my wife tends to the food and entertainment, and she's great crew when we need to function as a team. But she's a fair weather sailor and doesn't envision herself single-handing (and will steer when I'm around but not alone on an overnight watch). For that reason we're coastal sailors and it'll stay that way. I'm OK with that. If I ever decide to go more than 24 hours offshore I know she'll tell me to find other crew.

We both clean and maintain things, and launch the dinghy as a team (she operates the winches, and I guide it and set up the motor) but she leaves the mechanical/rigging and electronics to me. She can trim sails, steer, dock the boat and nestle up to our mooring in calm conditions, but when the wind is up she turns over the helm to me.

If I went overboard I'd be in big trouble, and for that reason I carry a submersible VHF on my belt when I leave the cockpit (so I could hopefully talk her through my own rescue).