Debriefing the 2016 Etchells Worlds with Steve Benjamin

by By David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 20 Sep 2016 Play the sailing game long enough and in a competitive enough class, and odds are good that you will eventually trade tacks with Steve “Benj” Benjamin, a lifelong sailor, Silver medalist at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics in the 470 class, US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, and the winner of too many big-boat trophies to count. Along with his wife Heidi-herself a top-notch sailor and helmsperson-Benjamin has owned and skippered a series of boats, all of which were named SPOOKIE, including his former Carkeek 40 and his current TP52, and he has competed for years in the talent-rife Etchells class aboard his faithful Scimitar.

In 2015, Benjamin, along with his crew of George Peet, Luke Lawrence and Meihan Cheung, earned a proud second place finish at the Etchells Worlds, which were held in Hong Kong, and-needless to say-he was hungry to try and take the grand prize at this year’s World Champions, which just wrapped up off of Cowes in the United Kingdom.

History, however, was intent on repeating itself, and Benjamin and his 2016 Scimitar crew of Michael Menninger, Ian Liberty, George Peet again took the second step on the winner’s podium.

I caught up with Benjamin a few days after he returned home from the United Kingdom to learn what it’s like to race at the front of the fleet in one of the world’s toughest classes.

Can you describe the level of competition at the Etchells Worlds compared to other One Design and Grand Prix world-championship regattas that you have raced?
The 2016 Etchells Worlds was one of the toughest events I've ever raced. Certainly the best competition to date and equal to the 2014 Worlds in Newport. It reminded me of the 470 Worlds!

What were conditions like at Cowes for this year’s Worlds?
There [were] a challenging variety of conditions including light, medium and heavy winds, flat water and choppy seas, and very tricky currents!

Was the 2016 Etchells Worlds won in a specific race or on a specific day, or was it a case of Mr. Bertrand and crew making a series of really smart moves?
John [Bertrand’s winning] team sailed an extremely consistent and smart series. We felt they made some big gains on the runs in particular.

What were the smartest things that you and your crew did to prepare for the regatta? What about the smartest things that you guys did during racing?
We have trained hard and our teamwork seemed to pull us through in most of the races. During the series we were most proud of winning Race 4, working the shifts up the middle of the first beat.

How difficult is it for you to switch gear from your TP52 program to your Etchells racing? Or, do you spend so much time on each boat that they are both second-nature?
It’s really tough as the modes are so different. The TP52 sails lower upwind, and much higher downwind!

Can you tell me a little bit about your team?
We had a terrific team with Michael Menninger, Ian Liberty and George Peet. We have sailed together since the Biscayne Bay Series last winter. We have raced as both three- and four-person teams and [we] prefer the four-person solution.

Given that only two out of the top 10 boats were from the UK, am I correct to conclude that local knowledge didn’t play much of a role in this year’s Worlds?
Well, you have to count Paul Blowers as a local with John's team!

Anything else that you’d like to add, for the record?
Just congratulations to John [Bertrand], Paul [Blower] and Ben [Lamb] and a huge thanks to the organizers for such a well-run regatta. Every detail was sorted from the very beginning, and Cowes is an incredible place to sail. We thoroughly enjoyed it.