When one and one equals more than two…

The TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie has long since established itself as the pinnacle test for double-handed ocean racing. Only the first edition was run solo (1993), but since then it has been a tow handed race ever since 1995. It is a format that the skippers appreciate. It comes a few months after the Vendée Globe for the IMOCAs and a year before a season that will culminate in the Route du Rhum. More often than not the top teams, the ones which do best, are more than the sum of their parts.

Justine Mettraux (Team Snef – Teamwork, IMOCA), who is partnered with Xavier Macaire, explains: "It's important that there is good communication, that we trust each other, that we can rely on each other in all circumstances. A good pairing must above all be complementary.”

Aboard Team Snef-Teamwork, Justine is more focused on the boat's performance, while Xavier is more in charge of strategy. On Alderan (Class 40), Sasha Lanièce is more in charge of the weather, and Sanni Beucke is more in charge of tactics. Tasks are also shared aboard the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, between Armel Le Cléac'h and Sébastien Josse, the defending champions in the Ultime division "I'll be a little more focused on weather management and strategy, while Sébastien will be more focused on performance, but all in all we do a lot of things together, especially on manoeuvers."

"It's often said that a double-handed duo is effectively two solo sailors working in sequence on the same boat, but in reality, especially in a multihull, often both need to be working together, one driving whilst the other on the weather, for example," continues Anne-Claire Le Berre (Upwind by MerConcept, Ocean Fifty), who teams up with Élodie-Jeanne Mettraux. "The cockpit is very small and cozy, so it makes it easier to communicate and make decisions!" In a monohull, the notion of "faux solo" fits some programmes. When one goes to rest, the other is pushing. "We do 1.5 to 2-hour watches so that the boat stays as close as possible to 100% of its potential," emphasizes Achille Nebout (Amarris, Class40). "So you have to know how to do everything!"

"We make decisions together, but we try to learn a lot from each other based on our strengths," confides Sasha Lanièce (Alderan, Class40). "In offshore racing, you have to be as versatile as possible, but there are areas where you're less strong," explains Vincent Riou (Pierreval- Fondation GoodPlanet) who is starting his 11^th TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR. "What matters in double-handed sailing is precisely that there are as few weaknesses as possible." This analysis is endorsed by Yann Eliès, who has joined Élodie Bonafous (Association des Petits Princes -Queguiner): "A good co-skipper fills in on the other's weak points, allows them to progress and raise the bar." It is important to clearly define these weaknesses.