Photo: Daniel Forster

Most boats competing in the Newport Bermuda Race make the infamous Gulf Stream crossing with a full crew on board. However, one of the fastest growing classes in the race is the Double-Handed Division, in which a crew of two sailors set out on the 636-mile journey. While every offshore race is a test of endurance and mental fortitude, those stakes are raised in double-handed sailing.

So far the class has 15 crews registered, but the fleet is growing—reflecting the trend in the sailing world of increasing interest in short handed contests. Double-handed racing presents unique challenges. It demands unusual stamina and focus. A boat racing with two has limited backup in the case of illness or injury to a crew member. Because of this, boats sailing in the Double-Handed Division of the Bermuda Race are permitted to use stored energy and non-manual power for steering and for trimming and setting sails. Additionally, Double-Handed is the only class with two first-place trophies, the Weld and Moxie prizes, which are presented to the skipper and crew respectively.

With all its risks, what is so attractive about sailing double-handed in the Thrash to the Onion Patch?

Drew Plominski, sailing aboard J/40 Artemesia summed it up quite nicely: “Double handed is where it’s at. There is nowhere to hide.”

This will be Plominski’s second time competing in the race’s double-handed field—although he is no stranger to the course, having competed in four previous Bermuda Races and setting himself up to join the Gulf Stream Society this year. “The Bermuda Race is special to me. I did a bunch of deliveries for boats in the early 2010s when I couldn’t do the race and it was like a paid vacation to help deliver back from Bermuda,” he added. Plominski is drawn to short-handed racing because it cuts down on a lot of the logistical headaches involved with a fully crewed boat.

Michael Hennessy, skipper of the Class 40 Scowling Dragon agrees that logistics are a significant factor in short-handed racing’s attractiveness, giving an opportunity to up and coming sailors to cut their teeth in the sport. “I think younger sailors recognize that shorthanded sailing can offer a cost effective way to be part of ocean racing, and gives them a chance to accelerate their learning curve in the sport when they are effectively responsible for every job on the boat,” he said.

The accomplished solo sailor, Hennessy is also no stranger to the Bermuda Race’s rhumb line. “This course never fails to deliver the goods, with a challenging current and conditions in every trip.” Competing against at least two other Class 40s this year, he expects the competition to be fierce and fun. “I think those that follow the race should pay close attention to the navigational choices made on the first night, where subtle differences in course decisions reveal which boats are making a bet on the east or western options. The die gets cast early in this race, then it turns into a battle of tactics and execution.” The physical and mental demands of short-handed sailing only adds to the intrigue of the race’s strategy.

Another competitor deeply familiar with the route to Bermuda is David Southwell. He is also likely one of short-handed sailing’s biggest proponents. Southwell boasts a storied career in solo racing—including competing in the Original Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR), which he won. “People say double-handed is solo with sleep. I like to make sure it’s more than that, but it is safer and more comfortable than solo racing.” Southwell has plenty of experience in fully crewed racing as well, however a comment from a competitor in the 2013 Marion Bermuda Race on the relative relaxation of double-handing compared to the politics and noise of a full crew pushed him to consider the division.

This will be Southwell’s first double-handed Bermuda Race, but he has competed in several Bermuda 1-2 races, with a standout performance in last year’s edition with co-skipper Erica Lush. He has also sailed this race with full crews. “The Bermuda race is the mother of all the offshore races. It’s lots of boats, tons of fun when you arrive, and the regatta is extremely well run. The course itself is wonderful—such a strategic race. The four days to Bermuda is more difficult than the 21 days across the Atlantic.”

Also new to the Double-Handed Class in 2026 are frequent teammates Cat Chimney and Emmett Dickheister sailing J/44 Kenai. “Part of the fun is solving the puzzle of making the boat work for double-handed sailing. She’s a big heavy boat to get down there with two people,” Chimney said of the challenge of this route. Both teammates are veterans of the route from Newport, having sailed fully crewed Bermuda Races as well as Bermuda 1-2s and return delivery races. “We might be able to make it to Bermuda with the fewest words spoken between co-skippers,” added Dickheister “We know the boat and the race really well.”

Chimney and Dickheister both understand what’s in store for the Race, especially with a short-handed crew. “I have some boundaries around sailing a big boat double-handed—having a furling headsail, safety is key, changing some things on the boat to prioritize safety, and being able to reef and unreef alone is a big consideration,” said Chimney.

For sailors who are looking to build experience in short-handed sailing, one of the best ways to do so is the return delivery race that follows the Bermuda Race. Many of those competing in the main event have cut their teeth sailing boats back to Newport in the Short Handed Return organized by New York Yacht Club. More information on the 2026 return can be found on the NYYC website.

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Be sure to follow along with all the excitement of the Bermuda Race, including in the Double-Handed Class! The 2026 race, celebrating 100 years of partnership between the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, begins on Friday, June 19. This year there will be more ways than ever to follow the fleet across the Gulf Stream. Stay tuned to BermudaRace.com and our social media pages for updates!