Built for shipping magnate and yachtsman Sumner "Huey" Long in 1967 by Germany's renowned Abeking and Rasmussen, ATALANTA was originally christened ONDINE II. Drawn by Bill Tripp, she represented the apex of yacht racing design at the time of her commissioning. Time magazine called her "the prettiest, most opulent, and the fastest racing yacht on the high seas." From the outset, Long insisted on a yacht capable of sailing on her own bottom to the start of any race in the world. Delivered via Greece and around Cape Horn to Australia, she took line honors at the 1968 Sydney-Hobart Race with a young and ambitious Ted Turner aboard. She’s also claimed line honors twice in the Newport to Bermuda race. ATALANTA still turns heads with her powerful ketch rig and graceful sheer. Her hull is constructed of 5/16" aluminum plate over aluminum frames, with 1/2" plate at the keel for added strength. The deck is 5/16" aluminum, with 3/8" plate in high-load areas. Her underbody features a moderate chord length fin keel and a transom-hung rudder, the latter redesigned by Robert Perry. Her deck hardware has been updated over the years for shorthanded sailing, and John Guzwell oversaw an interior refit introducing dark stained mahogany, stainless accents, and a teak and holly cabin sole as drawn by Robert Perry. Numerous skylights, hatches, deck prisms, and fixed portlights ensure excellent light and ventilation throughout. Her owners have spared no expense keeping Atalanta ready to sail wherever her next owner desires.

Interior Accommodations

The interior is finished in dark stained mahogany, white laminate, and stainless steel, with a teak and holly cabin sole. The layout is thoughtfully conceived and easy to move through. The main companionway leads to a bright, spacious salon and generous galley area. Forward of the galley, to port are crew accommodations and a head; to starboard, a fully equipped workshop. The forepeak is dedicated to sail and gear storage. Aft of the companionway are two guest staterooms, a navigation center with direct access to the helm station, and the master stateroom. All staterooms feature hanging lockers, ample storage, and individual climate control. Fixed hull ports provide excellent visibility, and Smart Screen privacy glass in the head and aft stateroom turns opaque at the flip of a switch.

Forepeak

A wide-open space suitable for storage, a workshop, or an additional guest stateroom. Two pipe berths sit furthest forward, with hinged bench tops below providing access to divided storage. Fixed ports are set into both sides of the hull just aft of the berths, and stainless bars for hanging sheets and spare halyards are located further aft. To starboard is a large shelf with two drawers below and additional shelves for blocks, shackles, winch handles, and spare gear. Two large opening hatches facilitate sail handling, provide excellent ventilation at anchor, and admit good natural light. Stainless ladder rungs between the hatches allow deck access.

Forward Head & Workshop

To port is the forward head, finished in white laminate for easy maintenance. The manual head faces aft at the forward inboard end. A stainless sink with hot/cold faucet sits outboard along the hull side, with a shelf and mirror above. The shower is integral to the space, with a teak grate over the sump and a deployable wand that mounts on the aft bulkhead. A fan and deck prism provide ventilation and natural light. Opposite, to starboard, is a tall hanging locker.

Aft and to port is a pullman berth with three drawers below and open storage for sails or large items. To starboard, a workbench spans the length of the compartment along the hull side, with a large sliding locker above and three drawers and four lockers below for tools, hardware, and spare parts. Two deck prisms and four overhead lights illuminate the space.

Galley & Main Salon

The combined galley and salon is a large, open, well-lit space. Twelve overhead lights, six fixed hull ports, four deck prisms, two skylights, and two opening hatches create an airy, bright atmosphere.

To starboard forward is a day head with Vacuflush toilet, granite countertop, stainless sink, and single lever faucet, finished in mahogany, white laminate, and teak and holly sole.

The galley is J-shaped, with white laminate counters, mahogany fiddles and cabinetry, and stainless grab bars. Features include a large stainless sink, icemaker, Force 10 three-burner stove/oven, top-loading refrigerator, stainless microwave, and four 110V outlets. Storage is generous throughout, with drawers, lockers, and shelves at every turn. A central island bar with stainless fiddles includes a liquor locker and glass storage below. 

The main salon sits aft of the galley. To port, an entertainment center houses a television, DVD player, and surround sound stereo. Two leather chairs and a small table provide a comfortable spot for passage-making. To starboard, a U-shaped settee with a large hardwood table seats six comfortably. Both the salon and settee tables are beautifully crafted from hand-hewn hardwood. 

The main companionway stairs feature an integrated lift system, making it effortless to move provisions, gear, and guests between the cockpit and main salon.

Guest Staterooms

Two nearly identical guest staterooms sit to port and starboard off the aft passageway. Each features a raised pilot berth above and a bunk below, reading lamps at each berth, a tall hanging locker, shelved storage, a bookshelf, and a sliding door to the passageway. Two opening ports, an opening hatch, and a fixed port provide excellent light and ventilation in each cabin. The starboard cabin has two large drawers below the pilot berth and a four-drawer bureau aft; the port cabin has two large lockers below and a series of cubbies aft.

Navigation Center

Located aft to port, the nav center is accessible from both the forward cockpit via a dedicated companionway and the aft cockpit via a large opening port, allowing easy communication with crew on deck. A large L-shaped chart table offers ample space for charts and guidebooks, with a swing-out navigator's seat below. Storage is extensive: two file drawers, a long shallow chart drawer, two additional chart drawers, and a large shelved locker. Instrumentation mounted on the outboard bulkhead includes a Furuno radar/chart plotter, Robertson autopilot, Ocean PC, B&G FFD display, VHF, and SSB radios. The PC keyboard is recessed into the counter behind a Lexan panel.

Aft Head

Finished in white laminate with mahogany trim and a teak and holly sole, the aft head features a Vacuflush toilet, granite counter with stainless sink, a separate shower stall with teak grate and removable wand, two mirrored cabinets, generous locker and shelf storage, two 110V outlets, and an overhead fan. A stack washer/dryer is located adjacent and outboard of the shower stall.

Owner's Stateroom

The spacious aft stateroom sleeps three across two berths. A private companionway leads to the aft cockpit, and four fixed ports provide light and outside views. The larger port berth features a reading lamp, two drawers, two lockers below, and a flat screen television that folds into its own compartment at the foot. A tall, vented hanging locker and additional shelf storage sit forward of the berth. To starboard is a single berth with a reading lamp and a large drawer and locker below. A comfortable settee at the aft end of the cabin is an ideal spot for reading or donning foul weather gear in rough conditions.