Short handed sailing - Fun, simplicity and a sense of achievement

“Simplicity and most fun with sailing in a long time.”  Ken Read

“You learn a lot about yourself and gain a real sense of achievement” Annette Hesselmans

There’s something about short handed sailing that’s providing some excitement, even for those that have been sailing for years.

Fellow ORCV Member Annette Hesselmans says “You learn a lot about yourself and gain a real sense of achievement”. Annette has sailed for years and in 2018 completed, with her partner Gerry Snijders, the 5500nm, 2018 Melbourne to Osaka double handed yacht race. You have to learn everything about your boat, equipment and take responsibility for all that happens on board and pushes you often outside your comfort zone.  "The best thing is that you can just be yourself, there's no one to judge you and an amazing camaraderie when you reach the finishing line."

Ken Read, President of North Sails and America’s Cup Commentator has sailed it all but it’s the double handed sailing in recent months, the simplicity of it that has invigorated his love and passion for sailing again. After sailing large boats with up to 11 or 14 crew, the simplicity of finding and having one crew member turn up on time is a bonus topped with getting ready to race with compliance, food and gear is simpler.

Ken goes onto to say “you're not pigeon-holed into one position and takes you back to your roots of sailing where you’re able to be everywhere on the boat.” The tweaking of your boat takes him back to his Etchell days where you work and figure out what works, what needs adjusting and how to set the boat up to minimise the number of sail changes.

The ORCV has for many years supported Short Handed Sailing both double handed and in more recent years 4+Autohelm in all of its races both on the Bay and on the Ocean.

On May 8th, the ORCV invites you to join the Carnival of Short Handed Sailing over a new course with longer legs. The race takes on the bay and is ideal for those that wish to try short handed sailing or looking to just have fun.   2021 brings a new course, with one lap of approximately 21nm around Port Phillip Bay, where each leg is approximately 5 - 7nm long, providing something for everyone who enters.  Entry can be made as Double Handed with and without spinnaker and also 4+Autohelm.

Entry is open to ORCV members and Non Members in the divisions of:  Double Handed (with and without spinnaker) and 4+Autohelm.  Enter here https://www.orcv.org.au/double-handed-about-the-race

Enter the race here 

Race Documents here 

Double Handed Race – Sunday 26th April

The ORCV has for many years, supported and promoted double handed racing. This year we have updated the Port Phillip Bay Course, taking on feedback and requests for longer legs. Enter and compete individually or as part of a team. Teams are made of 4 boats from any desired grouping ie club, friends, female, over 50’s, under 30’s etc .

Finding two crew is easier, so come, give it a try. Entries are open https://www.orcv.org.au/double-handed-about-the-race

Sheers and Rushbrook make Executive Decision to win ORCV Double Handed Race

William Sheers and Dan Rushbrook have sailed Executive Decision to a decisive IRC win in the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria’s Double-Handed Yacht Race held on Port Phillip in Melbourne on the weekend.

Sheers was thrilled with their win for two good reasons: “The day before we did the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club (HBYC) Brass Monkeys (yes, it’s cold in Melbourne this time of year) Series race and had rigging damage; we broke one of the lowers. It’s a shame, we had a good lead. I was up till sunset with my crew fixing the mast to actually make it to the ORCV’s Double-Handed race,” he said.

“The weather we got was pretty unexpected too. It was forecast to be very light, which it was at the start of the race, but big black clouds brought lots of wind. It got up to 18 to 19 knots. Our tactics were to head towards the black clouds to find the wind.” It worked.

“We had a great start and got a good lead on the bigger boats behind us. The conditions were challenging, with big shifts, but Monica (Jones) on Salamander III kept on our toes. They (Jones and David Richards), sailed well and we just managed to beat them on IRC,” Sheers said of the pair who finished second overall.

Sheers was pleased to learn they had also helped win the Double Handed Perpetual Trophy Teams Cup for their team ‘Breaking Wind’, comprising Executive Decision, Le Cascadeur (Ryan Blackstock and Leonore ‘Leo’ Eeckman), Saltair (Sarah and Bernard Allard) and Vertigo (Clare and Tim Olding).

“All of those boats, except mine, were mixed female/male teams,” Sheers pointed out.

Blackstock and Eeckman also sailed their Southern Ocean 31, Le Cascadeur, to overall wins under AMS and PHS, so were jointly awarded ‘Boat of the Day’ with Executive Decision.

Leo Eeckman and Ryan Blackstock with their trophy, 2019 ORCV Double-Handed Yacht Race

The day, by all accounts, was a spectacular one. Royal Brighton Yacht Club (RBYC) hosted the event, also providing the media boat, start and finish functions and held the prize giving. Race Director, Robin Hewitt and his team, set the course to start in front of the Club, the course stretching between Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC) and Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron.

A light 5 knots sent the 28-boat fleet from ORCV, RBYC, SYC, HBYC, Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron, Mornington Yacht Club and Safety Beach Sailing Club on its way under gloomy cold skies.

“We had a full range of boats from Melbourne-Osaka double-handed racers to club racers and local sports boats, ranging in length from 30ft’ to 67ft, along with mixed crews from the old and wise to the young and fit; a good representation of demographics,” competitor and ORCV Committee Member, Tim Boucaut said.

It was a bay course, set for a southerly; short legs, but a long course and a testing one. Sixteen nautical miles, shortened to two laps from three as officials expected the forecast light airs at the start to stay that way.”

The fleet hoisted a variety of masthead and asymmetrical kites or poled out headsails for the downwind runs, making spectacular viewing for those watching on the water and from land, as the competing boats were only a mile off the beach.

“We got a lot of comments on social media from people watching saying it was a wonderful sight, seeing the boats race sail close to Brighton and Sandringham,” Boucaut said.

“What made it more special was a pod of dolphins following us – it was one of those days – and even the sun came out for the last two-thirds of the race. We had everything in our favour, including good support within the teams and good competition between the clubs.

Sun starts to crack through the gloomy sky - ORCV Double Handed Race © Dave Hewison Photography

“ORCV recognises the popularity and will continue to lead the way promoting and supporting short-handed sailing events. The ORCV four + auto helm category has been well supported. We support short-handed racing in every ORCV race and we will be looking at other innovative events for 2020; stay tuned”, Boucaut ended.

The Club has been encouraging Short-Handed sailing for many years and had a Double-Handed division in all offshore events, regardless of entry numbers. It also pioneered the introduction of the 4+Autohelm division in 2018 for all offshore events.

The Joint Venture between ORCV (Race Management), Sandringham Yacht Club (Melbourne Host) and Osaka Hokko Yacht Club (Osaka host) which started from the 2013 Melbourne Osaka double handed yacht race and continued for the 2018 race, has seen increased participation. The Club has already received over 50 Expressions of Interest for the 2023 Melbourne to Osaka race already.

ORCV’s next event is the Apollo Bay Race, starting on Saturday, May 18 from Queenscliff at 7 am, with 28 entries already received, including one multihull.

Full results: https://www.orcv.org.au/sailing/results

The ORCV Double Handed Race includes a "Teams Trophy" event. So get 4 boats together and enter as a team. Enter as a team representing your yacht club, or as a team of "friends" from a mixture of clubs or friends with boats and no clubs. The trophy needs a few bottles of Champagne to fill. ???  

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