Atalanta II

The new Farr 70 built by Goetz Custom Sailboats of Bristol, R.I., for Italian owner Carlo Negri Puri, Atalanta II, has been designed to be a very capable offshore cruiser as well as a highly competitive racing machine.

Image Credit: Daniel Forester Photos

Puri, who previously owned the 61-foot C&C, Grampus, wanted a state-of-the-art dual-purpose yacht that would enable him to compete in the Mediterranean under International Measurement System rules and still have the luxury of family cruising. Because the boat was destined for Italy, its construction also had to comply with strict European Commission regulations. To assure compliance with those codes and for overall project management, Goetz contracted David Lake Yachting Projects of Bristol.

Jim Schmicker of Farr Yacht Design in Annapolis, Md., said that Atalanta II is a unique boat for its size. The yacht�s lines have been adapted from earlier Farr hulls and fashioned after some of the company�s smaller IMS designs. Atalanta II�s interior was then modified to meet the owner�s style, as well as cruising and passagemaking requirements.

Image Credit: Alfred Wood/Ocean Navigator Illustrations

The boat�s hull and deck are constructed of carbon fiber, Nomex and balsa. They were vacuum bagged and oven cured by Goetz, using prepreg resin. The result is an extremely stiff and lightweight structure that displaces just 51,619 lbs. The keel is built of cast iron and fixed with a lead bulb.

On deck, Atalanta II is a racing machine with flush Rondal hatches, a clean deck profile, and a center pit for the Harken winch grinders. The cockpit is split from the helm as a compromise for more headroom below. There is an open transom and twin helm stations, in keeping with the yacht�s racing pedigree.

Image Credit: Daniel Forester Photos

Below, the boat has true minimalist appeal. Carbon fiber is used extensively as a weight-saving measure and results in a high-tech look throughout. Also to save weight, a number of removable features have been installed, for example, the headliner and the hull ceiling, which is simply held in place with Velcro. When removed, these components result in a total weight savings of about 600 lbs. Mechanical devices such as the generator, watermaker and windlass are also removable.

Hall Spars & Rigging of Bristol, R.I., built the carbon-fiber rig. Its high-modulus mast was built in sections and designed for maximum strength, minimum weight aloft and compliance with IMS rules. The jib is nonoverlapping when in racing configuration, and a high-modulus inner forestay can be rigged for offshore work. North Sails Italy built the 3DL carbon-fiber sails.

Shortly after sea trails in Rhode Island, Atalanta II�s shakedown cruise took it to Antigua for Sailing Week 2004. According to the owner�s representative, Gianpaulo Rocca, the �very young� boat and its crew of 22 demonstrated �powerful upwind performance� during Race Week, but he felt that the yacht suffered going downwind. The boat is clearly built with 8- to 16-knot Mediterranean winds in mind. Atalanta II still finished fourth in its class.

The yacht will likely prove to be a formidable competitor in the Giraglia Rolex Cup in St. Tropez, France, this summer.