Mastering Shorthanded Sailing
Mind. Boat. Performance.
Boat Systems · Decision-Making · Sleep & Performance
photo: Lauren Darby Zike @laurendarbyzike
Our Mission
Offshore Shorthanded Academy exists to help sailors become confident, capable shorthanded sailors by providing practical skills, and the mindset required to sail safely and independently offshore.
Building Shorthanded Sailors
Teach the fundamentals of solo and doublehanded sailing.
Build core skills in boat handling, safety, and preparation.
Develop the confidence to sail offshore independently.
Advancing Performance
Refine advanced techniques for offshore racing and passagemaking.
Optimize systems and workload management for reliability at sea.
Strengthen decision-making under fatigue and pressure.
What Offshore Shorthanded Academy Offers
Offshore Shorthanded Academy (OSA) was founded by Phil Haydon, PhD — offshore sailor and neuroscientist — to bring structured thinking, human performance science, and disciplined seamanship to the world of solo and doublehanded sailing.
Shorthanded offshore racing is as much about cognitive endurance and decision-making as it is about sail trim and boat speed. OSA integrates performance sailing with evidence-based insights into sleep, fatigue management, and high-stakes decision-making at sea.
Education & Remote Learning
Live webinars and interactive remote classes
Weather routing and systems management
Sleep strategy and cognitive performance offshore
In-Person Training
On-water solo and doublehanded sail handling
Night sailing skills
Race preparation and performance debriefs
Boat Preparation & Consulting
Individualized offshore readiness assessments
Power budgets and autopilot strategy
Human performance integration into race planning
Training Pathways for Every Level
Beginners entering shorthanded sailing
Developing offshore sailors building confidence and miles
Experienced racers refining performance and decision-making under fatigue
OSA strengthens the shorthanded sailing community by combining seamanship, systems thinking, and human performance science — preparing sailors not just to sail offshore, but to think clearly and perform consistently when it matters most.