Nearly 94 years after her launch, Atlantide, the ‘little ship’ with a royal connection, has been fully renewed and reawakened by the artisans at Huisfit by Royal Huisman. Hadag steps aboard to take a look.
First launched in 1930, Caleta, as she was then called, is a 37m motorsailer that’s had a very eventful life before being acquired by an entrepreneur with a passion for sailing as an accompaniment to his racing yacht.
Atlantide was designed by Alfred Mylne, who was also the naval architect of the British Royal Yacht Britannia. Sir William Burton, who was Thomas Lipton’s helmsman for his America’s Cup challenger Shamrock IV, had the yacht built at Phillip and Sons in Dartmouth, UK, to serve as a tender, and named her Caleta.
The Little Ships of Dunkirk
On May 14, 1940, the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) broadcast an announcement from the British Admiralty: it called on owners of private boats to take part in effort to evacuate embattled Allied troops from Dunkirk.
In all, a collection of approximately 850 private boats and 20 warships participated in Operation Dynamo. The term Little Ship applies to all craft answering the call.
For nine days from May 26 to June 4, they raced back and forth snatching soldiers, landing craft and whatever equipment they could from the clutches of the advancing enemy under relentless shelling. More than 200 ships were lost at Dunkirk evacuating troops from the beaches and harbour.
Caleta was an active participant, setting out for Dunkirk on May 31, in the company with the yachts Glala and Amulree. She operated under intense enemy fire and dive bomber attacks over seven days, during which time she assisted various vessels and embarked 35 troops from a disabled landing craft that she then took in tow. The tow parted twice, but still she was able to get it back to English soil. For this valiant service, she is entitled to fly the distinguished St. George’s Cross.
After the Royal Navy released Caleta, she was purchased by a Greek sailing enthusiast and refitted as the Ariane, becoming well known around the Mediterranean. In 1960 she was renamed Corisande and based out of Antibes where she appeared in the 1962 film Tender is the Night.
The Rebirth
Over the years, she changed hands several times before being snapped up by her current owner and in January 2021, this historic Little Ship of Dunkirk arrived as deck cargo from the US and entered the shipyard for repairs and interior modifications.
In November 2023, she sailed away from Huisfit after a full rebuild with 40% of her hull, deck and frames replaced, her interior fully reimagined and every onboard system except her original Gardner diesels fully overhauled or replaced.
The Huisfit team had studied, scanned and redesigned the boat in 3D. The entire teak deckhouse was lifted off in one piece for restoration, preservation, strengthening and refinishing in a dust-free environment. Decorative teak moldings were added to embellish the bright-finished exterior. Every piece of deck hardware, including port hole covers, was removed and catalogued for restoration.
While keeping the 1930s’ profile, the owners wanted to simplify the style of the interior, a task entrusted to deVosdeVries design and involving an artful antiqued finish created by an intensive 200-year-old process requiring a 14-step finish of bleaching, colouring, French polishing and distressing, all by hand.
Onboard Updates
While the owner’s stateroom and VIP aft keep to their previous footprint, the areas are barely recognisable and recall quiet luxury. Space has been optimised and bespoke pieces added such as handsome detached nightstands and built-in bookcases. Just forward of the owner’s suite is a beautiful stateroom for guests in identical style and finishes.
Below forward is a refreshed flex cabin for either Atlantide’s captain or extra guests. The galley also keeps its familiar footprint but features modern white cabinets and professional surfaces surrounding new appliances.
The entire three-story main staircase has been reconfigured in a style in keeping with the 1930s featuring a raised-panel walnut staircase surround and a wood-clad centre post with a wide-planked natural walnut finish.
The main saloon is now a more casual space focusing on plump, French-blue sofas for après regatta relaxation. A shallow coffered ceiling style is a softer look and French-polished, straight grain walnut joinery paired with walnut burl panel insets and hand-painted overheads look perfectly at home.
One of the biggest changes is that the former indoor dining saloon overlooking the foredeck is now a comfortable media room with a welcoming overstuffed sofa and chairs upholstered in a linen-textured off-white shade. Dining has moved to the aft deck under a fixed bimini awning with removable weather curtains. An enormous custom table on centreline showcases the joiner’s skill with a diamond design and glass-like surface finish. Comfortable, padded captain’s chairs are easy to position at will or store on passages. A small, matching teak cabinet nestled between the curved steps to the upper deck and the door to the saloon facilitates meal service. The fantail is filled with large cushions and pillows for lounging.
The wheelhouse is the only area of the yacht with a teak interior matching the varnished teak brightwork outside. It’s a nice homage to tradition. Ninety-five percent of the exterior bronze fittings are original and beautifully restored. With every original overhead removed, redoing the lighting plan was an easy decision and deVosdeVries design brought in the same type of ambient lighting the owners enjoy on Hanuman.
Exterior Upgrades
As much of the original exterior teak as possible, including massive cap rails, was saved, restored, and pieced back in with new wood. So, too, were the winches, which are thought to be 60- to 70- years old. All salvageable hardware was overhauled and polished, and both old and new pieces were given an aluminum-bronze chemical treatment for a smooth, satin, slightly patinaed, finish.
Although the bridge looks classic and keeps to its original footprint, the yacht has been treated to brand new systems monitoring, navigation and communications gear and exterior LED lighting.
When originally launched nearly a century ago, folks were still a bit skeptical of relying solely on diesel engines. Just as with every yacht her age, she was rigged to sail if necessary to extend range or get home and a brand-new rig and sails, all built to the original plan that pushed her along at up to seven knots, have been installed.
At the heart of it all: 1930 Gardner diesels which have been overhauled and are still highly efficient.
Of course it’s technology, from air conditioning and insulation to stabilisers and powered winches to fibre optic cables that make the dream work for today’s discerning owners. No doubt Celata’s original owner would recognise his proud little ship and be thoroughly amazed. “What I like is the historic quality of this boat; nothing is plastic,” says Atlantide’s current owner. ”I’m a classic boat snob. I like the old wood look; big modern boats do nothing for me.”
Please visit www.royalhuisman.com for more information.