rounded Decks and Coachroof
Three photos of Atalantas follow. Look at them with particular emphasis on the curved decks and coachroofs: There are three elements behind this design feature: Windage Fairey marine always made a big<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/rounded-decks-coachroof/">Read More...</a>
0Strange Bulges on the Bulkhead in the Cockpit
Engine Ventilators I am talking about those blue things mounted either side of the cabin entrance. They are original features of the Atalanta and the Titania. They are common on factory finished<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/strange-bulges-bulkhead-front-cockpit/">Read More...</a>
0Three-quarter and Masthead Rigs
The standard rig illustrated in Fig. 2 was the so-called three quarter rig when the forestay holding the luff of the foresail was secured approximately threequarters of the way up the mast.<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/three-quarter-and-masthead-rigs/">Read More...</a>
0Self Righting
Stability The prototype Atalanta is shown in the photo above undergoing a heeling test. While we cannot tell what the righting moment is ( but it looks like the man at the<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/self-righting/">Read More...</a>
0The rudder system
The transom hung rudder is a heavier version of a typical dinghy rudder, with a large lifting blade: This is the rudder on a Titania, but in principal the same as an<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-rudder-system/">Read More...</a>
0How the keels work
Retractable keels The Atalanta has a canoe body which has no form of fixed keel what so ever. All of the ballast is contained in lifting keels. Two of them. The unusual<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/how-the-keels-work/">Read More...</a>
0Variable draft
Sailing with variable draft Atalanta’s can be sailed with the keels lowered or partly raised. It is usual to keep them fully down when offshore to maximise the righting moment. However<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/variable-draft/">Read More...</a>
Use
0Fairey Marine tenders for Atalantas
There are three Fairey Marine tenders to complement the Atalanta series of yachts. The Dinky This is an 8 ft long dinghy. Constructed in the same way as the Atalanta, hot moulded<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/fairey-marine-tenders/">Read More...</a>
0Handicaps for racing
Introduction Since the first Atalantas were made they have competed against each other and against other yachts in races. When racing against other classes in races organised outside of the AOA they<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/handicaps-for-racing/">Read More...</a>
0Atalanta Sail Handling
General The forehatch is a major safety feature for Atalanta sail handling. This is a feature of both the Atalanta and the Titania. It may be frowned upon by a marine surveyor<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalanta-sail-handling/">Read More...</a>
0Motoring
Original Engines Motoring in most Atalanta’s originally used a Coventry Victor horizontally opposed twin cylinder petrol engines developing 12 or 15 hp depending on model. Titania’s and some Atalanta’s were fitted with<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/motoring/">Read More...</a>
0Guard rails
Do you need them? Well do you? Read the post on handling sails and ropes from the forehatch. Read how you can work the mainsail from the main hatchway. Look at how<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/guard-rails/">Read More...</a>
3Raising and Lowering the Mast
A key requirement for any trailer-sailer is that raising and lowering the mast must be simple. And it is with the Atalanta and Titania. The mast Some Atalanta are fitted with alloy<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/raising-and-lowering-the-mast/">Read More...</a>
0An Atalanta as a Caravan en Route
The Atalanta has always been used as a caravan en route to a new cruising ground. The issues you need to be aware of are: Where to spend the night? Camp sites<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/using-an-atalanta-as-a-caravan-en-route/">Read More...</a>
0Atalanta recovery to trailer
Leave aside the obvious travel hoist or crane option. Basic principles The diagram is based on an original Fairey marine drawing. The boat and trailer combination were always intended to<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalanta-recovery-to-trailer/">Read More...</a>
0Launching an Atalanta or Titania
There are really four ways of launching an Atalanta (or a Titania) from its trailer: The travel hoist The easy way is to have it lifted in by travelhoist. It is not<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/launching-an-atalanta-or-titania/">Read More...</a>
2Atalanta and Titania towing
Weights The Atalanta and the Titania can be legally towed behind many 4×4 cars. The boat weighs between 2 and 2.5 tons (depending on equipment and fittings). A suitable trailer could weigh<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalanta-and-titania-towing/">Read More...</a>
0Drying out
Where to dry out Atalanta’s were designed to be equally at home sitting on the bottom, anywhere where there is a suitable stretch of ground to sit on. Muddy harbour and<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/drying-out/">Read More...</a>
History
1Atalanta – more than the sum of her parts?
The following paper was conceived in the cabin of an Atalanta during the East Coast Cruise in 2021. New owner Jim Sumberg was reviewing the innovations within the Atalanta and its part<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/atalanta-more-than-the-sum-of-her-parts/">Read More...</a>
0The Atalanta Concept – Sujanwiz
An ardent admirer of the Firefly was Alan Vines, a senior executive in the Fairey Aviation Company and a keen and almost fanatical sailor. He was very impressed with the seaworthiness of<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-concept-sujanwiz/">Read More...</a>
0The Prototype Atalanta
(The photo shows the prototype Atalanta between a production Atalanta on the left and Sujanwiz on the right, Alan Vines concept boat which started it all) On a family visit to Uffa<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/the-prototype-atalanta/">Read More...</a>
0Weren’t they dropped from aircraft during the war?
This is a comment that most Atalanta owners will have come accross at some time.It’s usually when you are tied up alongside in a small harbour attracting attention from all the passers<a class="moretag" href="https://atalantaowners.org/they-were-dropped-from-aircraft-during-the-second-world-war-wernt-they/">Read More...</a>