Atlantis, this is how this legendary yacht (37 m) from 1930 was reborn

When we talk about vintage boats, hulls with now quite a few years on their shoulders, we inevitably also talk about maintenance, restoration and refits. Fortunately, there are not a few companies that specialize in precisely this, and today, thanks to the craftsmanship and know-how of Huisfit (the refit core of Royal Huisman), we will see how a legendary yacht returns to sailing in her full glory. This is Atlantis, a 37-meter motorsailer overall launched in 1930, built by Philip & Sons U.K. But this is not just a classic hull, to say the least, because Atlantis, among other things, was one of the legendary Little Ships of Dunkirk in 1940 (we’ll come back to that…). And this is her story.

Atlantis, the rebirth of a legendary hull

With thirty-seven meters overall(122 feet), thirty-five meters hull length(LOH), and a history spanning more than ninety years, Atlantis is one of the icons of classic yachting: a motorsailer that began as a tender, was later requisitioned by the Royal Navy, and finally passed through several hands from after World War II to the present. Refitted from 2021 to 2023 by Huisfit, she is now a small masterpiece, an unparalleled gem whose story rightly deserves to be shared.

Atlantis, the story behind the legend

In fact, to understand a modicum of the importance and history behind Atlantis, even before looking at her refit, it is necessary to have a modicum of background concerning what has happened over the past 90+ years. Atlantis, née Caleta, was designed by Alfred Mylne in the late 1920s for the purpose of serving as a tender for Sir William Burton, then helmsman of Shamrock IV, the America’s Cup challenger wanted by Sir Thomas Lipton (yes, the tea man). Tender for what? A 12 Metre International Tonnage owned, precisely, by Burton himself. She would be built by Philip & Sons U.K. at Dartmouth and launched in 1930, an exceptional motorsailer capable of doing as many as 7 knots even under sail alone. In 1939, however, like so many other private hulls, she would be requisitioned by the Royal Navy, the British navy, to serve during World War II, thus entering, in this way, into legend.

It is now 1940 and Atlantis (still far from being called that) is converted to her war role. The teak is covered, the deckhouse is armored and, among many appropriate modifications, she also sees military equipment on board, including defensive armament. On May 14, 1940, meanwhile, at the command of the British Admiralty, the BBC announced the requisitioning of all private hulls over 30 feet: it was the advent of Operation Dynamo. The issue, in short, is simple: France is invaded and British and French troops are in retreat. Almost the entire British land force is crushed on the Atlantic beaches of Dunkirk in upper France. The requisitioned civilian fleet (850 boats) has a “simple” purpose: supported by 20 warships, it must provide for the repatriation of the troops; the navy ships, many of which are limited by draft and the need for a pier, are unable to evacuate from the beaches. Atlantis, in those 9 days of delirium, will participate in the operation alongside Glala and Amulree, two other requisitioned hulls, bringing some of the troop to safety under German fire. (Note: Christopher Nolan’s film Dunkirk (2017) recounts part of Operation Dynamo). Atlantis (then Caleta), would remain on active duty until the end of the conflict, now with the added honor of being able to fly the flag with the St. George’s Cross

(St. George’s Cross ).

From the postwar period to the present.

Then in 1946 she would begin the third phase of her existence, converted again to a cruising hull and used in the Mediterranean under a new name: Ariane. It was under this guise that she would also appear in a cult film, Tenera è la Notte (Tender is the Night), the 1962 film based on Francis Scott Fitzgerald‘s novel of the same name. In 1980 it would then pass into the hands of Count Nicolo delle Rose, eventually gaining its current name, Atlantis. Changes of hands will follow until 2020, when she will become the property of her current owner: Jim Clark, a passionate yachtsmen and already the owner of three Royal Huisman signature hulls: the sloop Hyperion (1998), the schooner Athena (2004) and the J Class Hanuman (2009). Fascinated by the classic lines and style, he decided to restore Atlantis to her original splendor, starting the refit in 2021 right at Huisfit Shipyards, the dedicated restoration branch of RH.

The restoration at Huisfit

How do you restore a 1930s jewel? In this case, by almost rebuilding it. Arriving at Huisfit’s Dutch facilities in 2021, Atlantis immediately undergoes a routine inspection designed to define its general condition. At this stage the seemingly biggest problem emerges: part of the hull linings and the hull itself are deformed, making a purely cosmetic refit a far more complex reality. Adding to the problem are several other complications, including structural modifications and leaks on deck.

For the next six months the hull was then studied, scanned and entirely reconstructed in 3D. This was done, on the one hand, to proceed with the necessary reconstructions and, on the other, to refit interiors and rebuild much of the planting. Given the date of design and construction, much of the load-bearing structures and decks did not provide room for new plants or insulation systems (thermal and sound). An issue that involved a huge re-design project to allow for installation while maintaining aesthetic and design fidelity. A process that resulted in the entire removal (in one piece) of the deckhouse and the removal of every single board component for restoration. Basically, Atlantis was gutted of every part to be faithfully restored or rebuilt. The goal was one: to maintain the yacht’s post-conflict profile, while simplifying the interior as per the original design. The latter, a mammoth undertaking completed by interior design firm deVosdeVries design and the expert resaturators of Acanthus International.

Keep the original and remedy the changes

Throughout its history, as evident from the myriad vicissitudes, Atlantis has been twisted at several times. From the armor necessary for active service in wartime, to the art-deco decorations later applied, to her role as a dive boat in the 1990s, it is evident how various modifications may have distorted her essence. Reason why, a large part of the restoration, was devoted to recovering her original essence, remedying the various interventions undergone over time.

On the one hand, then, a return to the original layout, with the owner’s and guest quarters separate from the crew quarters, to the restoration of the original engines, 1930s Garner Diesels. Modifications that have thus seen both solutions and styles that go back to the early days of the project, as well as upgrades in theme that nevertheless bring today’s comforts on board, such as in the kitchens or in the instrumentation present in the wheelhouse.

The real beating heart of the hull, however, was the center of attention, with the pair of engines (weighing 3635 kg each), extracted, restored, and returned to the hull. One modification, to these: the addition of sensors and alarms. Not to denature them, but for monitoring and safety issues, potentially, while increasing their operational life. Equally it was for the deck hardware, from the rails to the winches. The only major change was the one imposed on the rudder, now increased by 20 percent to restore to the hull the balance that, in 90-plus years of life and modifications, had been lost.

Atlantis, the rebirth

Overall, a mammoth operation that saw the hull completely reborn, making it virtually ready to take to the sea for another century. An exceptional yacht that fully retains its original essence by taking to sea, not only a large dose of history, but of classic nautical culture in its purest essence. To best understand its style and spirit, perhaps, the owner should finally be quoted, “I am a classic boat snob. I like the original classic, wooden style, the big modern boats, in fact, do not say anything to me.” A challenging statement, but one that fully renders the idea behind the entire restoration: bringing a classic back to life, as it was meant to be.

Atlantis – Data Sheet

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