Doublehanded Popularity - Seahorse March 2023

Written by Kate Cope

Doublehanded offshore racing is growing in popularity – to state the obvious. Hence in this new regular column I’ll be looking initially at what is driving that growth, exploring the main contributing factors, the boats, technical – and cost – aspects, hopefully also tempting in a few of those who’ve not tried it yet. Later in the year I will be looking at youth pathways into doublehanded racing and how with a bit of focus we are already creating exceptional opportunities for the next generation of sailors. 

In the UK if we look at the Rolex Fastnet as a proxy measure of the growth to date, an IRC doublehanded class was first introduced to the race in 2005 with 20 boats taking part that year. Since then, the numbers have grown pretty much every edition, peaking at 64 boats in 2019. 

In the USA, combining DH participation in the four most popular New England races show a peak in the covid years. Although the numbers have reduced slightly, they are still at a higher level that pre-covid. In contrast, in the case of the longer Newport to Bermuda race, which has hosted a doublehanded class since 2000, participation has been much more stable. 

In Australia, the Sydney-Hobart race has been late to welcome DH entries but participation has now taken off and 21 boats registered to start the most recent 2022 edition. But it’s not just established events that are popular, in France the new Cap-Martinique IRC transatlantic race from La Trinité-sur-Mer to Fort-de-France (Martinique) had a very popular first edition in 2022 with 15 solo and 25 doublehanded boats. For the recently launched 2024 edition, the 60 places sold out in less than three days... and they have 15 boats already wait-listed.

So, what is driving all this? When you talk to the sailors, there are really multiple factors, some very practical and some almost spiritual. 

Let’s start with the practical. Logistics are easier with just two aboard. Most partnerships are then for at least the season, so once you have found your co-skipper the crew box is ticked. Two people have less gear, less need of provisions and there is more space onboard. It’s also easier on the owner’s wallet. The boats are smaller, cheaper to run and there are less crew expenses. Also with two co-skippers, the work ashore tends to be better shared...

There is a variety of offshore opportunities to choose from with many clubs having a DH class now in their races. There is shorter weekend racing (60-120nm) broadly available as well as flagship longer events (+600nm and Trans-ocean). In the UK, typically 50% of the fleet in all the RORC Offshore races are now doublehanded entries, and they are increasingly taking part on the longer races as well. The 2022 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland consisted of almost 70% doublehanded entries.

The racing itself is extremely competitive and getting more so with each season. The boats themselves fall into a fairly tight rating band, which means there is plenty of close boat-for-boat racing even under handicap. 

The doublehanders have also proven competitive against fully crewed boats... and in a growing range of conditions, as techniques improve. In 2022 the RORC season points championship was won overall by a doublehanded boat, the JPK 10.10 Jangada sailed by Richard Palmer with co-skippers Jeremy Waitt and Rupert Holmes. However, it wasn’t just first place that was snapped up, second and third were also doublehanders. In total the doublehanders claimed eight out of the top 10 places.

However, when you talk to the modern Corinthian doublehanded sailor, you quickly learn that the appeal goes way beyond the practical factors. And it’s remarkably consistent across the world; the sailors all talking about the deep connection between two competitive co-skippers racing together without distractions. 

To have any sleep at all you need you trust your co-skipper to sail the boat singlehanded and this creates a strong bond of friendship – sometimes in the face of adversity. Ludovic Gérard together with Nicolas Brossay won the first edition of the Cap-Martinique race in his JPK 10.80 Solenn for Pure Ocean. Ludo later told me ‘double handed racing is not just about having an exciting time racing on a sail boat. 

'Firstly, it’s about friendship and having, or developing full confidence in your co-skipper. To begin with you must of course trust him or her when you go to sleep! 

'You have to share your doubts, your joys and they can challenge your strategy at the chart table. On Cap Martinique we set a rule that we should have at least one big laugh every day... we really enjoyed our 20 days sailing together’. 

Another French sailor Sebastien Saulnier from Moshi Moshi, a Sunfast 3300, tells me ‘Personally I like to sail double-handed on long races because it allows me to experience strong emotions with my co-skipper. The trust we must have in each other is important and I love the discussions we have at sea. I find that the emotions experienced are stronger than in crewed racing. In my opinion beautiful friendships are often born thanks to these races’.

