Links

Brag Sheet

Cast Iron Headsail

Sailing Shots

Specifications

Take a Look Around

Dibley Marine

JOG - what is it?

SSANZ

Weiti Boating Club

Email Me

About Atom Ant

This website is all about my yacht Atom Ant, an awesome yacht whose name comes from the equally awesome cartoon character from the 1960's.  

History

Atom Ant was originally designed by Mark Illingworth and Barry Colson from Auckland.  They formed a company called "Bottom Line Design" and designed her to the JOG rule.  (Although the JOG rule is no longer used in New Zealand, it is alive and well in the UK.  Click on the link to the left to read about JOG.)   The original idea was to use her as a showcase for their designs.  Her hull was built by Hutchinson Boat Builders in Tauranga.  During this time the partnership between Mark and Barry ceased, and Mark finished the boat himself in Auckland.  She was launched in 1989, originally named Lie Detector.  She enjoyed successful racing in Auckland, before being sold to Phil Hull in the Bay of Islands, where at some stage she was renamed Atom Ant.  Towards the end of her time there she had a new keel and rudder built, both designed by Murray Ross.  Atom Ant was sold to Carl Smith in 1999 and moved to Tauranga where she was competitively and very successfully sailed in harbour and coastal racing.  Carl was dissatisfied with Atom Ants reaching behaviour so in 2002, he extensively modified her hull to modern lines designed by marine architect Kevin Dibley.  Her hull shape above the waterline from the aft end of the cabin back was changed to reflect the latest advances in design knowledge.  The end result is a major improvement in both looks and performance.

I bought her in June 2003, and I'm having the best sailing of my life in her!  Atom Ant is currently moored at Gulf  Harbour on the beautiful Whangaparaoa Peninsula, just north of Auckland, New Zea1and.  I sail her in the Hauraki Gulf, (which is where the  2 Americas Cup defences were held) and make the odd foray into Auckland when the mood takes me.  I'm a member of the Weiti Boating Club, which is an excellent club to belong to.  Take a look at the Weiti BC website by clicking on the link, above left.

Atom Ant is a beautifully balanced yacht that can be described as a true all rounder.  Her powerful hull form above the waterline in combination with her deep fin keel/bulb drives her to windward at angles and speeds embarrassing to bigger and newer yachts.  Downwind she is fast and due to her flat aft sections will plane readily.  At speed she is stable and easy to manage.  The helm is light and the transom-hung rudder is balanced at all times on all points of sail.  She is without a doubt one of the sweetest handling yachts I've ever sailed on.  Atom Ant has a current Cat 3 certificate and PHRF rating administered by Yachting New Zealand.

I've raced her in two Coastal Classic Auckland - Bay of Islands races.  The results have not done her justice due to poor tactical decisions on my part.  I've raced her in three SSANZ two-handed series, taking a series podium each time.  In 2006 Atom Ant took line honours in 2 out of 3 races and a clean sweep of firsts on corrected time.  She races regularly with the Weiti Boating Club, with excellent results.  Check out her racing pedigree on the Brag Sheet.

She has a large open cockpit, which is perfect for racing, but also ideal for cruising.  A large white pvc boom tent, which stretches from the mast to the end of the boom, makes the cockpit a comfortable place on those hot sunny days or when it rains.  At anchor I hang a Magma gas bbq off the port pushpit to cook sumptuous meals on!  There is a locker under the cockpit floor which is insulated and can double as an icebox.  A pair of two speed self-tailing winches in the cockpit take care of sheeting needs, and a larger pair of cabin-top mounted two speed winches look after all the halyards, keyboards etc.  Rope bags ensure that the cockpit remains tidy at all times.  She has plenty of space on the foredeck too.