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For racing yachts and cruiser/racers with a fixed (non-furling) headstay there are really two possible methods of attaching the luff of the jib to the wire or rod forestay: in a luff foil, or with hanks. In our recent survey of the UK doublehanded fleet we found 56% of respondents using luff foils compared with 38% on hanks. In this blog we explore some of the things to consider when making this choice. 

Image credit: James Tomlinson 

With interest in doublehanded racing still on the rise and showing no signs of letting up, we wanted to know what the ingredients are for a doublehanded boat to stay safe and sail fast. To gain some insights we conducted a survey of the UK Doublehanded Offshore fleet. We asked about everything from food to sleep to equipment. These are the results. 

Image Credits: @oceanrace.com

BY ANDY RICE, INTERVIEWING BJARNE LORENZEN

One of the great spectacles of the recent Volvo Ocean Race was seeing the VO65s charging along with a trio of headsails flying in neat formation in front of the mainsail. In the fourth blog post of this series, Bjarne Lorenzen of sailmaker Doyle O’leu describes the growing appeal of the staysail in both the racing and cruising scenes.