My wife and I have sailed together ever since we started cat sailing 5 years ago. We also race together, apart from a couple of big events and long distance races like the Great Texas. I'm the driver man, she is the jib man and calls tactics.

This year she bought a used Marstrom A-Cat so she could learn to sail on her own (I think teaching your partner to sail whilst you are on the boat is as risky as teaching them to drive!). She's loving it and it has paid dividends when we race together now.

I agree with the advice of not sending your crew around the forestay if you want to keep them sailing with you. I made a few mistakes at first that nearly ended our sailing career, but am much more careful now. This year at the Texas Cat Champs on the 2nd day it was cold, raining and blowing like stink and she had a great time racing and came in grinning from ear to ear!

Chris.