In 1996 A52 was bought by Jochen Gassner to join his charter fleet on the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte or Mecklenburg Lake District in the South East of Germany. The fleet also included A110.Read More…
26May/96
01Feb/95
A83 Flying Fox new owner and new paint in 1995
Flying Fox changes hand, is returned to her original name from ‘Branca’ and gets a new coat of paint.
01Feb/95
A88 Tenga restored in 1995
In the US Tenga is restored to beautiful original condition.
29Jan/95
A168 Kerry Piper Before/After 1990s restoration
A168 Kerry Piper Before/After 1990s restoration.
Photo: Kerry Piper A169. A169 in Antwerpen (Belgium) just prior to and after the restoration
18Jan/93
1993 A35 Sold to Conservatoire de Plaisance in Bordeaux
In 1993 A35 was bought to form part of a collection of over 70 boats in Bordeaux, based in the old submarine pens. Press release from the time: https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/bordeaux-merveilleux-fous-flottants_595134.html
17Aug/92
A125 Polaris – Timewarp in Mexico
Associate Member P.Nichols sent through a report of his visit to see Polaris II. The current owner had offered her for sale. She had been dry stored for many years and wasRead More…
Coupe Bernard Trophy 1992 – Twin Rudders
In the early 1990’s Atalanta Mary was modified with the fitting of twin rudders in place of the single lifting original. This was influenced by the number of rudder blade failures andRead More…
01Feb/90
A89 Hydraulic drive
Bernard Upton fitted a Farryman 12hp and hydraulic drive to a 2 bladed folding propellor. He also put hydraulic rams on the keel hoists.
30Dec/89
A51 Bacardi in British Columbia 1989-1990
Bill and Juliet Higgs sent ‘Seasons Greetings’ to Secretary George Parker with the photographs below. Dear George Seasons Greetings to you and the association. This is a typical winter’s day in BritishRead More…
05Nov/85
Kerry Piper Family Sailing in the 1970s 1980s
It’s what Atalanta sailing is all aobut!
01Feb/81
AOA Sinclair Trophy (Services to the AOA)
Services to the AOA Painting of A71 Blue Jackaroo by owner EL Sinclair. The painting was created from a photograph of A171 which was also used as the basis for a secondRead More…
28Jan/80
Saving Aku A113
From the 1980-81 Bulletin Tony Peck and John Riding’s start of their circumnavigation, and its halt in the Galapagos islands, has been written up elsewhere. After abandoning their circumnavigation AKU was passedRead More…
In the Navy
Atalanta Mary was owned by a Naval officer between 1979 and 1981. During this time he and his wife had their honeymoon cruising the South Coast.
29Nov/78
Peanut – Unusual beginnings for an unusual Atalanta
‘Peanut’ is an Atalanta 31 with a difference. She was put together about 1974-5 by the Burnetts with the help Captain Urry, who was Mrs Burnett’s father and a pioneer of theRead More…
05May/78
1978 Photo by Victor Hopwood (AM)
Humber Yacht Club, NZ looking very smart.Photo sent to Hon Sec in 1998
30Jun/77
A124 Helen’s Folly 1970s Restoration
Helen’s Folly was restored from a garage of bits in the late 1970s
07Jun/76
A146 Bluff OSTAR 1976
(Map courtesy of Brian Sadler) A146, already very well travelled, changed hands and went across the Atlantic No history of racing by Atalantas would be complete without mention of Rod White whoRead More…
06Aug/75
East Coast Rally and Race
Soon after Maj. Gen. Odling became the Hon. Sec. of the AOA in 1975, he instituted the East Coast Rally and Race as an annual event at West Mersea on the EssexRead More…
A115 Sabrina Across The Atlantic in 1975
In 1975 Eric Stallard and two young friends set out from Appledore on May 27th in A115, Sabrina of Croyde, to cross the Atlantic. They had a stormy passage through the BayRead More…
11May/75
A80 Sails extensively with Gunter Rig
Although the AOA Registers are Bulletin are quiet on the matter it appears that A80 was converted to Gunter rig in the 1970s (and back to her standard rig later). In 1975Read More…
29Jun/74
A146 Sherpa Round Britain Race 1974
Immediately after sailing in the Round the Island Race on June 29 in which he came second in the Atalanta Class, Alan Perkes in A148, Sherpa, set out for the Round BritainRead More…
28Nov/64
A113 Round the World
The longest and most ambitious expedition undertaken in an Atalanta was in 1960-61 when Tony Peck and John Riding set out in A113, Aku, to sail round the world in a westerlyRead More…
18May/64
A175 pictured in brochure crossing the French/Swiss border
The 1964 Atalanta brochure has a picture of Inyoniyamanzi on her trailer on page 4. She was kept for many years at Clarens at the eastern end of Lake Geneva. : IRead More…
01Feb/64
AOA Etchells Trophy (Best Log in the Bulletin)
Best Log published in The Bulletin Silver model of an Atalanta in a glass case. The ‘Etchells’ was first presented at the AGM on 6 January 1965 in memory of HF Etchells.Read More…
