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How to find us

We depart at 10am from the Russell wharf. Our guests either come directly from their Russell accommodation and some may take the passenger ferry from Paihia – a lovely 15 minute crossing of the bay.

What to bring

Sunscreen, hat, swimsuit, towel and camera, warm clothes and you’re ready to have a great day.

Dolphins

Yes, we do see dolphins, we see them most days, however, we do not harass them, we do not target them and we definitely do not swim with them. All studies have shown this to have a negative affect on dolphin behaviour.

Dolphin-watching tour boats change bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) …..

Feds seek rules for swims with Hawaii dolphins

Kayaks

We do not offer kayaks on Phantom. We offer a sailing trip with great food and the beauty of the Bay of Islands. Boats that carry kayaks offer a minimum time for their use, shared amongst large numbers of guests on board.

Weather and cancellation

Please call our freephone number the day before. We are always up to date with weather forecasts and if the weather is blowing a gale and we feel that it would not make for an enjoyable day, we might cancel and you would have a full refund.

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Testimonials

A really great way to enjoy the Bay of Islands.
Sylvia, Peter, Janet & John
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The Dolphins swimming along us was an added and unexpected bonus! If you are planning to see this part of the world make sure you include a day of sailing with Rick and Robin on the phantom – it will likely be the best day of your vacation.
Goleon
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I have spend a day on the Phantom for several times and I was never disappointed. I’m living in New Zealand and go there with all my visitors from different countries. Rick is an experienced skipper and Robin a perfect host serving an excellent homemade lunch.
Micha
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Robin and Rick are the best! We had a lovely day trip with delicious food (Robin really is a great cook) and a wonderful sailing experience with Rick as Captain (we even learned how to do some sailing knots). If you are up for a relaxed day on the sea with great people, this is the couple to go to! Thanks again for this wonderful experience!
Johannes M
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Rick & Robin were a joy to spend the day with. They have a ton of experience and we felt like we were in great hands sailing around the Bay of Islands. The experience is super intimate, and it was great getting to know other people from all parts of the world on our sailing adventure. This is a must-do and I highly recommend this over the big charter boats.
Christinagoryeb
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Everything is good about sailing with Phantom, don’t hesitate to book, it was the highlight of our stay in the Bay of Islands.
Carol
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Fabulous day out sailing with a great stop at a beautiful little island. Lunch was to die for. Thanks so much Rick & Robin for accommodating the 4 of us and making a pretty memorable day in the Bay of Islands.
Ellie K
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We had a perfect last day in NZ on the sailing boat with a small, quiet and relaxed group. It was like spending the afternoon with some good friends relaxing, swimming and eating some delicious lunch with interesting talks. Thanks, Robin and Rick!
Sabine, Johanna and Hildegard
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The sailing was superb, other guests were lovely company, the stop at cable bay was brilliant and Robin’s home made food delicious. Many thanks too Rick & Robin for changing our booking at the last minute to accommodate the weather forecast.
Katie Derby
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On a glorious day we had a sail (6 hours) on Phantom. Rick and Robin are welcoming hosts, on their lovely schooner. The best way to explore the Bay of Islands.
Periaq
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See the best Russell attractions with a plan including Phantom Sailing