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. SeeRead More…
01Nov/56
01Oct/56
Rounded 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 bigRead More…
01Sep/56
Strange 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 finishedRead More…
01Aug/56
Three-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.Read More…
01Jul/56
Self 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 theRead More…
20Mar/56
The 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 anRead More…
01Mar/56
How 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 unusualRead More…
Atalanta – YW Annual 1955
With thanks from YW for permission (NEED TO GET THIS) A T A L A N T A Designer: Uffa Fox Builder: Fairey Marine Ltd L O A 24ft.Read More…
01Jun/52
The 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 ofRead More…
01Apr/52
The 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 UffaRead More…
31Mar/52
Weren’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 passersRead More…
01Dec/50
So 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 deteriorates The ability toRead More…
01Nov/50
The 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 ofRead More…
01Oct/50
The 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 carsRead More…
01Sep/50
A 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.Read More…
01Aug/50
Seaworthiness
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 AOARead More…
01Jun/50
Sailing 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.Read More…
01Mar/50
Variable 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. HoweverRead More…
20Jan/50
1964 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 bulkheadsRead More…
Fairey Marine
After the Second World War the Fairey Aviation Company was looking for peacetime outlets for its skills and expertise. With extensive premises on the waterside at Hamble, boat building was clearly anRead More…
AOA Through The Years
There is an Annual AGM and theAOA published Bulletins and newsletters throughout the year to keep the membership up to date with events.
AOA Newsletters
The AOA published newsletters throughout the year to keep the membership up to date with events.
TEMP: Images added Xmas 2020
The following images were uploaded over xmas 2020.Most of these photos have been loaded as part of the ‘Event’ photosets.
TEMPORARY: EVENTS
Indexing and management of events one the website is work in progress – should be done by end JanuaryIn the meantime, this post pulls together the photographs loaded into the archive. ItRead More…
01Jan/40
AOA Annual General and Committee Meetings
The AGM and its associated dinner / lunch have remained a key foundation stone for the Members’ mutual support. Records of those meetings and the Committee meetings, sometimes dry and matter of fact, sometimes full of narrative about the boats and owners, provide an interesting insight into these amazing boats and the characters that owned them.