From Cape Fear Academy to Georgetown: How this Wilmington sailor dominates on the water
For some, stepping on a boat is an unsettling experience. For Wilmington native Benjamin Smith, it's propelled him to new heights.
The 18-year-old Cape Fear Academy graduate will attend Georgetown University this fall, where his childhood experience on the water will come in handy as a member of the sailing team.
"Since my freshman year, Georgetown was really the school I wanted to be at," Smith said.
While some kids grow up wanting to become superstars on a field, Smith found his passion in the water at a young age.
"When I was around five years old, my dad started taking me out on his boat. I feel like that sparked my initial interest in sailing. I asked my parents to do a summer camp one year, and I loved it. Straight from there, I really got into it," he said.
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It wasn't until high school, however, that Smith would get seriously involved in sailing.
Recognized in the Olympic Games since their modern rebirth in 1896, sailing has shifted courses over the years. What started with large sailboats and 10-man crews has adapted to a more individualized sport that sees single-captained boats race around a six-mile course on the open waters.
Smith, who has spent his high school years traveling across the U.S. to compete against some of the country's best sailors, says his commitment has come with certain compromises.
"Most of the other kids in my class would just be able to relax on the weekends, but I would spend maybe three out of four weekends a month flying down to Fort Lauderdale. It did make school more challenging for me, which I honestly think will help me in the end because I'm used to having to do assignments while traveling and training," he said.
Smith placed first at the 2021 ILCA Atlantic Coast Championship and third at June's 2022 U.S. Open Sailing Series held in San Diego. He's also a member of the Olympic Development Program, giving him a chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Smith doesn't take anything he has learned in his young career for granted, noting he's starting to get more familiar with some of the sailors he used to model himself after.
"It's kind of surreal to think that I've come this far in such a short amount of time. I'm literally being coached by the person that went to the Rio Olympics and got a bronze medal (Caleb Paine), so it's kind of surreal."
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Georgetown sailing commit places third in U.S Open Sailing Series
