Tips for Two-up

15 November 2013

Fifteen ARC boats will be sailing doublehanded this year - with just two people onboard. On Thursday Evening there was a workshop for those planning to sail doublehanded, with experienced sailors sharing their knowledge.  Around 30 people attended the session. The workshop allowed participants who have completed many trips doublehanded, such as past doublehanded ARC participants Joyce and John Easteal from Starblazer to share their experiences with others for whom this is the first time they have crossed an ocean doublehanded. It was guided by World Cruising Club staff, Chris Tibbs, Andrew Bishop and Wilhelm and Astrid Greiff who have many thousands of doublehanded miles between them.

The top thing to remember when planning to sail with just two people is that it really equates to 24 hours of singlehanded sailing.  One person will probably be asleep, resting or cooking, while the other is on deck sailing the boat.  So, keeping a good look-out is vital!

Watch Systems

All of the sailors at the workshop agreed that keeping a strict watch routine was a good idea, and the preferred system was 0800-1400 and 1400-2000, then four hours on, four off through the night.  This system gives the opportunity for a long period of rest during daylight, with shorter watches at night when it is harder to concentrate.

Recognising tiredness is very important, and a top tip is to ensure that both sailors get enough sleep at the start and end of the voyage.  It is easy to stay awake for too long, but when this happens people make mistakes, and mistakes on a boat can equal danger.  Get enough sleep!

Safety

One way to ensure a restful sleep is for the person on deck to always wear a lifejacket and be clipped on to the boat.  Everyone sleeps better if they know that their partner is safe.  It is always sensible to clip-on when on deck alone - it would not be good to slip over the side and see the boat sailing away while your partner is asleep below!

Sails and Deck Work

When handling sails it was agreed that reefing early makes sense.  It is easier to reef before the wind gets too strong, so if you think it is time to take in a roll of the foresail or a reef in the mainsail, then do it!

Lots of doublehanded sailors are happy to fly spinnakers or Parasailors with just two people.  Many choose to use a snuffer to make hoisting and recovering the sail quicker and safer, while others drop the spinnaker in the conventional manner.  It was agreed that some form of net between the forestay and the mast to stop the spinnaker wrapping around the forestay is an excellent idea.  Some boats have specially made nets, others devise their own anti-wrap system using spare ropes.

One top tip from the workshop is to go 'back to basics' when working on deck together.  For example, if one person calls for a new compass course, the other should repeat the information so it is clear that everything is understood.  This is very easy for mistakes and misunderstandings to happen if you are getting a bit tired!

Enjoy It!

Most sailing couples try to have at least one meal together every day, with the evening meal before the 2000 watch change being the most popular option.  It can be quite lonely standing watch on your own, so a shared meal makes the voyage more enjoyable.

Sailing just two-up can be fun, and many sailors never take on extra crew because they work well as a team and enjoy the challenge and peace of just two onboard.  If you decide to doublehand, enjoy it!