Phantom Dinghy Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Cat Rig

LOA

14.5' · 4.42 m

Displ.

134 lbs · 61 kg

First year

1971

The Phantom Dinghy stands as one of the most enduring and respected singlehanded performance boats in the British sailing scene. Designed in 1971 by Paul Wright and Brian Taylor, it was conceived as a highperformance racing machine for the "larger" sailor—those typically weighing over 85kg who found themselves too heavy for the Laser or Solo classes. Vander Craft, under the leadership of Jeff Vander Borght in Devon, became a pivotal builder for the class, transitioning the design from its traditional wooden roots into hightech Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) and epoxy constructions. This evolution ensured the Phantom remained competitive against modern designs, offering a potent mix of raw power and sophisticated control. Unlike many of its contemporaries, the Phantom eschews the trapeze, relying instead on a massive 9.76 square meter sail and the helm's hiking stamina to keep the hull flat.