Championship winning at 9 years old!
by Mark Jardine 28 Aug 2025 09:47 BST
17-22 August 2025
Benjamin Pascoe, crewed by dad Sam, wins the 2000 class Nationals at Hayling Island © Peter Hickson Photography
The 2000 class have just had a superb National Championship at Hayling Island Sailing Club. 59 boats competed in the ten race series with fresh winds and big waves on the opening day, followed by three days of lighter and shift north easterlies.
What is remarkable about the event though is that winning helm Benjamin Pascoe was just nine years old. I can't recall any adult class championship being won by a helm so young, and I struggle even to think of a youth or junior nationals being won by a nine year old. It truly is an astounding achievement.
He was crewed by dad Sam, who understandably is a very proud parent, but can in no way be categorised as a pushy parent. Benjamin sails because he loves it, and sails with his dad because that's what he enjoys. Their home club, Castle Cove Sailing Club in Portland Harbour, has a proud history of raising champions and Olympians, but even they will be wondering how far Benjamin can go in sailing.
Benjamin and Sam went into the event without any expectations, as Sam explains:
"On the first upwind leg of the first race we struggled a bit upwind in the 12 to 15 knot winds due to only being 115kg all-up, but downwind in the waves we were flying, and were delighted to finish the day with a 2nd and a 3rd."
Two-time national champions Simon & Katie Horsfield, who have also won the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series three times, won both races on the opening day, and it was probably expected that they would continue in this vein, but Benjamin and Sam revelled in the lighter north-easterlies for the remainder of the event, recording a remarkable eight straight wins.
Sam described Benjamin as someone who 'doesn't like the shouting on the startline, but comes off the water with a smile every day' and has now declared that he's going to the Olympics. He's set to compete in his third Endeavour Trophy in early October, and is hoping to helm for the first time this year.
This is one young sailor who we are going to continue watching with great interest!
Full results can be found here.