There is often the challenge to simply sail well enough doublehanded offshore as there can be a lot of time alone on deck. Done well, this can bring a sense of satisfaction which goes beyond whether or not you win the race. Often just completing a tough offshore race, with just two aboard and little sleep, already tests your limits of endurance to a level that is stasfying enough before adding the element of competiton.

Combine that feeling with having pulled off some slick shorthanded manoeuvres and making some good tactical decisions and there can be a huge sense of achievement even if the result remins doggedly mid-fleet. With two aboard you are really playing all the roles, whether you are good at them or not, and with that you are forced to continue to learn; there is always something you can do better. 

Then there is the strong sense of community between the doublehanded sailors – in fact across all shorthanded fleets incluing our solo brethren.. In the UK, the Doublehanded Offshore Series co-ordinates training and coaching for the teams and published a regular newsletter to keep everyone well informed. There are often socials at the end of races to share ideas and experience with everyone being surprisingly generous in sharing their advice on what made their race go well... or not so well (with just two aboard is also easier to buddy up with other boats for dinner at a busy restaurant!)

Everyone is keen to improve and this creates an energetic learning environment to exchange ideas about everything from boat set up to sleep patterns and weather. Ellie Driver, the 20yr old co-skipper of the Sunfast 3300 Chilli Pepper and 2022 British Sailor of the Year, tells me what motivates her in doublehanded racing. ‘It’s a challenging discipline with a friendly yet competitive fleet who are always welcoming and encouraging the new crews. I also appreciate the evolving trust and respect that you build with your co-skipper’.

Inspired by the UK series the Australian doublehanders set up their own Sydney Doublehanded Series in 2021. According to Jules Hall, winner of the first doublehanded trophy in Sydney-Hobart 2021 in his J/99 Disko Trooper, ‘doublehanded sailing is relatively new to mainstream racing in Sydney. 

'This is because 2021 was the first year our pinnacle event, the Sydney-Hobart allowed doublehanded entries. It garnered huge attention in our local sailing community and this year the race went one better allowing us to compete for the big prizes against the fully-crewed yachts. I have no doubt the 2023 race will set a new record for two-handed entries.

'Australian sailors have been especially attracted by accessibility and camaraderie of two-handed offshore racing. Sydney offshore racing has been dominated by 40'+ boats the past 20 years. People are finding it too expensive to run these boats and too hard to find regular crew. Doublehanded addresses both those issues – smaller boats, smaller crew!'

Interestingly the doublehanded community appears to be more inclusive than some areas of sailing. In the UK Doublehanded Series there is broad appeal with young and older, male and female, pro and Corinthian sailors in the fleet. In the 2022 UK series female participation was 22% and exactly one-quarter of sailors were aged 25yrs or less. 

With just two people aboard, it can make it easier for younger sailors and women to be able to contribute without being elbowed out by 'louder' members of the crew – whether done consciously or unconsciously.

Communication is easier when it’s just a one-on-one between two people, and any misunderstandings or lack of confidence can be resolved more easily. The young adults I’ve talked to who recently joined the UK fleet, quickly feel reassured to contribute onboard and so are able to really step up their game. Compared to previous races on a crewed boat, where they may have spent a lot of time on the rail, they love the chance to try out literally every role there is. 

I spoke to young Irish sailor Conor Corson, who together with fellow youngster Josh Dawson came fourth in the Doublehanded class in the 2022 Round Ireland race. They raced the Sunfast 3300 Asgard generously loaned to them by its owner. Conor says ‘I didn’t find doublehanded racing as difficult as I expected. I knew my co-skipper well and felt very comfortable when he was helming the boat which allowed me to really sleep deeply. 

'I had full trust and full faith in him, which in a way was easier than fully crewed racing where there is too often someone you need to worry about... The race was really rewarding, that we had such tight competition was a huge bonus. We gave it absolutely everything and so finishing well was something we are both very proud of.' - Kate Cope, Director, UK Doublehanded Series


The Doublehanded series will continue in 2023 and all boats are welcome to join us so. Keep a look out on our website https://www.doublehandedoffshore.com/ or email contact@doublehandedoffshore.com for details of how you can get involved.