Silverrudder alternatives: 10 shorthanded regattas you shouldn't miss
It is the overriding trend in sailing, comparable perhaps with the advent of plastic boats, which opened up sailing to completely new target groups in the seventies: Shorthanded regattas are becoming increasingly popular. Inspiring examples of this are top events such as the Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum or Transat Jacques Vabre. Prominent protagonists such as Boris Herrmann or the up-and-coming duo of Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink stand for high-performance sport with few hands, for adventure, boldness and endeavour. They are the pioneers of a movement that is finding more and more followers in popular sports in search of exciting and fun-filled challenges. Single-handed and double-handed regattas have an additional appeal due to their uncomplicated feasibility: It is easier and cheaper to take part in a race alone or in pairs than to keep a large crew in line.
Eckart Reinke, co-organiser of the ORC World Championship last summer, sees the double-handed wave growing: "Beyond the very sporty team sailors, I believe above all in the trend towards double-handed regattas. Single-handed will remain the exception. As with solo sailing, it's about experiencing the limits, proving yourself and arriving. The finisher shirt is more important than the trophy." Two-handed sailing, on the other hand, is "real regatta sailing", according to Reinke, but with a team that is easy to organise.
Shorthanded trend continues
The Baltic 500 organisers, for example, are offering a double-handed challenge in XL format for the sixth year at a high level. The 500 nautical mile non-stop Baltic Sea regatta for duos is aimed at experienced sailors and those who enjoy travelling longer distances. Co-initiator Rasmus Töpsch from Strande is himself a passionate single-handed and double-handed sailor. He can describe the different regatta characters well: "The Silverrudder solo race is the tough mother race for soloists of all colours. From the ambitious to the newly interested participant: getting through is everything. The 500 nautical mile Baltic 500 is the pinnacle event for double-handers in Germany. The Brassfahrt is a great entry-level format and a door opener for double-handed racing fun." Töpsch says of the double-handed classification in the classic Pantaenius Skagen Rund that it has "the highest offshore character due to the North Sea component". Classics with short-handed events such as the Rolex Fastnet Race are fascinating beyond Germany's borders.
The transatlantic regatta Transquadra, which enjoys cult status in France, is less well known in Germany. It has been held every three years since 1993 and will take place again in 2024. Only amateurs over 40 are permitted to take part in the two-part transatlantic race from Lorient or Marseille via Madeira to the Caribbean. The format attracts participants with two sections of 1,000 and 2,000 nautical miles and a break of several months in between, is convenient for professionals and has long been in the sights of shipyards that develop boat types with a transquadra orientation. "JPKs, Sunfast yachts and other boats with race values between 0.95 and 1.05 score particularly well here," says Tim Behrendt, who competed in the top third of the 2017/2018 Transat with Andreas Buchheim on the JPK 10.80 "Frida 1".
One-handed and two-handed regattas also for newcomers
Whether championships or adventure marathons: Brassfahrt co-organiser Olav Arne Nehls is convinced: "The shorthanded trend will not slow down any time soon." Together with Matthias Renner and Timo Manske, the three passionate single-handed sailors launched the Baltic Sea rally for solo and double-handed crews from Travemünde to the Bay of Mecklenburg in 2022. Nehls' observation: "Even in regattas that are not explicitly advertised as short-handed races, there are more and more special classifications for solo sailors or crews of two." The popularity of regattas such as the Silverrudder, the Vegvisir race, the Neustädter Sonnenschuss, the Baltic 500 or the Brassfahrt is enormous and is made up of "very different people, not just professionals". Nehls can see from the Brassfahrt that popularity continues to rise: around half of the 80 boats registered for the premiere in 2022 turned up despite the strong wind forecast. The 2024 event will start again on Whitsun weekend, with almost 90 participants already registered.
Jenny and Thomas Schrepffer took part for the second time last year with their Pogo 30 after their successful Brassfahrt premiere, but they were unable to defend their group victory. "We didn't make a conscious decision to sail two-handed. We just wanted to sail more together," says Thomas.
Huge rush for starting places at the Silverrudder
Since then, they have been constantly expanding their shorthanded radius. Together, but also on their own. Thomas, who comes from the dinghy classes and knows the solo responsibility from the Contender, says: "I sailed my first Silverrudder in 2022 - a great event! So many single-handed sailors, all climbing their own little Mount Everest." He was back again in 2023. The luxury problem with some shorthanded regattas: they are always fully booked very quickly. But Schrepffer was obviously lucky and was one of the 450 registered sailors, ultimately sailing to 21st place in his starting group.
