Atalanta gets a new rudder, a massive safety upgrade and performance enhancement

New course offering from Shearwater Sailing - ASA 106: Advanced Coastal Cruising

A quick weekend trip from Monterey to San Francisco and back

Atalanta heads on a new adventure in 2024. Read about our Winter Offshore Adventure, and feel free to dream a little.

An interview with Marissa and Chris Neely from SV Avocet

Last of our 3 part series on the refit of the Farr 53, Atalanta. We take on big tasks like installing a new rudder bearing and prepare to sail her for the first time. Atalanta makes it to Monterey to start her new life as a charter yacht.

Part 2 of our series on Atalanta’s major refit.

Finding the right boat for a charter business proved challenging, but once we did, the real work began.

Crossing the Pacific can be difficult and costly. Here’s an opportunity to design your own passage on Atalanta, as either part of a race or as a more mellow cruise. Choose your own adventure!

The forecast lined up for a summer-like northwesterly for the trip up on Saturday, and a winter-like easterly for the trip back down on Sunday. Brisk conditions ensured a speedy trip home, which we made dock to dock from Sausalito to Monterey in 11 hours 20 minutes.

On a sunny and warm October morning, Atalanta and her crew of 8 sailed south from Monterey along the stunning Big Sur Coast to Santa Barbara. The 200 nautical mile trip took 34 hours to complete, mostly under spinnaker. The return trip also took 34 hours, tacking up the rugged coast.