Built in 2012 by skilled Maine professional builder (Teaches at Wooden Boat School)
Phoenix 3
15 Ft. lapstrake hull
Ross Lillistone, designer
Balanced lug rig, unstayed
"workboat" finish with red hull and grey deck and interior
New Loadrite trailer
Boat located in Riverside, RI
Best materials: Hull of Okume marine grade plywood and epoxy,
Spars of sitka spruce from Shaw and Tenney in Maine, sail from Center Harbor Sails, Brooklin, Maine, Ronstan and Harken hardware,
new Loadrite Trailer.
This is a boat for the avid sailor who has limited time and wants to spend his time actually sailing as opposed to preparing to sail. With the unstayed lug sail rig and with sails left attached, it takes 7 minutes for one person (even someone 73 like me) to step the very light mast, hoist the sail and launch.
The Phoenix 3 was designed by Aussie Ross Lillistone for just this purpose. Since then, this 15 ft. "beach cruiser" has caught on in the US aided by a few recent articles in Wooden Boat Magazine about the virtues of this design especially for those who love to sail solo or with one or two crew.
The boat has excellent sailing qualities. Goes to windward nicely and with enough wind will plane off the wind. The single lug sail is easily and quickly reefed.
Recent serious heart surgery makes continued sailing for me problematic. Sadly I have to part with this wonderful boat.
