Two is One & One is None

“Two is One & One is None” is a familiar phrase in many safety cultures.  Redundancy has long been a feature of aircraft design & construction.  Two or three sets of critical systems can save the day when one or two of them goes down.  This philosophy applies on the water as well.

The 2024 Newport to Bermuda race was sailed upwind in moderate to rough conditions for days on end.  Weaknesses in boat systems start showing up when beating to windward for days at a time.

One noticeable failure occurred on multiple boats during the 2024 NBR; engine failure due to clogged fuel filters due to dirty fuel tanks.  Many sailboats have fuel tanks that are hard to access and clean.  This puts a premium on having dual fuel filters that can be switched out with the throw of a valve.  Two is One & One is None!

Another area where redundancy is important is tethers. Having a single tether is essentially not having a tether at all. Dual tethers should be employed so that when changing position on deck you are always clipped in. The use of flat plate tethers should be avoided as they can deform under side loads causing you to detach from the boat. Flat plate tethers have been banned in Australia but are still for sale in some markets. Proper tethers have a three dimensional structure that will not deform under side loads.

There are many other areas on our boats where redundancy matters especially when it comes to carrying spare engine and rigging parts. Even if you don’t know how to make the repair yourself, having the parts makes it possible to find someone who does and get you back in action.