Flying Phantom Essentiel : THE mainstream foiling catamaran!
The new video is online ! Amazing footage of the FP Essentiel in the bay of St Malo shot by a drone and a telephoto.
Interview with a 63 year old sailing enthusiast who tried the FP Essential for the first time.
NEW OFFICIAL VIDEO !
Summer is near in the Northern Hemisphere, everyone is back on the water… How about going foiling this year ?
Foil sailing is becoming more common and more accessible. It is not the future of sailing anymore, it is all happening now ! Foils are everywhere : windsurfs, kitesurfs, catamarans, and even Optimists !
Even the American economic newspaper the Wall Street Journal is addressing the issue with a special review about the foiling boats to be published in the April 22nd Week-end Edition.
At Phantom International, we have launched the Flying Phantom Essential. A flying sport catamaran designed not only for a handful of top sailors, but for all sailing enthusiasts.
The objective is not to sail in the Olympic Games, but to discover a new fun way of sailing. With four watchwords : enjoyment, speed, comfort and safety.
As opposed to its ‘big’ brother Flying Phantom Elite, the Flying Phantom Essential doesn’t aim at high level competition like the FP Series. It is a versatile catamaran, made for leisure sailing as well as local beach cat regattas. The Essential flies in a wind range from 5 to 25 knots and can reach 20-25 knots of speed in 10 knots of wind. Thrill guaranteed !
Two weeks ago, Maurice, a 63 year old sailing enthusiast, tried the Flying Phantom Essential for the first time. Back on the beach, we asked him a few questions :
What is your experience of beach catamarans ?
I have sailed on Hobie Cat 14, 16 and 18, and a few years on the F18, competing in local regattas and long distance racing. But it was my first time on the Flying Phantom Essential.
Wind conditions ?
7-12 knots of shifty wind.
Your first impressions ?
A feeling of freedom ! It’s an easy boat, very similar to a F18. You start flying naturally as soon as you reach 11/12 knots. Flying above the water was a dream. Now it’s reality !
Top speed ?
We have reached 23 knots of speed in some wind corridors.
What is the biggest challenge, for a first-timer ?
For the crew, none. As a helmsman, you need to keep the boat as flat as possible et play with the helm to follow the wind. Under gennaker, you need to synchronize helm mouvements with the mainsail trim with more amplitude and reactivity than on the non foiling cat. Trimming the daggerboard up and down and the rake becomes obvious and natural very quickly.
What is the FP Essentiel specificity compared to other foiling beach cats ?
First I would say comfort and ease of use. The racks are much more practical than trapezes, whether it is for leisure sailing or sport sailing. Then, the daggerboard system is simple and you can lift the daggerboard all the way out and land on the beach like with any normal beach catamaran.
Is it more physical than a normal beach catamaran ?
Not at all. You just need a minimum of mobility, but the FP Essentiel is not a physical boat for any of the crew.
What sailing level do you need to fly the FP Essentiel ?
The level of someone who is used to sail on a beach cat with a spinnaker. The boat flies easily within 5 minutes.
What do you think about the side racks ?
Same as with an electric bike, you immediately get the comfort and relaxing feeling. We just wonder why we didn’t think about it before !
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CONTACT INFO: Phantom International is a French Brittany based company, with an history of innovative sails design and F18 catamarans (World Champion 2012 and 2016). Phantom International produces and promotes the Flying Phantom Elite, the world's first One Design flying catamaran, and the Flying Phantom Essentiel.
