At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, Rolls-Royce will be unveiling a one-off model that is sure to appeal to sailors too: the unique Phantom Regatta was created by the Sailing regattas on the south coast of England inspired. The Extended model combines maritime elements with the craftsmanship of Goodwood. The waters around the Solent Chichester Harbour lies within sight of the company’s headquarters and has influenced the car’s design. This coastal region was also significant for the company’s founder, Sir Henry Royce, whose home, Elmstead, is situated in the coastal village of West Wittering, just eight miles from the current headquarters. This one-off model demonstrates how the Bespoke department brings stories to life through paint, leather, wood and metal. Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, explains: “The Phantom Regatta is the creation of our designers, engineers and craftsmen at our Goodwood headquarters, inspired by the waters on our doorstep. It brings the spirit of sailing into the tranquillity of a Phantom Extended.”
Two-tone paintwork in a regatta-style design
The exterior paintwork combines Regatta Blue with English White. The deep navy blue forms the upper section, whilst the white base stripe replicates the waterline of a yacht. The car is fitted with 22-inch tyres; the reflective surfaces are intended to evoke the winches on regatta yachts.
Interior in Navy Blue and Grace White
The interior colour scheme evokes the image of a yacht under full sail: deep blue water below, white canvas above. The front section is finished in Navy Blue leather, whilst the rear suite is in Grace White, designed to evoke the image of sailcloth and foaming wake. The seat and door trim, contrast stitching and the steering wheel combine both colour tones. The RR monograms are embroidered in Turchese, the shade of turquoise found in clear bays. The veneer consists of Piano Milori combined with open-pored walnut, hand-finished in satin for the waterfall panelling, the rear doors and the tops of the picnic tables. The completion of the picnic tables alone required around 120 hours of precise handcrafting.
Picnic tables as a yacht deck
The picnic tables are designed to resemble a yacht’s deck. Each table consists of 16 walnut planks, all cut from the same section of timber to ensure a consistent grain pattern. The planks were laid by hand from the centre outwards, with the grain mirrored to achieve a book-matched effect. A thin strip of Black Bolivar wood runs between the planks; it is just two millimetres wide and cut from a single piece to avoid visible joints. This technique imitates the dark joints of a teak deck.
Hand-painted gallery artwork: watercolour
The centrepiece of the interior is a hand-painted artwork that spans the entire width of the Phantom Regatta. The piece is entitled ‘Watercolour’ and was created by the company’s in-house artist. An open-pored wood served as the base, onto which specially developed paints were applied. To capture the movement of waves and open water, the artist developed a new mixed-media technique. This was refined over a two-week period on numerous test panels, whilst colours and application methods were trialled and adjusted to achieve the vision of an authentic seascape. The artwork forms the visual centrepiece of the comfortable saloon and blends seamlessly with the other maritime elements.
A starry sky inspired by tidal currents
The interior impresses with a bespoke headliner. The design features 1,307 fibreglass stars, each positioned by hand. Their arrangement is inspired by the tidal currents around the Isle of Wight. This intricate detail is complemented by illuminated doors. The Starlight headliner is one of the most elaborate features of the vehicle and demonstrates the technical capabilities of the A car manufacturer that has regularly surprised people in recent years with bespoke, one-off creations from its coachbuilding department for VVIP clients.
Hidden coordinates in the air vents
The car has a hidden detail. Each ‘eyeball’ air vent is engraved with a set of geographical coordinates that only become visible when the vent is tilted forwards. The vent on the passenger side displays the coordinates of Goodwood House: 50°52'12"N 00°44'24"W. The vent on the driver’s side bears the coordinates of Rolls-Royce’s headquarters: 50°51'13"N 00°44'40"W. The two points are less than a mile apart. Together, they anchor the Phantom Regatta to the place from which it originates. These engravings are only visible upon close inspection and form a personal connection to the car’s place of origin.
When money is no object
The British car manufacturer is keeping quiet about the price of the Rolls-Royce Phantom Regatta. The base price of the Phantom Extended, which has an extended wheelbase, ranges from €600,000 to €750,000, depending on the specification. Bespoke models from the coachbuilding department, such as the Nightingdale, Boat Tail, Sweptail, Droptail According to industry gossip, these are said to have cost sums of up to 23 million euros.
Martin Hager
Editor in Chief YACHT
