PANJIM: Bruce Kendall, a two-time Olympic medallist in sailing is the man responsible for Goan sailor Dayne Coelho’s success story. Dayne emerged second in the Olympic RS:X class of the 32nd National Boardsailing Championship held recently in Goa.
“I see huge potentials in Dayne. He is just the right age for training and learning the ropes. He is a medal hope for India if he makes the cut for the Olympics. When I began coaching him we trained in Calangute and Baga with the sailing equipment he had. But gradually he progressed and we began training here at Dona Paula,” said the affable sailor, whose repertoire needs no embellishments.
Dayne will represent India at RS: X Youth World Championship in Poland from July 11 to 18. He will also be participating in the RS: X European Youth Championship in Italy. The RS X is the Olympic class windsurfer.
Bruce, who is currently coaching the China team and preparing them for the Olympics. The Chinese team is depending on him for sailing where he began their training in 1997.
“They had no understanding about sailing then. But the intensity to learn was high. I helped them learn about the equipment and techniques. I am sure they will win a medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. When I came to India on the invitation of the Dayne’s father who urged me to train his son, I was impressed to see the young talent that was available in Goa,” informed Bruce.
“The Dona Paula jetty itself is a perfect place for sailing. I have been around India and seen some places where the wind is not favourable but at Dona Paula sailing Championships of even International standards can be held,” said Bruce.
“The Amry noting node in Mumbai, which has wind speeds of only 5-7 knots is not good enough for sailing but in Goa on any given normal day its 5-40 knots, which is a good wave condition,” added Bruce.
Sailing has been in the family for Bruce. He is the son of former Auckland Yachting Association chairman Tony Kendall. Like many youngsters with a sailing bent, he started on P class and starlings. He then progressed to crewing in 470s and keelboats.
His sister Barbara Anne Kendall, is a former boardsailor and current International Olympic Committee member from New Zealand. She competed at five Summer Olympic Games and won gold, silver and bronze medals.
Bruce and Barbara have won Olympic Gold medal. They are the only brother and sister to have achieved this feat for New Zealand.
The New Zealander has coached Aaron McIntosh, a sailor from New Zealand who won a Bronze medal at 2000 in Sydney. Another prominent sailor Thomas John Mitchell Ashley, from New Zealand, has trained with him. He won the gold medal in the men’s sailboard event at the 2008 Summer Olympics, he also won the 2008 RS:X World Championships. He is the Olympic champion and the 2008 World champion.
Nikolaos “Nikos” Kaklamanakis is the Greek Gold-medal winner who trained with Bruce. Nikos lit the Olympic torch in the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
One of the most popular athletes in Greece, Nikos is a three-time Mistral class windsurfing world champion and a gold medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Sailing. He won silver in the event at the 2003 World Championships in Cadiz, Spain, behind Przemek Miarczynski of Poland.
In the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kaklamanakis took the silver medal behind Gal Fridman of Israel.
Goa’s Dayne too has the burning desire to win an Olympic gold and is training hard under the experienced coach. He took on the might of the Indian Army in the Olympic RS:X class of windsurfers in the recent National Boardsailing Championship.
Dayne emerged second in the Olympic RS:X class which bettered his rankings that would determine selections for international championships in 2015-16, including the RS:X Youth Championship in Poland in July, and the Asian Boardsailing Championship in Japan in September-October.
It remains to be seen when and how that medal is achieved but for now the young boy Dayne is all set for international glory sailing under the watchful eye of Bruce.
