The Phantom will never make the Olympics
Its fast, its fun, and everybody from real hotshots to beginers can sail it. According to Y&Y the weight range is between 85kg to in excess of 105kg (thats a stroke of luck). So that probably suits the avrage demographic. It also just about affordable and could be built in large numbers.
ISAF's recent ruling proves they have not got a clue about what weekend dinghy sailors like. British meddalist have also proved that they havnt got a clue either by railing against the Finn and stating "I argue that the one person dingy serves the same sailing community as the heavy, particularly as the keel boat also fits into the heavy category. Look at, currently, the class in question, either you get lighter and sail a Laser or sail a Star, simple. It doesn't serve a particular sector of the sailing community. Nor is it representative of the sport - the Laser is the worlds most popular sail boat, nearly all other single handers are a slightly smaller or larger derivative of this, (go on Phantom and OK sailors get your arms in the air) so the Laser represents this sector of the sport."
So we get a mention in the debate but I think that was put in by the editor.
Just goes to show that when people sail at the top end as a pro the end up with no idea of what the rest of us are up to.
