Preparing for a Doublehanded Race

While there may be uncertainty about the new Mixed Two Person Keelboat Offshore event getting approval for the Paris 2024 Olympics, there is no question that shorthanded sailing is the fastest growing segment of keelboat racing. In this report by Joe Cooper for SAIL, he offers how to activate the idea:

A few months ago we took a look at the development and attraction of doublehanded racing (Two to Tango, June/July 2020). Hopefully, that served to whet your appetite. If so, the question becomes: “How do I get started?

The good news, as we explained in Part 1, is that if you are the owner of pretty much any kind of sailboat from around 25 to 55 to even 60ft in length, there are more than likely already a number of regattas in your area that would love to have you join them. Again, you don’t need to sail a high-octane Class40 racer to have fun or even bring home a brag flag or two.

More good news: prepping for doublehanded racing is anything but a single-use project. Pretty much anything you do to your Sabre, C&C, Tartan, Jeanneau, Beneteau, Hallberg Rassey, Dufour or Catalina for doublehanded “racing” will serve to enhance your cruising experience as well. Let’s look at some of the areas that warrant consideration. – Full report