Yachting: Sailing chief sets course for medal success in Beijing

Des Brennan says yachting's failure to win medals in Athens was "somewhat of a crisis". Picture / Martin Sykes

A framed pair of Sir Peter Blake's size-11 sailing shoes hang on the office wall of Yachting New Zealand's chief executive Des Brennan.

Inside the shoes are tiny traces of the red socks Blake wore during Team New Zealand's successful 1995 cup campaign.

Alongside is a photograph of Brennan on the black boat and another featuring yachting greats Tom Schnackenberg and Russell Coutts.

The man charged with getting New Zealand yachting back on track doesn't have to look far for inspiration.

"We have got a lot to aim for," said Brennan, who regards Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton, with whom he ran the London Marathon in 1999, as a close friend.

"I am conscious of the mantle that sailing has and the fact to some extent that we have been resting a bit on our laurels.

"That is why the statement in our strategic plan is about renewed greatness."

Dublin-born Brennan started at Yachting New Zealand in February, bringing with him an extensive background in management and business.

Recent positions have included international manager for Montana Wines and general manager of Auckland Showgrounds.

He worked in marketing at TVNZ in the 1990s and was involved in setting up Team New Zealand's family of five sponsors, explaining how he now owns a pair of Blake's shoes.

Brennan has done a bit of sailing, but concedes he is by no means a seasoned yachtie.

"We weren't great sailors, but my family were heavily involved in the sea. My father was a founding member of the first Irish underwater scuba diving club and my great-grandfather was a lighthouse keeper in the 1850s."

Brennan arrived at Yachting NZ at an interesting time. Yachting is one of New Zealand's most successful Olympic sports - second only to athletics in the medal tally - but the yachties returned from Athens empty-handed.

"It is somewhat of a crisis that we didn't win any medals in Athens," Brennan said.

"It is fair to say our results in Sydney [in 2000] were disappointing as well. We have struggled to find our rhythm and position."

Brennan believes "a number of things didn't come together" in Athens.

"Given the highly competitive cauldron that is the Olympics, if you have got anything that is not sitting totally comfortable it can derail for sure.

"I think in some cases in New Zealand we have gone a little bit soft. We haven't quite had that burning desire that someone like a Russell Coutts - who will stop at nothing - or a Barbara Kendall possess."

The organisation has implemented structural changes. Olympics and America's Cup veteran Rod Davis has been employed as Olympics director, Australian Martin Watson as high-performance and youth manager, and Richard Brown as national programmes director.

"One of the key things coming out of the Olympics debrief was the need to have a very focused commitment and attention on the Olympics as an absolute singular project," Brennan said.

"Before we were slightly more catholic and looked at international results broadly, whereas Sparc's [Sport and Recreation New Zealand's] thinking was around the Olympics performance because that is what matters to New Zealanders."

Yachting New Zealand's Olympic plan, outlining its road to the Olympics, will be presented to Sparc in the next couple of months.

A squad of sailors will then be selected and work will begin on helping them achieve the Olympic dream.

"We will invest most resources into the athletes we believe have the best potential to win a medal," Brennan said.

"We have got clarity and that is to win at least one medal. We have got strengths right across the classes."

The sailing venue for Beijing 2008 has raised some eyebrows. It appears the wind does not blow much stronger than 12 knots at Qingdao.

"Although someone is doing good things in 15 to 20 knots, there may be someone else capable of winning in 12 knots," Brennan said. "We have to ensure that we are selecting people who can win in China."

But his focus is not only on international sailing. He is also dedicated to ensuring the sport is successful at club level.

Employing regional development officers to help clubs and a coaching development manager are high on his agenda.