NEW SERIES
In this seventh part of a double-handed sailing series, Pip Hare explains upwind sailing skills and reefing techniques
DOUBLE-HANDED SAILING is gaining in popularity across many disciplines – we now regularly see crews of two managing all sizes of boat, and sailing them with the same efficiency and expectations as full crews. In this series I share how I approach key manoeuvres with a crew of two.
Beating can be one of the less challenging points of sail for a double-handed team. If the boat is well balanced with an appropriate sail plan, the autopilot will steer efficiently and one person can manage the cockpit while the other rests or, on longer voyages, manages cooking and maintenance. In poor weather only having one person on deck at a time ensures the crew can take time to get dry and warm between watches.
There are, however, times when it is useful to have both sailors on deck when sailing upwind. Last issue we focussed on tacking, while this month we’ll focus on reefing and active upwind trim.
anaging power and reducing sail area when sailing upwind are important skills for double-handed crews to master; for those racing without the benefit of extra weight on the rail, the boat will overpower more quickly and require different techniques to sail fast as the wind speed increases. Cruising sailors will want the confidence to know that, should a squall arrive or conditions change quickly, they have the capability to respond with ease and without drama.
