Update from ex-hatter

[storm petrel]

Hi Guys,

I can't believe it has been almost two years since I sold Storm Petrel. I still follow the forum and sometimes miss my Top Hat but I was approaching retirement and it was a case of now or never to go to a bigger yacht. Thought you might like an update on sailing the Phantom 32 (Aruba).

We sailed her to Sydney on Tuesday in a strong Westerly, stayed the night at the CYCA and sailed back on Wednesday. When I sailed the Top Hat down in similar conditions some years ago we made the head to head journey in 2hrs 45 minutes (a record for the dozen times I made the trip in the Top Hat). I remember that it was an exhilarating sail in the Top Hat. I recall that the one time I ventured below I was buffeted around like a ping pong ball. In contrast, with the same crew (my son and mate -Jacko) on the Phantom we made the head to head journey this week in 2hrs 15minutes (av speed 6.7 knots) and I went down below on many occasions during the trip making coffee and sandwiches for the crew, using the head, changing the radio channel, etc. all in reasonable comfort. I will admit that when we reached the harbour and were hit by some gusts over 35 knots it was all hands on deck but we still managed to beat down the harbour against the wind at a reasonable pace (it would have been a real struggle for the Top Hat)

In addition to comfort and slight increase in boat speed the motion at rest is much reduced. The boat seems to rock very slowly at anchor compared to the Top Hat and I have found I can sleep much better on the Phantom.

I am happy I made the change, but I still think Top Hats are great yachts!

Anyway, best wishes to all,

Mark
Phantom 32 'Aruba'

PS For anyone interested there is a 2 minute youtube video of us sailing Aruba back to Broken Bay from Sydney last July at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhY_2kzGu9k

[Shaun]

Great video & update on the Phantom 32 Mark, thanks for posting that.
cheers

[storm petrel]

Hope to sail up to Camden Haven one day and will catch up if I do.

Cheers,
Mark

[Troppo]

Hi Mark, great to hear you are enjoying sailing even if not in a Top Hat. Also interesting to read your comparison.

troppo

[storm petrel]

For those who do not know the phantom I thought a picture would help.

Aruba is a late (1988) Mk11 phantom 32 with the taller double spreader 'racing rig' and custom timber phantom 33 style fit out (the older phantoms had a twin births on the port side.)

Cheers,
Mark