HISTORY

Built in 1971 by the legendary Canadian design office of George Cuthbertson and George Cassian, Phantom is a rare 50-foot one-off prototype created at the dawn of the International Offshore Rule (IOR), one of the most innovative and competitive eras in yacht racing history. At nearly 50 feet (15.2 m) overall, with an imposing masthead rig and more than 1,200 square feet of working sail area, Phantom embodied the spirit of the great offshore campaigns of the early 1970s. She was built for the most demanding ocean races, where speed, endurance, and crew efficiency were paramount.
Its owner ordered it to the shipyard, in order to challenge and beat his current C&C 40′ Custom « Manitou ».

« Manitou C&C 40′ custom. (predecessor of Phantom)

Valiant aka « Phantom » in 1971/1972

This racing machine which hull was originally painted in red, took part in the great classics:
– Newport – Bermuda (finishing ahead of Tabarly and Pen Duick VI in corrected time) – Sydney – Hobart
– Admiral’s Cup
– Transpac,
To name a few.

In 2006/2007, after a final delivery trip from San Diego in the United States, she was left, rotting on an anchorage for 16 years in New Zealand.

MEETING HER SAVIOR.

Meanwhile, 10,000 kilometres away, on the far side of the world, Charlotte —known to everyone as “Charly”— was completing a journey through Antarctica and Argentina when news reached her of a remarkable yacht for sale in New Zealand. For more than twenty years, Charly had dedicated her life to the sea. She had crewed, raced, chartered, and delivered both classic and modern yachts, forging her place in a demanding and often unforgiving profession. Through countless miles and countless boats, she had developed an instinct that only true sailors possess. The moment she saw the yacht, long before learning of her history or pedigree, she knew.

A few weeks later, Charly arrived in New Zealand and purchased the vessel. What followed was not simply a restoration—it was a battle against time, neglect, and the elements. For sixteen years, the once-proud racing yacht had languished on a mooring, exposed to weather and decay. The task ahead was colossal. From the keel to the masthead, from the deck to the engine room, from the rudder to the smallest cleat, almost everything required repair, rebuilding, or complete restoration. Working largely alone, with little assistance and limited resources, Charly devoted herself entirely to the project. For eleven relentless months, seven days a week, day and night, she poured her energy, determination, and skill into bringing the yacht back to life.

Piece by piece, the sleeping giant awakened. The boat that had once been known as Phantom was reborn under a new name : VALIANT – The Knight.

THE DESERT CROSSING.

Charly is determined to get VALIANT back onto the racing circuit as quickly as possible. After everything she has endured over the previous months, fear is no longer part of the equation. She sets course for Europe, sailing against the prevailing winds and entering races along the way whenever possible.

But fate has other plans.
In French Polynesia, following renovation work carried out by a local shipyard, VALIANT suffers a major rigging failure. In an instant, many of Charly’s hopes of qualifying for her planned events are shattered.
What follows is a grueling test of endurance. Battling legal disputes, dishonest contractors, broken bones, mounting expenses, and sheer exhaustion, Charly refuses to give up. With VALIANT’s damaged rig still standing, she pushes on across oceans, determined to bring her home.
At last, they reach the French West Indies. There, VALIANT finally receives the rigging she deserves—properly engineered, professionally fitted, and ready for offshore racing once again. The repairs come at a heavy cost, draining nearly all of Charly’s remaining savings.

Yet neither skipper nor yacht has come this far to stop now.

Against all odds, VALIANT and Charly take their place on the starting line of the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2025. After years of neglect, months of restoration, and an epic voyage marked by setbacks and perseverance, they are finally where they belong. VALIANT and Charly are back on course—for good.

Valiant Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2025

GETTING BACK INTO SHAPE FOR THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE.

After a brief respite in the Caribbean, Charly and VALIANT set course for the Mediterranean. The objective is simple: let the yacht stretch her legs, rediscover her racing rhythm, and continue the long journey back to peak performance.
No sooner do they arrive in France than they are back on the starting line, taking part in the Régates Royales de Cannes 2025, one of the most prestigious classic yacht events in the Mediterranean. After months of ocean passages, repairs, and relentless effort, yacht and skipper finally enjoy a well-earned winter break.
But rest has never been Charly’s strong suit.
With the arrival of spring 2026, VALIANT returns to competition, joining the fleet of the Toulon Provence Regatta as a guest yacht, alongside several other French classic yacht regattas. Each race allows the legendary thoroughbred to regain her strength, refine her performance, and prove once again that she still belongs among the finest racing yachts of her generation.

Yet for Charly, these events are only stepping stones.
Her mind is already fixed on a challenge worthy of both the yacht and the extraordinary journey that brought them together—a challenge as demanding, ambitious, and legendary as VALIANT herself. A challenge that has inspired sailors for generations: La Route du Rhum 2026 A solo crossing of the Atlantic. A race against the ocean. The ultimate test for Charly and VALIANT.

« La Route du Rhum » 2026 Atlantic race !