Yachts & Yachting — February 2018

WHAT MAKES AXXXX CHAMPION?

T

o win a championship in a

competitive eet is a ne

achievement by any standard,

but to win the champion

of champions Endeavour

Trophy from a eet of 30 dierent class

champions, is ultra impressive. Imagine

then, what it would be like to become

a serial Endeavour Trophy winner?

A look back over the last 30

years reveals that it is a variety of

skills borne of racing a multitude of

classes, which is the common factor

that makes a good sailor great.

It also comes down to tenacity

and determination to do well

whatever the odds – an area those

at the top oen show the way for the

rest of us. Aer the rst day of racing at

the Endeavour Trophy 2017 when Ben

Saxton/Toby Lewis and Nick Craig/Holly

Scott were just one point apart, the nal

three-race showdown developed into

one of the event’s most thrilling nales.

Even when gear failure in the opening

race of the nal day forced retirement

for Craig/Scott when they had the early

advantage over Saxton/Lewis they were

not about to accept defeat. Instead,

in true champion style, they carried

out a swi repair job and were back

in ghting form for the last two races.

As hard as they tried however, Craig/

Scott were unable to match Saxton/

Lewis for overall speed and had to

settle for second place, while the ever-

consistent husband and wife team,

ROGER MANTRoger and Jane Gilbert, took third. ROGER MANT

40 Yachts & Yachting February 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk

DINGHY ENDEAVOUR AC_GC_hjg_TH.indd 40 14/12/2017 16:59