In parallel to her two-handed luck, Jenny, who has only been sailing since 2019, completed her first 200 solo miles in small training sessions in 2022. She enjoys single-handed sailing: "You have much stronger moments. The good ones feel twice as good, the difficult ones twice as hard."
The range of events is wide
Morten Brandt Rasmussen is an authority in the Danish short-handed world, which is highly attractive to German starters. The Dane played a major role in the creation of the Silverrudder and is now the organiser and developer behind summer classics such as the Vegvisir Race and the Round Denmark Race. In addition to crew competitions, they successfully attract participants with single-handed and double-handed competitions, including a programme of festivities in picture-book Danish sailing areas. His conviction: "You can see that the two-handed sector is growing in classics such as the Route du Rhum, the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Fastnet Race. Recreational sailors want to feel a bit like the real stars of shorthanded sailing in the stern waters of big races like the Vendée Globe."
The range of shorthanded crews in the various events is huge. "From Class 40 to the Folkboat, everything is included," says five-time Silverrudder participant and Double Rundt co-initiator Stefan Voss. His realisation: "The shorthanded trend is clearly on the rise." This is also due to the relatively simple formats and good organisation of the organisers. And also the low personnel costs.
That's how Jörn Otromke sees it too. With around 30,000 nautical miles under his belt, the Hamburg native knows how time-consuming sailing with large crews can be: "With a crew of six, you need a pool of ten people, because a few are always unable to make it." With his partner Sybille, Otromke is spontaneous and relaxed when travelling in two-handed mode. But because she likes to have land under her feet in the evenings, he contested his first Baltic 500 last year on his J/109, which he bought in 2021, against sister ships. This is also typical of shorthanded regattas: they are often contested in organised groups with no pay. In particular, crews on boats of the same type like to race each other in this context. This again shows how diverse the temptations of short-handed sailing can be, both nationally and internationally. There is something for every taste, every ability, every requirement - and almost every sailing dream.
The Silverrudder Challenge triggered the wave
The Silverrudder, an annual single-handed regatta with a 134 nautical mile course around the island of Funen in Denmark, has been a pioneer for years. The regatta event is the largest single-handed regatta in the world in terms of the number of participants. The start and finish is the harbour town of Svendborg, located on the sound of the same name in the south of the island.
The event quickly became very popular after its first edition in 2012 and will be held for the twelfth time this year. At the first edition, 15 boats registered; the following year there were already 100 skippers. Even newcomers quickly find their way into the friendly Silverrudder community.
Just one year later, the number of participants doubled and the participant limit is now 450. As in previous years, the starting places for the Silverudder Challenge 2024 were quickly snapped up. All places were taken in just 35 minutes - a new record! Anyone who is still looking for a challenge for the current season and has not yet been able to secure a place will probably get another chance if other sailors cancel their participation or do not pay the entry fee. Experience has shown that only a few starting places are usually available again, so getting one of these places is a big challenge. If you still want to get started in the shorthanded sector or add a few events to your regatta programme, you should not miss out on these events in 2024:
ORC Doublehand European Championship (two-handed)
Country
Italy
Start/finish harbour
Caorle
Association
Circolo Nautico Porto Santa Margherita
date
01 to 05 May
Course length
200 nautical miles
Character
The ORC European Championship for ambitious duos will take place this year as part of the traditional La Duecento (Two Hundred). The event for semi-professionals and full professionals at a high level changes location. A lot of preparation and training is required as well as an ORC-optimised boat such as a Dehler 30 One Design or Landmark 43.
Baltic 500 (one-handed/two-handed)
Country
Germany
Start/finish harbour
Kiel/Strande
Association
Yacht Club Strande
date
09 to 13 May
Course length
500 nautical miles
Character
This is the second double-handed Baltic Sea marathon for all those who want to enjoy long-distance regatta sailing a little longer and be challenged at the same time. Among the starters are experienced and well-known sea sailors as well as courageous first-time participants. Fifth edition.
Brassfahrt Travemünde (one-handed/two-handed)
Country
Germany
Start/finish harbour
Travemünde
Association
Lübeck Yacht Club
Date:
17 to 20 May
Course length
approx. 100 nautical miles
Character
Coastal Baltic Sea race to and from Travemünde via Heiligendamm and Fehmarn. Organised by short-handed enthusiasts for short-handed enthusiasts. High fun factor, well suited for beginners. Since its premiere in 2021, it has been on the rise. The organisers are expecting up to 100 participants this season.
Two-handed World Championship (two-handed)
Country
Norway
Start/finish harbour
Oslo/Tønsberg
Association
Royal Norwegian Yacht Club
date
08 to 16 June
Course length
up to 400 nautical miles
Character
International and highly professional like Shorthanded-EM. No chance without a suitable and well-prepared boat and training. Will take place in Norway again after 2022 and ends in Tønsberg together with the traditional Færderseilasen regatta.
Neustadt sun shot (one-handed/two-handed)
Country
Germany
Start/finish harbour
New town
Association
Neustadt Sailing Club
date
28 to 30 June
Course length
2 courses (100/120 nautical miles)
Character
Medium-length fun race around Fehmarn, around the Rødsand near Gedser (long course) and around the Hannibal off Wismar back to Neustadt.
MidsummerSail (one-handed/two-handed)
Country
Germany
Organiser
Agora direct MidsummerSail GmbH
Start/finish harbour
Wismar/Töre (SWE)
date
20 June to 04 July
Course length
900 nautical miles
Character
The regatta takes record hunters, adventurers, family crews and lovers of long summer cruises from Germany through the full length of the Baltic Sea. Also for complete crews.
Double Rundt (two-handed)
Country
Germany
Start/finish harbour
Langballigau/Dyvig (Denmark)
Association
Langballigau Yacht Club
date
06 July
Course length
40 to 60 nautical miles
Character
Short race with a family atmosphere. Start in the Flensburg Fjord and coastal sailing pleasure in the Danish South Sea. Official motto: "Two people, two islands, two times the fun!"
Warnemünde Week/Round Bornholm (double-handed)
Country
Germany
Start/finish harbour
Warnemünde
Clubs
Warnemünde Sailing Club and 11 partner clubs
date
08 July to 11 July
Course length
280 nautical miles
Character
Popular long-distance race around Denmark's easternmost island of Bornholm, held as part of one of the three major German sailing weeks.
Garmin Round Denmark Race (one/two-handed)
Country
Denmark
Start/finish harbour
Aarhus (for the offshore course: Esbjerg)
Association
Sailing Aarhus
date
1 to 14 August
Course length
approx. 680 or 760 nautical miles
Character
Long adventure sailing rally in the Danish Baltic Sea, which can be sailed either inshore or offshore, depending on your requirements. Denmark's sailing capital is a charming and lively start and finish harbour.
Vegvisir Race Nyborg (one-handed/two-handed)
Country
Denmark
Start/finish harbour
Nyborg/Funen
Association
Nyborg Sejlforening
date
29 to 31 August
Course length
approx. 70 to 225 nautical miles
Character
The route leads through the Danish Baltic Sea islands in large fields. A great supporting programme creates a holiday atmosphere among the participants and their families and friends. In 2024, the Vegvisir Race will host the first ever Official Danish Offshore Sailing Championship It is also open to international participants.
Further regattas with one-handed and two-handed programmes
Midsummer Solo Challenge
- 13 to 16 June
- 123 nautical mile solo race (Marstrand SS)
- Territory: Rally along the Swedish coast
- midsummersolo.com
Ærø Round
- 14 to 16 June
- Organisers: SC Baltic, Schilkseer YC, YC Gode Wind, SV Kiel
- Area: western Baltic Sea
- asg-kiel.de
Kiel Week
- 22 to 29 June
- Eel Regatta, Senate Prize, Silver Ribbon
- Organiser: Kieler Yacht-Club, Norddeutscher Regatta Verein, Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee
- Territory: Baltic Sea
- kieler-woche.de
RGF Doublehand
- 13 July
- Organiser: RG Fahrensodde/Flensborg Yacht Club
- District: Flensburg Inner Fjord
- regattagemeinschaft.eu
Midsummer Cup
- 21 to 22 June
- Organiser: ASV Warnemünde
- Territory: Kühlungsborn
- asvw.de
Blue Ribbon Cup
- 28 August to 01 September
- Organiser: Kieler Yacht-Club
- ORC/ Two-handed
- Area: Bay of Kiel, Great Belt, southern Baltic Sea
- kyc.de
Many other single-handed and double-handed regattas are organised locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. An overview can be found on the homepage of the Regatta-Vereinigung Seesegeln (RVS):
Preparation: Converting a touring cruiser into a single-handed yacht
One of the above regattas or a trip with a single-handed yacht is a dream for many. But if you want to sail alone, you don't need a single-handed yacht - almost any yacht can be customised without much effort. How to make a touring cruiser suitable for single-handed sailing
