Perhaps it is because people are becoming increasingly time-poor, or because it neatly side-steps the problem of keeping a large crew together, but one area of offshore racing undeniably gaining popularity is shorthanded racing. In fact, World Sailing recently announced that a ‘Mixed Two Person Keelboat Offshore’ event will be introduced to the Olympics for Paris 2024. The 2019 Fastnet Race is a further example of this concept’s popularity — 64 boats are in the doublehanded Fastnet fleet that is approaching the finish now.
Over the last few editions of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the IRC Two Handed class has shown steady growth from 45 entries in 2013 to 64 competitors this year. Erik van Vuuren’s Dutch W36 HUBO had a successful tune up the week before Fastnet by winning IRC 3 in the RORC Channel Race the week before. HUBO sailed the race doublehanded. Van Vuuren hopes his yellow, Titanium powered Waarschip 36 will have a similar finish in the 64-boat doublehanded fleet in the 630-mile trip around Fastnet Rock.
To track the fleet, go to: https://www.rolexfastnetrace.com/2019-fleet-tracking-race-player
There are many positives about double-handing, but I’d like to point out that it cuts out the possibility of a young sailor looking for racing experience to get a chance to jump on a fully crewed boat before the race. That’s the way many youngsters get started.
Steve Colgate
There are many positives about double-handing, but I’d like to point out that it cuts out the possibility of a young sailor looking for racing experience to get a chance to jump on a fully crewed boat before the race. That’s the way many youngsters get started.
Steve Colgate
I followed a link to this page to see the unfinished article on where the author lost 4 minutes on corrected time and its not here. Your articles are usually well written and informative.
What happened/
Ed
Carrickfergus sailing club
Co Antrim
I followed a link to this page to see the unfinished article on where the author lost 4 minutes on corrected time and its not here. Your articles are usually well written and informative.
What happened/
Ed
Carrickfergus sailing club
Co Antrim
Ed, Sorry for the bad link. Here is how to see Graham Curran’s full article about using the right sail to get the most speed out of your boat.
https://uksailmakers.de/news/2019/8/2/big-good-smallbad-not-necessarily-when-it-comes-to-sail-selection?mc_cid=f6f3823f84&mc_eid=89796b126f
Ed, Sorry for the bad link. Here is how to see Graham Curran’s full article about using the right sail to get the most speed out of your boat.
https://uksailmakers.de/news/2019/8/2/big-good-smallbad-not-necessarily-when-it-comes-to-sail-selection?mc_cid=f6f3823f84&mc_eid=89796b126f