How to win at double handed sailing

Pam Lee has competed in high level double-handed racing for four seasons, from Figaro to Class 40s. Here she shares winning tips for sailing two-up with Andy Rice in Yachting World:

The team dynamic in double-handed sailing is very different compared with fully crewed boats, says Pam Lee.

“In your classic IRC team you really need to have a clear hierarchy,” she explains. “You have the driver, the navigator and the tactician making the big decisions at the back of the boat, and further forward the trimmers and the pit and the bow who are not necessarily integrated into the decision-making process.

“With just two of you in double-handed, there’s still going to be a skipper who remains responsible overall for the boat and crew. But what I’ve found over the last four years – and put into action this past season sailing with Jay [Thompson] – is that everything should be a discussion, that two heads are better than one. We’re having a continual, ongoing discussion about all aspects, whether it’s nav and tactics, or trimming or even the setup of the boat.” – Full report