Atalanta: the Rebirth of a Modern Classic Sailing Yacht.
In 1988, New Zealand’s storied McGaffin Brothers Boatyard was commissioned to build Design 154 from one of the world’s leading naval architecture firms, Farr Yacht Design. The design brief called for a strongly constructed yacht capable of sailing comfortably in high-latitudes, with an excellent turn of speed and a luxurious interior hand-crafted of Tawa, a prized New Zealand hardwood.
Upon completion, Atalanta was shipped to her new home in Annapolis. She then voyaged through the Caribbean, transited the Panama Canal, and sailed north to San Francisco Bay, where she occupied a prime slip in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club for the next 25 years.
Atalanta is equipped with all the amenities to make coastal and offshore sailing safe and comfortable, including a custom cockpit enclosure, leather upholstery, large fridge and freezer, suite of high-tech instruments, Fusion sound system, and 10 individual sea berths (including two doubles).
In 2020, Atalanta was acquired by Shearwater Sailing, and underwent a major restoration, upgrading and replacing nearly all of the boat’s systems: rigging, hydraulics, windows, canvas, electrical, lifelines, electronics, rudder bearing, steering systems and deck hardware.
At 38,000 pounds, Atalanta rides through the ocean without pounding, but is still significantly lighter and more nimble than comparable Swans and Baltics. She is right at home on Monterey Bay and is now the proud flagship of Shearwater Sailing.
