Atlantis II

[Rob Lightbody]

When we were docked in Monaco last week, we were next to hundreds of luxury yachts and superyachts of all shapes and sizes.

However one had me spellbound.  It reminded me of something that might appear in a Thunderbirds Episode.

The Atlantis II.  I thought she looked exquisite in every detail.

My photo attached - she's available to hire, and has an interesting history.

https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/atlantis-ii/

[Peter Mugridge]

I am sensing a bit of inspiration from the Canberra in the superstructure there...

[Chris Thompson]

I remember seeing her over thirty years ago when working on the Vistafjord, visited Monte Carlo a couple of times. She also is visible in the background of several movies filmed in town. Spotted her in Iron Man 2. Great looking yacht.

[Thomas Hypher]

Standing near her and a photo I took from the old walls (I think) in July 2008 on QE2's final visit to Monaco.

[Rob Lightbody]

Standing near her and a photo I took from the old walls (I think) in July 2008 on QE2's final visit to Monaco.

16 years later, that scene looks the same, except the pier on the right is much longer now (which is where we docked).  The Atlantis II is still in much the same place as you saw her.

Incidentally, the pier was complete chaos.  There was nobody (either from our ship, or Monaco tourism) to guide us through building works that were taking place.  However we found out most of Monaco is like that!

[Rod]

I spent 3 weeks over Christmas in Monaco in 1978. Talk about expensive!!!!
My brother drove me around the Grand Prix course, you have to do it backwards, and pointed out a yacht moored to the pier.
It was Sap Spiegels, the film guy, complete with helicopter. Apart from its mandatory 1 day at sea for insurance purposes, it had not moved in 25 years!

[Thomas Hypher]

16 years later, that scene looks the same, except the pier on the right is much longer now (which is where we docked).  The Atlantis II is still in much the same place as you saw her.

Incidentally, the pier was complete chaos.  There was nobody (either from our ship, or Monaco tourism) to guide us through building works that were taking place.  However we found out most of Monaco is like that!

I wonder if the pier could now accommodate a ship with QE2's dimensions as a result?

[Andy Holloway]

I would hazard a guess at no!

Too deep draft and too unmanoevable at slow speed.

However when I was on HMS Phoebe in May 1979 we spent a week in Monte Carlo and were berthed, stern in and port side to, in the corner just after the tunnel. There was a bar directly opposite the bottom of the gangway that was well frequented by the ship's company. So we'll that 'jolly jack ' knew exactly how long it took to get back onboard so as not to be adrift for sailing - 15 seconds!

While we were in port one of my Marines, while in Loew's casino, swapped his military issue green JWH, jumper with Oliver Reed, who by the way was an obnoxious twat, for one of OL's fancy jumpers!

My sole momento of that visit is a 5fr token from the casino up in the square, which cost me 50frs before gambling away 45 of them!

[Andy Holloway]

Just to add something closer linked to the thread theme, when HMS Phoebe arrived in Monte Carlo she entered the old harbour, turned to port then, backed into the corner berth. That evening the Captain was invited to a reception at a nearby hotel where a Ro Ro Operators conference was being held. At the reception several Ro Ro Operators and Ro Ro Captains came up to him to congratulate him on his seamanship in docking that morning, they had been watching from the balcony of the hotel. Their respect for him grew even more when they learnt that it was all done with 1 propeller, 1 rudder and no bow thruster! The Captain was a recently promoted Commander who was a FAA Observer by 'trade', he went on to become a Vice Admiral and I met him many years later at The Royal Tournament where a company I worked for had a trade stand.

[Thomas Hypher]

I had wondered if draught would be an issue for medium to large passenger ships, having not seen the Admiralty charts for Monaco.

In terms of low speed manoeuvrability I was thinking along the lines of a ship such as QV where that's not so much of an issue, and she also happens to be very similar in length and beam to QE2.

Interesting anecdote given one account of how Oliver Reed met his end was trying to out drink some of HMS Cumberland's sailors in Valetta while filming Gladiator.

[Thomas Hypher]

Just to add something closer linked to the thread theme, when HMS Phoebe arrived in Monte Carlo she entered the old harbour, turned to port then, backed into the corner berth. That evening the Captain was invited to a reception at a nearby hotel where a Ro Ro Operators conference was being held. At the reception several Ro Ro Operators and Ro Ro Captains came up to him to congratulate him on his seamanship in docking that morning, they had been watching from the balcony of the hotel. Their respect for him grew even more when they learnt that it was all done with 1 propeller, 1 rudder and no bow thruster! The Captain was a recently promoted Commander who was a FAA Observer by 'trade', he went on to become a Vice Admiral and I met him many years later at The Royal Tournament where a company I worked for had a trade stand.

1 propeller? Did the engineers get much shore leave fixing the other shaft? The cargo ship manoeuvring experience regardless!

[Andy Holloway]

My typo, although she had two props it was the precision manoeuvring with a lack of bow thrusters that amazed the Ro Ro gang most.