Yachts & Yachting — February 2018

ROGER MANT

THE WINNING

ENDEAVOUR HELM

Ben Saxton is a four

times Endeavour

Trophy winning

helmsman, 2017

Nacra 17 world and

European champion, Team GB

Nacra representative at Rio 2016, and

multiple dinghy class champion.

Commenting on what he believes it

takes to win this event – where he has

represented both the Merlin and RS200

classes – 27-year old Ben says: “It is all

about consistent, good tactical decision

making, boat speed, and aggressive starts.

Having a great crew who is also a good

friend helps. For me personally, I focus

on being the best I can be, and I make

an eort to ensure my boat won’t break.

“To win a championship, and therefore

a place at the prestigious Endeavour

Trophy, I race hard and honestly. I

keep things as simple as I can. Enjoy

it, and never give up. Toby [Lewis]

and I never let our competitors relax,

and as soon as they slip up we are

there to pounce, and they know it.”

His advice for other sailors aiming

for a championship win? “Hike hard

and have fun. Make sure you are

aware of the tide and you must try to

avoid risks with tactics to build a good

regatta, but understand which risks

are ok so that you win races too.”

It’s clearly advice the Graam Water

SC sailor has learned from rst hand

experience. “e rst time I ever sailed

at Burnham-on-Crouch was a complete

disaster because it was the rst time I’d

WHAT MAKES A CHAMPION? FEATURE

experienced river sailing,” he recalls.

“I was in the RYA Zone Squad in my

Optimist. I ended up capsized, and tied

to the transom of the committee boat

crying my eyes out!” In true champion

spirit he hasn’t let that deter him

from realising his ambitions since.

THE RECORD

BREAKING CREW

Toby Lewis has won

the Endeavour Trophy

seven times with four

dierent helmsmen

and now, at the age

of 36, holds the event winning record.

is multi-talented crew has won

numerous championships including

the RS400 Nationals twice, RS200

Nationals, B14 Nationals three times,

B14 Europeans, Enterprise Worlds, and

the team racing nationals three times.

“To obtain an invite to the Endeavour

Trophy is an honour and also a good

focus when racing a championship,”

he says, when asked about his

impressive list of achievements.

“I think that sailing with the same

person for a long time helps a lot as

you are able to second guess each other

in terms of boat handling and tuning,

which in turn helps you to constantly

sail fast and focus on getting your head

out the boat to look for other important

factors, such as pressure, shis, bends,

tide, eet position, competition position,

etc. Boat speed can help get you out of

trouble or extend your leads. Having

a exible plan can help, and a good

front-line start at the correct end of the

Below

A fast, front-row

start is essential

Right

Ben and Toby

awarded the

Endeavour Trophy

Bottom right

Top teamwork:

2017 winners Ben

and Toby in action

TIM HAMPTON

ROGER MANT

SUE PELLING

42 Yachts & Yachting February 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk

DINGHY ENDEAVOUR AC_GC_hjg_TH.indd 42 14/12/2017 17:00