Yachting: Top guns seek Olympic medal in Tornado

Aaron McIntosh and Bruce Kendall in training on the Waitemata. Herald picture / Richard Robinson

They first met as youngsters on sailing holidays in Fiji.

A few years later, a 16-year-old Aaron McIntosh strolled up to the home of Olympic gold medallist Bruce Kendall seeking advice on boardsailing.

He learned so much he became one of Kendall's greatest adversaries.

Now, after years of rivalry, the two have teamed in the Tornado class with their sights set on the 2008 Olympic Games.

The relationship came about after McIntosh's original partner, Mark Kennedy, got glandular fever and was forced out of the campaign. McIntosh compiled a list of possible replacements and came up with Kendall.

"We have done a lot of sailing together, we have travelled a lot together," Kendall said.

"One of the most important aspects of a team is to have that understanding.

"The mutual respect you get from two people racing together and knowing each other is quite good."

With an Olympics gold and bronze already, the immediate question is why Kendall wants to pursue another campaign.

"The last four years I have spent coaching and not doing any serious racing," he said. "I got to the stage where I was fairly hungry to race again. I have wanted to sail Tornados since I was a kid. It is the fastest Olympic class and sailing fast is kind of fun."

In other words, like his sister Barbara - who last year revealed her intention to try for her fifth Olympics - he has the desire to compete that just won't die.

Kendall puts that competitive streak down to their upbringing. The Kendall children - Bruce, Wendy and Barbara - grew up at Bucklands Beach and spent weekends and holidays on their family yacht.

"From the moment we were born we'd be out with our parents on their yacht.

"It wasn't a big yacht, just one they had built themselves. It was budget yachting, there was no fridge or anything like that. At home we didn't have a television - everything was sacrificed to go yachting.

"We figured out pretty early that we would only really get support doing anything if it was yachting. If we went and played cricket or something I don't think Dad would have been enthusiastic about getting down and helping us ... but if we wanted to go yachting he'd be there with bells on."

Wendy, who sits between Bruce and Barbara in age, is also a handy windsurfer.

"She is not as competitive as Barbara and I ... But interestingly, and I'm not sure Barbara will like me telling you this, but Wendy often beats Barbara in arm wrestles."

With five Olympic medals between them, that competitive nature is clearly something the Kendalls possess in bucketloads.

Take Bruce's first Olympics in 1984 where he won a bronze medal in the-then Windglider class.

"I guess I was a bit disappointed with my result, I knew I should have done better than that. I was so upset that I wanted to give in. But I kept on at it and at the next Olympics I knew I had the ability to win."

Despite his prolific success in the sport the Tornado will provide him with a new challenge.

Not only is it the fastest of the Olympic boats, the catamaran is one of the trickiest to sail.

"The tactics are all big-picture tactics. You are not looking at the wind shift really close to you as much as what is happening over the whole course.

"When we are sailing upwind and downwind only one hull can be in the water so we always have to be flying one hull, and that hull can't be too high out of the water. Balancing a boat on one hull is tricky along with trying to tune the boat into speed.

"They are scary boats to sail. If you crash at high speed it is pretty ugly."

Of all the Olympic classes, the Tornado - made famous in New Zealand by Rex Sellars and Chris Timms, who won gold in 1984 and silver in 1988 - is one of the more competitive.

"Once guys get in it they stay in it because for them it is the most exciting class. It is pretty neat knowing that you are spearing around the harbour and there is no class that is quicker."

Kendall and McIntosh, who finished third in the Sail Melbourne regatta last month, have an extensive programme mapped out.

Following this weekend's Sail Auckland regatta, they will spend most of the year competing overseas.

"Ideally, we'd like $100,000 a year to do what we need to do," said Kendall. "Sadly, the reality is that the nations we are up against are better-financed than we are. It is a tough game and funding it is the key."

* WHO, WHAT AND WHEN

SAIL AUCKLAND REGATTA

When: Today-Monday, three races scheduled daily
Start time: February 3-5 from midday, February 6 from 11am
Where: Inner Waitemata Harbour
Host Venue: Kohimarama Yacht Club
Who: Olympic and Invited Classes including RS:X board, Mistral board, Laser, Laser Radial, Finn, 49er, 470, Tornado and 420

BRUCE KENDALL (celebrating boardsailing gold in 1988)
Born: June 27, 1964
1988: Olympics, gold boardsailing
1984 : Olympics, bronze, Windglider

AARON McINTOSH (celebrating Mistral bronze in 2000)
Born: January 7, 1972
2000: Olympics - bronze medal Mistral
1996: Olympics - 4th Mistral
1994/97/98: world champion Mistral