Beach & Bennett Set For Marion Bermuda Race
Roger Beach and Jeff Bennett will sail double-handed in the 2025 Marion to Bermuda Race, aiming to inspire future Bermudian sailors.
A spokesperson said, “On June 20, longtime friends and experienced offshore sailors Roger Beach and Jeff Bennett will set out from Marion, Massachusetts, bound for Bermuda aboard a double-handed yacht — just the two of them, 645 nautical miles of open ocean, and a whole lot of freeze-dried meals.
“Competing in the double-handed division of the 2025 Marion to Bermuda Race, Roger and Jeff will sail in two and a half hour shifts, alternating between navigating, trimming sails, and trying to catch a bit of sleep in a moving, occasionally damp 33’ Jeaunneau Sunfast 3300 named Avalon.”
“There’s no one to hand you pair of slippers out there,” says Beach, Commodore of the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. “But if we are lucky, we hope to we can get a sunrise or two, and a few flying fish.”
The spokesperson said, “Both men are seasoned sailors, having raced together and apart in the Newport to Bermuda Race and other offshore events. This will be their first time sailing Marion to Bermuda in the double-handed class, a format that demands not just endurance, but deep trust and seamless coordination.”
“Double-handing means you’re never off duty for long,” says Bennett. “You’re either on deck or dreaming of being on deck. You don’t have anyone else to rely on but the guy on watch when you’re off watch. He trusts me and I trust him, which is a bit of a scary statement if you know Roger.”
The spokesperson said, “But this isn’t just about testing themselves. Through their campaign, Trebuchet Racing, Roger and Jeff hope to inspire the next generation of Bermudian sailors, especially those who may not see a traditional path to offshore racing. It’s about showing that with preparation, support, and a sense of adventure, the ocean is within reach.
“The Marion to Bermuda Race is a storied offshore challenge, run in odd-numbered years since 1977. For Jeff and Roger, it’s also personal: a chance to represent their island, their community, and the enduring challenge of sailing into the blue.
“Follow their progress and watch for updates — philosophical and otherwise — from the high seas at @TrebuchetRacing on Instagram.”
