Yachting: These Kiwi sailors can really scoot along

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Zippy Kiwi sailors could create a craze at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games - on their new wheels.

A fleet of scooters are the brainchild of world champion boardsailor Barbara Kendall, who was taken with the idea when she saw kids using them all across Europe.

New Zealand yachties have always set the pace with alternative transport at Olympics - Tom Schnackenberg on in-line skates in Barcelona and Bruce Kendall on a skateboard in Seoul (until he was banned after falling off and cutting his hand).

His sister has assured her team-mates that scooters are a much safer mode.

"You don't have to be coordinated - I'm definitely not," she said with a grin.

Almost all of the yachting team are buying the foot-powered scooters to get to and from the venue at Rushcutters Bay and the team house, and then around the athletes' village.

Kendall will take hers to Sydney next week when she sets up base there for good.

"Racing round on the scooters will be the most exciting thing we do. Life is getting pretty boring - sail, eat, sleep," she said.

The 1992 gold medallist is favourite to win again in Sydney, and has spent the past three weeks on the temperamental harbour training alongside one of the men's favourites, