Sailing down wind in the big stuff IS a different game 1 up vs 2 up.

2 up is get the crew on the wire, locked in the toe strap if you have one and sail it like you stole it. I’ve never (yet) sailed my boat 2 up, but this is 100% the fast way in the Hurricane 5.9.

The benefits are that the lard is further back, the extra RM means you can drive it harder and if you wash the sails the crew lads forward and downwind ready to catch the boat as it drifts past.

Single handed it is more of a risk/return calculation.

Is there too much wind to actually manage to say somewhat in control while on the wire out the back ?

If so, sit in and take a bit of a speed and angle hit, but you don’t get washed off, flung around the front of the kite when you hit waves or spat out the back in the big gusts.

I’ll also sit in if it is very busy as I cannot crash gybe from the wire. Ditto if you re sailing short courses as by the time you are out, it’s time to come back in.


There is also a point when it's time to get the windward hull back in the wet stuff to add stability.