Benn Smith sailed his way into the Edward Cross Long Distance Comet Race record books after retaining his title alongside his cousin Christian Ebbin.

The Mid Atlantic Boat Club sailor’s second straight victory and third overall thrust him alongside class legends such as Alton Millett, Stevie Dickinson and Rudy Bailey as those to have won the prestigious regatta on three or more occasions.

“It’s very exciting to join an elite group of company and it was a hard race,” Smith told The Royal Gazette. “We had a really good race.”

Bailey and crew Corey Bean grasped the early lead, which they stretched to 150 metres on the long run down the North Shore with defending champions Smith and Ebbin among a group of boats trailing in their wake.

“We did what we planned to do, starting closer to the committee boat and just staying with the pack, but Rudy was so fast off the line,” added Smith, who has also won the race as crew for helmsman Rockal Evans.

“He sailed through us and ended up with a massive lead coming down North Shore.”

Smith and Ebbin broke away from the trailing pack and got to within striking distance of the leader towards the end of the downwind leg of the race to make things interesting.

The gamble to sail a higher line than Bailey as the pair jibed around Fort St Catherine ultimately paid off for Smith as he gained more speed and passed his senior rival on the outside in what was the only lead change of the race.

Smith and Ebbin then stretched their advantage on the short reach to the Town Cut and hike into St George’s Harbour, crossing the finish line nearly three minutes ahead of runners-up, siblings Alan and Sara Frith.

“The second half of the race was incredible in that we sailed so fast and really found a groove,” Smith said.

“We were just planning on staying in clear air and were able to do that and pick up some nice puffs of breeze and sailed right through.”

Ebbin was also happy to contribute to another successful race.

“It’s a good feeling and was a lot of fun,” he said. “It was a lot of good competition and a very close race.”

The Frith siblings also did well to make up ground in the closing stages of the race to pip Quinton Simmons and crew Gregory Proctor to finish runner-up by a mere six seconds.

“I wouldn’t mind taking the trophy, but second is better than third,” said Sara, the elder of the East End Mini Yacht Club sailors.

West End Sail Boat Club helmsman Simmons was thrilled to secure third, his best finish in the race as he sailed with Proctor for the last time.

“This is my best finish, first podium, and it feels good,” the 57 year-old said.

“It’s a special race for me because Zippy [Proctor] has his own boat now, so this is our last time sailing together in this race. It’s been a long time and I’m glad we can finish with a podium.”

Proctor, who won the race as crew with fellow West End Sail Boat Club sailor and race chairman Gladwin Lambert, was equally as delighted with the outcome.

“We fought hard all the way and Quintondid extremely well,” he said.

Bailey and crew Bean finished fourth followed by past winner Dale Brangman and crew Joshua Greenslade to round off the top-five boats in the 15-strong fleet.

The 80th edition of the race did not go without incident as two boats capsized with race chairman Lambert among the casualties.

“At the time I was fighting between fifth and sixth place and flipped the boat just off of Oil Docks,” said Lambert, the most senior sailor in the fleet at 76.

Lambert and crew Stefan Maybury managed to get back into the race and finish thirteenth. However West End Sail Boat colleagues Antoine Wingood and crew Simon Van De Weg were not as fortunate and were forced to retire after capsizing in the same area.

“We were riding the waves nicely and then a wave came out of nowhere and the boat went up on the side and turtled,” Wingood said.