1881
Atalanta was the first ever sloop to challenge for the America's Cup. 125 years later, this type of rig is still in use in the Cup.

The secretary of the Bay of Quinte YC sent this challenge on May 16, 1881, naming Captain Alexander Cuthbert's yacht Atalanta. In Greek Mythology Atalanta was a maiden princess well known for her swiftness in running. An oracle in Delphi warned her against marriage so Atalanta challenged her suitors to a foot race. If she won, the suitor would forfeit his life. If he won, Atalanta would marry him. Nobody was able to beat her…

But Alexander Cuthbert's sloop didn't inherit the same speed from its namesake.

Launched late, the sloop was not finished. Its planking was not planed down and its fittings were almost unfinished. Money was lacking and work had stopped several times to wait for cash. When the boat sailed down the Bay of Quinte, the crew were still nailing its deck and other fittings.

Due to this delay, Atalanta had had no time to sail the St. Lawrence-ocean course to New York if it was to reach the venue in time. Instead, it was forced to take the short route entering the Erie Canal at Oswego. But as its beam was 40 centimeters wider than the canal, the crew had to shift its ballast to one side to heel the boat over. Then a team of mules towed it and the boat was quickly nicknamed "The Canadian Mud Turtle".

When Atalanta reached the end of the Canal, at Albany, the crew moved back the shifting ballast, fitted the mast and set sails for New York harbour arriving on October 30th, 1881. The same day, the NYYC began preparations for the challenge races planed for November.

Many of the crew promised from Belleville didn't come to join Atalanta. In a hurry, the team was complimented by a number of amateur sailors from the Oswego Yacht Club.

America's Cup races: November 9 & 10, 1881 - New York -
Best two out of three races.
Atalanta vs. Mischief

Alternating Inside & Outside Course (16 miles to leeward from Buoy 5 off Sandy Hook Lightship and return)
Races: two sailed.
Results: Mischief beats Atalanta two wins to nil.

- November 9, 1st race, 32.6 miles, Inside Course: Mischief beats Atalanta by 28 minutes 30 sec by corrected time.
- November 10, 2nd race, 32 miles, Outside Course: Mischief beats Atalanta by 38 minutes 54 sec by corrected time.

The poor sailing of Atalanta forced the NYYC to change the Deed of Gift: the challenger should belonging to a yacht club situated on an arm of the sea and had to sail on its own bottom to New York.

1882
Atalanta was sailing on Lake Ontario.

1883
The sloop sailed to Chicago to race in the Fisher Cup. It was leading the race when it broke its spinnaker boom and was beaten by Cora. After completing the repairs, Cuthbert beat Cora by 16 minutes, during a private match on the same course, and took back the Fisher Cup to Bay of Quinte. Atalanta held the trophy until 1886.

1896
Atalanta was partly burned. Sold and taken to Chicago where the sloop was rebuilt with higher sides and flush decks.

1900
Atalanta was last seen in New Orleans…

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