There are different forms of double-handed sailing. One form can be a pleasant afternoon in a 14-footer with a skipper at the tiller and a mate to handle the sails.

Then there are the two-man 40-foot boats that go for days on end. It's a division in many major sailing races, like the Memorial Day Weekend race to Block Island and another on Labor Day Weekend to Martha's Vineyard, both from Stamford Yacht Club. Don't forget the 650-mile four-day race from Newport, R.I., to Bermuda that started June 15.

Double-handers Gary Grant and Steve Fisk, both of Westport, have done the 180-mile Block Island race twice and the Bermuda race once, finishing second in the latter.

The two members of Cedar Point Yacht Club have found they mix well on "Alibi," Grant's 40-foot J120.

"I've been sailing with crews for eight years. So when Gary asked me to be his second, I grabbed the chance and have learned a lot," said Fisk, 32.

"We had no watch schedule for the Bermuda Race," said Fisk, a pharmaceutical scientist, married with no children. "If I was tired, I asked if he was OK. If he was, then I'd be down 30 minutes or up to an hour and a half."

"At the end, it's physically and emotionally draining and you sleep well the next day," he said. "Gary is really relaxed, never gets angry. He's pretty laid-back as a skipper and boat owner."

Grant, 49, a management consultant, praised Fisk as well. They both like the challenge of jumping around handling all facets

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of a boat instead of having just one responsibility in a typical 10-person crew.

Grant first asked Fisk to join him in the 2005 Block Island Race; they finished in the middle of the pack, then won the double-handed division this year.

"Steve is a great sailor," said Grant, married with two teenagers, a boy and girl. "To sleep comfortably, you have to have confidence in your partner. We had no strict rotation. You just go out when the other guy goes off."

He also noted autopilot is allowed in the double-handed division, setting the course on that piece of equipment to let the boat steer itself.

"It lets you concentrate on trimming the sails," Grant said. "You need to be a good sail trimmer so the autopilot doesn't work so hard and use up batteries."

Grant wasn't sure how long he could last in this kind of existence during an ocean sail.

"Out on the water, you get used to lack of sleep," he said. "You're totally focused on sailing the boat."

"You do have to watch out about judgement being affected," he added. "You hope you don't need to make a major decision during a race, and that you have considered all the major factors before starting to sail. So if we had enough food and water, we could have gone on indefinitely."

YOUTH RACES AT PEQUOT — Look for close to 100 Opti boats filled with 9- to 15-year-old kids sailing the Sound Saturday as Pequot Yacht Club in the Southport section of Fairfield hosts its "Opti Rumble." Most of the young sailors will be in the 10-12 age range.

Close to 100 kids ages 10-15 from 20 yacht clubs are also expected at the Pixel and Blue Jay Invitational July 30-Aug. 1.

Pequot has hosted the Blue Jay Regatta for 51 years. But Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound has endorsed the Pixel, a newer boat for intermediate sailors. During this transition year, the race will have two classes, Blue Jay and Pixel.

BURGEES TO FORDHAM — Area clubs may help the Fordham Sailing Team that has pledged to provide the fire-ravaged Morris Yacht and Beach Club, City Island, N.Y., with yacht club burgees (flags) from around the world.

The club is the Fordham team's home port and is being rebuilt. The Fordham sailors have collected 40 so far and hope to double that number. Donors may send a 12-by-18-inch burgee to: Coach Joe Sullivan, Sailing Team, Vincent T. Lombardi Memorial Center, Fordham University, Bronx NY 10458.