Double Dutch

Kate Cope, director of the UK Doublehanded Offshore Series, talks to a top Dutch doublehanded team about the secrets of their offshore racing success

Astrid De Vin and Roeland Franssens started sailing together in 2019. Roeland has been sailing all his life on boats from J-Class and Swan 45 to Class40, both full crewed and doublehanded. Astrid had her first taste of doublehanded sailing on a delivery for the North Sea Race, a race she has competed in since 2012. Like many it was Covid that ignited her love of doublehanded sailing.

In 2020, when sailing was not yet allowed at home, they sailed from their home port of Breskens in the south-west of The Netherlands to Cowes to do the RORC Round the Island race then sailed back home, all without coming ashore! They started out in a JPK 11.80, but wanting to join the UK Doublehanded Offshore Series (UKDHOS) they needed a lower rated boat, so they swapped to their JPK 10.30 Il Corvo, a decision they are very happy with.

Their results have improved every year. Titles in 2025 include winning the doublehanded division of the Royal Cornwall Celtic Triangle Race, winning the Masters category in UKDHOS and coming fourth overall. The Rolex Fastnet was a very tense finish; they were 10th in IRC3 and the second JPK 10.30 over the line (out of 16 boats). Finishing 7th in the IRC double-handed European Championships was way beyond their expectations.

So what are the secrets of their success? Well, they have been continually optimising the boat setup and speed. With their intense racing schedule they have really got to know the boat. They have also been able to spend more time in Hamble between races, rather than travelling for each race, so have felt more relaxed and prepared going into the races.

Astrid loves doublehanded sailing as it’s all round personally more challenging, there’s everything from tactical decisions, trimming sails and all the practical elements to running a boat offshore. Although she misses her friends from her fully crewed racing days on a Grand Soleil 43, she was ready for this new chapter.

One of Astrid’s favourite events this year was the Royal Cornwall Celtic Triangle Race (Falmouth – Kinsale – Tréguier). This historic shorthanded race was started in 1984 and ran successfully until 2018, but after Covid cancelled the 2020 edition, interest declined. Both the UKDHOS and the Solo Offshore Racing Club supported its resurrection, knowing members were looking for an offshore race with more social opportunities and the chance to visit new destinations. Astrid said: ‘after two seasons of RORC races starting and finishing in Hamble, we hardly got to know any other sailors. This event made up for it, such a great vibe, three lively harbour cities (with culinary treats), the interaction between racers and cruisers was great and the fantastic race committee was the cherry on the cake. What a great atmosphere!’ The Celtic Triangle Race will run again June 2026 and then biannually to offset it from the Fastnet and Azores and Back races.

Doublehanded racing had been growing in the Netherlands, the first national championship was 2015 and then the nation hosted the ORC European doublehanded championship in 2017. A Unfortunately though, the doublehanded class is now dwindling. Except for the North Sea Regatta (Vuurschepen Race and the North Sea Race), the main events that are staged on the North Sea don’t have a doublehanded class anymore.

Even the 100 Miles Race from Scheveningen, which used to host the doublehanded nationals, doesn’t have enough doublehanded entries. This means that the more dedicated shorthanded racing teams have to find their races elsewhere around the world.

The most popular yacht racing events in the Netherlands are one day, around-thecans regattas which attract large numbers of fully crewed boats. There are healthy youth pathways with some good initiatives for Dutch youngsters to get sailing. Programmes like DutchSail, Team Heiner Academy, Rotterdam Offshore Sailing Team, Sailing School Hans Bouscholte will be joined in 2026 by Jelmer van Beek racing in a VO65. These programmes are focussed on team racing, but they also generate shorthanded sailors who pop up on the shorthanded courses and even in the Imoca class.

The next doublehanded challenge for Astrid and Roeland is the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), not on Il Corvo but on their new doublehanded performance cruiser, a Pegasus 50. As well as cruising in the Caribbean sunshine they also plan to race the Caribbean 600 and BVI Spring Regatta. In April they will return to Europe for the ORC doublehanded worlds in Scheveningen and the 2026 season of the UKDHOS.

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