Sprayhoods, Dodgers, & Doghouses

Differences in doghouses, sprayhoods, and cockpit coverings across the fleet are some of the most visible contrasts between competitors readying themselves for the Golden Globe Race start next Saturday 6th September.

Indeed, choices range from small, solid doghouses to larger, canvas sprayhoods, to cockpit-covering hoods more akin to Vendée Globe boats. These decisions reflect the skippers’ personal philosophies in protecting themselves against the worst the ocean can throw at them.

Israeli sailor Daniel Pinsky plans to set off with the small canvas doghouse that Exodus, his Baba 35, came with. While he explained the decision to stay with the small doghouse was “mostly budget-wise,” Daniel recognised the benefits of a smaller sprayhood.

“In terms of windage, it is much smaller,” he explained, a key consideration for the severe storms the fleet will face, even for heavier boats like Exodus.

Less windage means Daniel hasn’t yet felt the need to collapse it during his qualifying offshore miles. The only modification made by Daniel was stitching orange canvas on top of the originally green doghouse, in line with GGR regulations on visibility.

With a drinks holder and compass mounted in the companionway, Daniel can keep watch with “almost 360 degrees visibility,” while entirely enclosed - though “anything that requires dealing with the sails, the wind vane or anything else, I must go outside and probably dress into my cold weather gear.”

In a different vein, American sailor Matt Woodside had long sailed without a sprayhood until he began his 23,000 mile journey from the west coast of the US toward Les Sables d’Olonne aboard Tipi Haere, a Cape George 36. It was his manager who questioned Matt on his lack of cockpit protection while stopped over in New Zealand: 

“How do you not have a [spray]dodger? Are you an idiot?!” 

Now, Matt views it as indispensable. While it did come down in the Southern Atlantic, clever design (see photos) ensured no poles were bent, and Matt found it invaluable in providing shade in the tropics and shelter in wetter conditions. It even works together with his gantry at the rear of the cockpit to support a rain catcher - a similar idea to Susie Goodall in 2018.

In Matt’s words, “flexibility is a requirement of the sea,” and his sprayhood setup grants him that much-needed flexibility.

The star of the dock, though, undeniably is Damien Guillou’s Open 60-style hood. Reminiscent of modern IMOCAs, it offers huge amounts of protection from the outside conditions. Indeed, Damien is able to access many lines for sail trimming within the comfort of his enclosed doghouse.

It is likely Damien’s past as a ‘préparateur’ for Vendée Globe skippers - most recently Violette Dorange in 2024 - acted as inspiration for this design.

However, the large solid hood of PRB, a Rustler 36, has now been banned for future GGR events, following issues in 2022 of the extensive windage when sailing downwind leading to boats uncontrollably rounding up - PRB has been grandfathered for 2026, but future GGR competitors' sprayhoods must be collapsible if covering the whole coachroof, and non-collapsible, solid sprayhoods must only cover the companionway.

Despite this recent rule change, it is fascinating to see the wide variety of sprayhoods and doghouses in use across the fleet - clearly the design employed on each boat is the culmination of each skippers’ personal sailing philosophy and compromise on surviving the exposure of ocean sailing in (relative) comfort.