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The Phantom Class
Phantom class captain:

The Phantom dinghy design comes from a couple of keen Osprey helms who decided that keeping crews or training new crews was spoiling their regular sailing fun. They designed the Phantom as a single handed boat to suit the larger helm  for whom the Laser could be pain in the neck and the head and the Solo was considered to be a bore!  The boat can be 'home-built' from plans available from the designers or can be obtained professionally built from 3 or 4 accepted builders; ranging from £500 second hand to £6000 inc carbon mast.

The boat is best sailed by people of previous sailing experience, and tend to attract those of 30-35 years plus. Many of the helms are over 50 and looking at their behaviour on the water, you would think they were teenagers!  The minimum practical helm's weight is thought to be 12½ stone, but many fast helms weigh in at 17 stone, some even more. The average is about 14 stone to 15 stone.   The boat carries the equivalent of a Fireball mainsail (90 sq.ft.), weighs in at not less than 62 kgs, though there are not many at this weight, a majority being about 75 - 85 kgs. It is very difficult to build down to weight.  The boat has a very different sailing technique to other single handers. It is best sailed a little loosely on the beat to gain best speed, and full sail controls are essential to get the best from the boat. Off the wind, it is sometimes described as being like a jet-ski. It accelerates very quickly and planes effortlessly. In moderate winds of force 3, it is more than a match for many other craft on handicap, sometimes beating Merlin Rockets and larger apparently faster craft.

After many years of steady growth at Blithfield, there is now a strong fleet, consisting of craft from the older to brand new 'epoxy' Plastic Phantastics from Vander Craft. Racing has been keen for many and Blithfield will be hosting a regular Open Meeting. This is usually the last event of the Class racing season and previous results can be seen elsewhere on this website.

So those helms whose family crews have retired to the garden, or gone off to University or into other boats, look no further, here is the craft to stir the blood and bring back some marvellous fun to sailing. Why not join us?

Alan Tolley