Atalanta was built by
William Cramp & Sons for
Jay Gould the same year that
American Yacht Club was founded and its inclusion in the club's fleet of steamships was considered a great coup. Although fast, its trans-Atlantic capabilities were limited by its capacity to hold coal, which necessitated a stop at the
Azores in order to complete the crossing. It made several trips to England, often mooring at Cowes. Gould famously commuted to work in
Manhattan from his
Lyndhurst estate in
Westchester County, New York, aboard the yacht. Gould died in 1892, and it was sold to the
Venezuelan Navy in 1900 where it served as the gunboat
Restaurador (Restorer). It was captured by the
Imperial German Navy during the
Venezuelan crisis of 1902–03 and put into service under a German flag as part of the blockading squadron. After the crisis, it was returned to the Venezuelans. It was renamed
General Salom and continued in service until 1950. ==Gallery==