Kirkland brothers step up Olympic campaign
By Kyle Hunter
Olympic sailing hopefuls, Zander and Jesse Kirkland, leave Bermuda this week bound for Europe where they take their campaign up another notch to qualify for the 2012 London Games in the 49er class.
First stop is one of the biggest events on the world's sailing calendar, Kiel Week in Germany, where they will take on the best.
After that they will travel to the European 49er Championships in Poland.
The Kirkland brothers launched their Olympic campaign earlier this year when they competed at the World Championships and then sailed at the Miami Olympic Class Regatta.
But then they had to put their campaign on hold as younger brother Jesse had to finish his education at St. Mary's University in Maryland where he was one of the stars on the college's sailing team. In fact, he ended up being a four-time All American.
Zander was based in Newport Beach, California where he sailed and also coached younger sailors.
But now that Jesse's education is finished, the brothers will be going all out to qualify for the 2012 Olympics and have sought advice far and wide about bettering their chances.
And not only have they spoken to former Olympic sailors like Peter Bromby (Star class) and Alan Burland (Tornado class) but have also asked the advice of former Olympic triple jumper and former World Indoor Champion Brian Wellman.
"We want to get every edge we can and it was great talking to Brian," said Zander this week.
"We are always picking the brains of people like Peter Bromby and Alan Burland. And since I have been back in Bermuda I have been working out at the Olympic Club. (Owner) Scott Stallard has given us free membership whenever we are back in Bermuda and I bumped into Brian Wellman. He has been great talking to us especially about his philosophy of getting to that world class level. As he said 'you may be talented but so is everyone else in that fleet'. He has pointed out that there are things that make you stand out – the correct programme and coaching and work ethic. He has told us that we will have to work like a dog – we will really have to want it and those are the things than can make the difference.
"He was also talking about our work-out programme. He said that we have to think about every manoeuvre we do in the boat and we have to try and replicate that manoeuvre in the gym – isolate the different muscles we will be using."
The Kirklands have already sent over their 49er boat to Europe.
"We shipped it out after the Miami OCR and it is waiting for us at a friend's house in France which is a great help. He is a fellow 49er sailor and went to school with Jesse. He will be competing at the same events as us (Kiel Week and the European Championships) so we will all travel together."
The brothers will be leasing a car to get their boat around Europe and will be camping at the events.
"It is Important to save money. We are doing it on as tight a budget as we can but without compromising the mission. We have to have the equipment and we have to put the time in but wherever we can we are being frugal as possible. We have raised enough money to make this summer happen. Then we will do a new round of fund raising in the fall."
Now that their campaign is in full swing both brothers are excited.
"After competing in the Worlds and the Miami OCR earlier this year we had to put everything on hold for Jesse to finish college. It was something that had to be done and I am really proud of him – he was an All American for four years and not many people can say that. We have both bulked up in the gym and we are happy with our weight. We are stronger.
"Kiel Week will be tough. The fleet will probably be about 80 boats and it will be the deepest fleet we have ever sailed in. It is going to be tricky initially because we have not been in the 49er since the Miami OCR. Now we are going to see if we can start putting this together."
Kiel Week will be from June 19-23 and the Kirklands plan to get there a few days beforehand for training.
"After Kiel we travel for about 10 hours into Poland to Gdynia for the European Championships."
Those championships start on July 5 but the Kirklands hope to get there on June 25.
"The International 49er Association are graciously helping the developing and smaller nations by putting on a clinic so we will be doing that before the championships start."
After those championships Zander will stick around at Gdynia to help coach a young Laser sailor.
"I will stay in Poland because I have a private coaching gig with a California kid who I used to coach – he is doing the Laser Junior Championships which are at the same venue. I am going to help him get prepared and that will generate a little positive cash flow for the trip. Every little bit helps."
And while he is coaching the young Laser sailor, brother Jesse will drive the boat to Weymouth, England where the sailing events will be staged at the 2012 Olympics.
"He flies back to Bermuda on July 15 and I return on July 25. We will have a short break and then return to England and spend three weeks sailing out of the Olympic venue. We will be competing at the Olympic test event which is called Sail for Gold. That is from August 9-14."
After returning to Bermuda they will start another fund raising campaign for the fall.
"The biggest expense for the fall will be for coaching. The top coaches in the world cost $500 a day – they are not cheap but if you want the best you have to pay world class fees," said Zander.
"And obviously we will need money for new sails and equipment," he said.
One event they will be sad to miss will be the Comet Long Distance Race – a race they have won.
"Unfortunately we will be at Kiel when that is sailed. If we were not there in Germany we would definitely be trying to hook with Stevie (Dickinson) and Gladwin (Lambert) and all the guys. That race still goes down as one of the epic races I have ever been in."
And for those who want to follow the Kirklands on the European adventure they will be updating their blog.
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