A175 boat name
A175 was launched with the name Inyoniyamanzi. The is a term from South Africa (Afrikaans? Zulu?) for “African Penguin”. : I confirm that I have rights to the material uploaded above andRead More…
28Jul/61
1961 Las Palmas, Aku meets James Wharram on her Round The World trip
After a troublesome voyage across the Bay of Biscay Aku put in to Las Palmas on her way round the world for rudder repairs. There she caught the eye of James andRead More…
28Jun/61
A113 Reaches Las Palmas on her circumnavigation
From the 1962-63 Bulletin MR. J. A. (TONY) PECK, ‘Aku’ (A.II3), is now wintering at Las Palmas in the Gran Canarias Islands before setting out across the Atlantic on the next stage of his round-the world cruise. Fighting forRead More…
01Feb/61
Fairey Marine Dry Moorings
Nothing is new – Fairey had a Dry Boat park, now all the fashion, in 1961. And it was for 26′ sailing boats! In 1961 they provided a boat park for allRead More…
30Nov/60
A113 Sets off Round the World
From the 1960-61 Bulletin On 15 November 1960, John Peck in Fairey Atalanta “Aku” (A113 ) left Hamble on the longest planned Fairey Atalanta cruise yet . He planned to sail westward round the world – a two year, 31,000 mile journey. John Peck was a racing motor cyclist aged 49. He was accompanied by 24 yearsRead More…
Atalopoly – Virtually as much fun as an Atalanta!
So you want to play Atalopoly? You have come to the right place. Instructions Each Player has an Atalanta. They throw the dice and move around the Atalopoly board, sailing, making repairs,Read More…
Atalanta Cherbourg Rally
Between 1960 and 1963 the annual Cross Channel rally/race was arranged each Whitsun. On the second occasion in 1961 there were 14 entrants and the event was kindly started at 1900 hrsRead More…
01Feb/60
AOA Coupe Bernard Argod
For activities on The South Coast (UK) Silver Cup. The Coupe Bernard Argod was donated by Bernard Argod who livein Paris as a trophy for Solent to Cherbourg race. Bernard Argod wasRead More…
09Dec/59
Handicaps 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 theyRead More…
Fulmar – a one-legged Atalanta
The need for a smaller and cheaper sailing cruiser of similar construction to the Atalanta 26 was met by the production of the 20ft overall Fulmar. The cut-away diagram in Fig. 5Read More…
The Titania – Atalanta with more room
The only 26ft variant of the Atalanta was the Titania. Described by the makers as “brilliant and beautiful”, it was intended for the owner who planned to spend more time cruising underRead More…
Atalantas in the Round the Island Race
Although the Atalanta was designed primarily as a family cruiser it was natural that some owners, who had previously raced dinghies, were attracted to competitive sailing. The first venture was the RoundRead More…
AOA Constitution
The AOA has had a formal set of rules since the start. These aim to protect the Association’s purpose of promoting the boats and their use.
The AOA
When Fairey Marine first launched the Atalanta 26 they considered ways of promoting the class and encouraging owners to get together. A cocktail party was given by the Company on their standRead More…
24Jan/58
AOA Atalanta Trophy (Annual Race)
First Atalanta in the West Mersea Regatta (previously Round the Island Race) Wooden Model of A12 in a glass case. The Atalanta Trophy was created by Fairey Marine in 1958 and awardedRead More…
01Dec/57
Atalanta 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 AtalantaRead More…
01Jun/57
Atalanta 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 surveyorRead More…
01May/57
Motoring
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 withRead More…
01Apr/57
Guard 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 howRead More…
25Feb/57
Raising 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 alloyRead More…
20Feb/57
An 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 sitesRead More…
15Feb/57
Atalanta 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 toRead More…
10Feb/57
Launching 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 notRead More…
05Feb/57
Atalanta 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 weighRead More…
01Jan/57
Drying 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 andRead More…
Clever 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 side. Then there is a structural bulkhead separating the saloon from the galley/chart area. Aft of the galley and chart space is the cockpit. Under the stern deck there is an aft cabin with 2 full length berths. Follow the photos below to take a tour around the inside of Emma Duck, starting in the bows and going aft on the starboard side first:
(Click on an image to enlarge)
Heads and Main Saloon
Galley and Chart Space
Aft Cabin
