
External links:-[Phantom Class Homepage]
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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
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