Designers remarks Atlantic 51

Along the Northern part of The Netherlands is a string of islands which enclose a sandy area of shoals and gullies known as the ‘Waddenzee’.
Two times a day large parts dry out, and form wonderful nature resorts.
It will be understandable that some yards in surrounding are taking advantage of this situation by offering yachts specially suited for drying out or at least able to reach protected anchorages in shoal water.
The yard Atlantic is such a yard, being in Harlingen which lies more or less central on the widest part of this ‘Waddenzee”.
About twenty years ago I got involved in designing three aluminium boats, different from each other, but all aiming for serious Solo Trans Atlantic races.
It was soon after this period that I was approached to design a hybrid which incorporated many features from the O-Star yachts combined with drying out possibilities, all with the emphasis on cruising short handed.
This became the Atlantic 36, the first boat of what is now a small range, as the sizes grow to 38, 42, 43, 48 and 51.
Had the original Atlantic 36 a moderate amount of beam, the later yachts where more extreme in the beam to length ratio.
To follow suite the Atlantic 36 was followed by a MKII version with 20 centimetres more beam.
All boats have a sheltered part behind the cabin with two comfortable watch seats.
Other common features are; cutter rig, double rudders, aft cockpit, deck mounted booms and lifting keels or centre boards.
Had the first three designs all ballasted centre boards, the Atlantic 51 was the first of the range to have a lifting keel, followed by the 42, where it is offered as an option.
We feel that performance wise the lifting keel has clearly the edge over the pivot hung centre board, as the slot behind it is avoided.
The boats are of moderate displacement and are ruggedly built in order to withstand a possible punishment if caught in rough conditions when refloating after a dry out.
The first Atlantic 51 was commissioned by a former Atlantic 42 owner, so a fair amount of feedback found its way in the design and construction.
More ever he came up with the ideas for the interior, forcing the boat a little bigger than we started with, in the early design stage.
As a hind sight we should like to add a little freeboard to allow more space in the aft sleeping cabin.
The boats are semi custom build, as most boats differ from their predecessors, so likely the next one will have it like that.
Generally we look back at this as a successful project, resulting in a fine yacht.

link to German magazine-test: http://www.palstek.de/2009/03/atlantic-51/