"Atlantide" has already seen a lot. The motorised sailing yacht was born in the UK in 1930 as "Caleta", worked in the Navy, sailed as a private yacht and underwent various refits. In January 2021, the lady came to Huisfit from the USA as deck cargo and in November 2023 she left the refit department of Royal Huisman after a complete rebuild. 40 per cent of the hull, deck and frames were replaced, the interior redesigned and all systems overhauled or replaced with the exception of the engines. Her owner, Jim Clark, had been working with Royal Huisman three sailing yachts: "Hyperion" (1998), "Athena" (2004) and the J-Class beauty "Hanuman" (2009).
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When "Atlantide" came back on the market in 2020, he and his wife Kristy bought her as a dayboat and addition to their racing yacht. After "Hanuman" had received some updates, the Clarks wanted to refresh the companion as well. The scope of the project, overseen by Captain Josh Luckhurst, was initially unclear and it wasn't until they were ashore that the extent of it became apparent. When the steel hull was blasted down to the bare metal, the dented and deformed structure was revealed, the windows had no frames and were glued into the openings. Deck leaks had led to wet interior bulkheads, MDF panels and fixtures. "The previous owners didn't have a full-time crew on the boat, as they only used it in the summer, so it suffered a bit," says Jim Clark. "Obviously, previous work was more about cosmetics or schedules than longevity."
Refit below deck in the style of the 1930s
In the end, a planned refit of the interior turned into an order to replace everything. For six months, the Huisfit team studied the yacht, scanned it and redesigned it in 3D. Planning the new interior was a huge challenge for the engineers, as there was almost no space behind the walls and above the ceilings. To restore the teak deckhouse and paint it in a dust-free environment, a crane lifted it off in one piece.
Once the entire interior had been gutted, the workers covered every centimetre with new insulation before starting to build the interior. For this, the owners turned to Studio deVosdeVries Design, whose director had already worked with Peter Beeldsnijder. Jim Clark specified a less ornate 1930s style, which was to take up the classic walnut interior of "Hanuman". To achieve the desired antique look, the experts from Acanthus International in Palm Beach applied a 14-stage finish consisting of bleaching, colouring, polishing and sanding, all by hand.
Today, the owner's suite and the VIP cabin on the aft lower deck are barely recognisable. For more ceiling height, the airlocks of the propulsion shaft are only half a centimetre below the floor of the owner's cabin. The designers tried to minimise the curvature of the hull, lowered the bed and rebuilt the storage space. The three-storey main staircase shines in the style of the 1930s. Gone are the steps leading from a polished stainless steel column and the gleaming banisters in front of maple panels; now there is a staircase with walnut edging and wood-clad centre post.
"Atlantide" shines with optimal driving characteristics
The main salon is a casual room with French blue sofas, a flat coffered ceiling replaces the lacquered tongue-and-groove panels of the 1990s. The separate dining room with a view of the foredeck no longer exists; it has given way to a media room. Instead, there is a customised table on the aft deck, while a fixed bimini with removable curtains allows guests to enjoy their meal warm and dry. As all the original ceilings were removed, the decision was made in favour of a new lighting plan, for which deVosdeVries also looked to the concepts for "Hanuman".
As much as possible of the original teak on the outside, including the solid cap rails, has been restored and joined with new wood. All usable fittings have been overhauled and coated with aluminium bronze for a satin finish with an artificial patina. The 60 to 70-year-old winches turn like clockwork. Optimum sailing characteristics were also on the list, first and foremost a new rig and sails according to old plans. The original eight-cylinder engines from Gardner remained on board, but went on tour for a refreshment programme.
They slipped out of the yacht via a freshly cut hole in the hull and travelled to their manufacturer in Canterbury, England, and back again. Supplemented with modern alarm technology and sensors as well as an exhaust system and twin-disc gearbox, they operate as recently ordered. To improve manoeuvrability, the designers enlarged the rudder by 20 percent and lengthened it, the stabilisers were given new fins with an 18 percent larger surface area, plus Naiad AtRest regulators, which respond more quickly, especially at slow speeds. With success, Captain Luckhurst found that the sprightly lady was "incredibly stable" on the passage from Palm Beach to the Caribbean in February 2024. Well done, "Atlantide".
