Sailors are engaging more than ever in different forms of shorthanded sailing. Partly thanks to technology that allows for increased ease of handling by smaller crews. Partly because a growing number of doublehanded classes in sail racing events. I will go through some of the reasons why I love sailboat racing doublehanded and why I see it both as an alternative and a complement to full-crew sailboat racing.
While shorthanded sailing includes both single and doublehanded, I do believe they are quite different in many ways and their motivations often differ. Here I want to focus on why sailboat racing doublehanded should be experienced.
It’s fun!
Sail racing doublehanded is packed with action. You don’t get bored. Constant focus must be placed on handling the boat, navigating, keeping an eye on your competitors and taking tactical decisions. On longer races, you have got to eat and rest as well, of course, which adds variety and planning to the challenge.
Communication happens faster than on full-crewed yachts as only skipper and co-skipper need talking to one another. Hopefully, the rest of the crew communicates only in its own head!
Last but not least, there is no additional complexity due to team dynamics and teams of two mature very quickly.
More time on the water
We are amateurs and time on the water is what matters, for at least 2 reasons:
– at the end of the day, it’s what we like and why we do it.
– it really pays out in terms of performance.
It is closed to impossible to regularly put together a crew of 5 to 8 amateur sailors with a matching schema and ambition level as well as a family life and a job. Add to that the complication of gathering the crew at the boat location at a fixed time. Unless the whole crew lives or works relatively closed by, it is a difficult feat. You can, however, find one partner to join and share the adventure with and it translates in more time on the water for each opportunity as well as more opportunities.
More yachts on the water
A higher number of opportunities to sail means a higher potential for sailboats on the water at the same time and area. The more yachts out there, the higher the chances that they turn up at a race!
Additionally, it is not uncommon for crew members to skipper their own yacht. Take those skippers, give each a buddy and all of a sudden we may have a larger fleet at the starting line of the next race.
Costs less
Operating costs for a yacht grow at a higher rate for each foot of water line. You don’t need a bigger yacht for sailboat racing doublehanded. In fact, I believe that up to 33 foot is ideal and somewhere between 30 and 33 foot for a vessel capable of off-shore racing may be the sweet spot.
Furthermore, many yachts have at least basic amenities. This allows a skipper and co-skipper to live aboard before and after races, reducing racing costs further.
It makes better sailors
In a doublehanded team each sailor needs to perform several tasks and play different positions. It is extremely insightful to be in everybody’s shoes and understand what each role requires and the interaction between roles.
This is even more true in longer races where skipper and co-skipper must train to be interchangeable without dropping overall performance.
A doublehanded sailor will have greater awareness of the dynamics aboard and understanding of what is required of herself/himself or her/his crew colleagues. This in turn results in becoming a better sailor overall.
Better execution
Racing doublehanded requires perfect execution of each maneuver. The outcome of a failed task can have at best lesser than optimal efficiency and at worst disastrous consequences.
Think of a headsail change, for example. A doublehanded sailor must carry out the maneuver just right. Not doing so can cost several precious minutes and thus a race. It could cause the headsail to flog to pieces. Not being able to reduce sail or staying on deck more than necessary in heavy weather may ultimately lead to safety concerns.
Because there are no other hands on board to help out, it is crucial to think through each maneuver very well and repeat over and over until it just becomes second nature. The end result is better handling and execution. Ultimately enhanced performance and greater safety.
Boosts safety awareness
Safety in doublehanded racing must have highest priority. This is true for full crewed yachts as well, however, with only two people aboard, things escalate rapidly. A doublehanded team becomes quickly aware of safety risks and tends to dedicate greater resources in risk management tactics and routines.
Let us take a MOB situation as an example. It is a nightmare for any sailor. If the team is made of two and one goes overboard, the situation becomes critical very quickly. The obvious solution is learning to do things tethered and thus staying on the boat. Obvious, right? However working with a tether hooked on in the frenzy of racing is uncomfortable, it slows down and being complacent becomes a risk.
A doublehanded sailor tends (or should…) to become more aware and take preemptive measures, which become second nature even full crewed or whilst cruising.
Builds friendship
A skipper and a co-skipper spend a great deal of time together. They optimize, plan, think through and finally sail several hours or even days together. Whilst crews share camaraderie, doublehanded teams are more likely to become closer. Experiencing the beauty of surroundings, the fight of racing, the frustration of mirror-like seas, the exhilaration of fast surfing, is bound to create bonds.
Why do you like sailboat racing doublehanded?
This is by no means an exhaustive list and I do appreciate any input below to help uninitiated fellows sailors to try doublehandling for themselves.