Who owns a Phantom 14?

[AXEL]

A friend gave me a Phantom in late May. It needed some work, no big deal. I actually enjoyed painting it and if I do say so myself it came out looking great. I finally got a chance to sail it this past weekend and man I got my ass kicked! I'm use to sailing my C30 which is a breeze (no pun). It was blowing about 15 knots and all this little boat wanted to do was lock up in irons. I put the tiller all the way over but the boat just would not respond. It actually started to go backwards at one point. I guess there are things about the lantine (spelling?) rigg that I'm going to have to get use to. Any one out there own one of these that can give some pointers?

 

[CalebD]

I just spent 3 weeks teaching kids (12 - 16) how to sail Sunfish on the north shore of LI. Can I assume you were sailing your Phantom in the Great South Bay? Generally some good wind down there and you should be able to fly on your Phantom.
These boats are pretty easy to get 'into irons' (going backwards). If the hull fills up with water they also become nearly uncontrollable so make sure the hull is plugged up - if it has a drain plug. You will need to learn to get the boat 'out of irons' by pulling in the sail and pushing the tiller over to one side until the boat falls off the wind.
I would recommend you try sailing it on beam reaches at first and make sure to tack quickly so you don't end up stuck in the middle of a turn. Work your way up to sailing close hauled and down wind points of sail. Practice jibing the boat as well as tacking.
This lateen rigged boat will plane in the right wind on a beam reach and down wind tacks.
Be patient and enjoy.

 

[AXEL]

Thanks CalebD,
Yes I sail on the Great South Bay, plenty of wind here (too much sometimes LoL). And yes, this little boat fills up like a bath tub. The drain works fine as long as the boat is moving, but when I stop it floods. I was using a wine cork but will look for something more reliable. Thanks for your feedback, I was thinking it was just me. I've sailed these types of boats before but never had so much trouble. Maybe the strong winds that day contributed. Next time out I'll remember to pull the sail in and push the tiller out. I think the next time I go out I'll pick a day with calmer winds. Jibing in 15 knots on this little thing was not something I wanted to do last week. I can tell the boat needs to be maneuvered quickly without hesitation. I just need to work up the skill. After sailing the C30 for so many years I forgot how different these little boats are.

 

[Rick Webb]

Split Them

Push the boom out in one direction the tiller in the other, you'll come out of irons real quick

 

[CalebD]

Axel,
If the hull is filling up with water then it is not you but the boat that is having problems. Once a critical mass of water gets inside the hull the boat will handle like a sick baby whale and tend to round up into irons and be uncontrollable. Been there, done that and it is not so much fun and makes you feel like you don't know what you are doing.
I'd suggest checking the hull/deck joint for leaks and anywhere else water may be getting inside the hull. A dry hull handles beautifully but a waterlogged hull just isn't much fun.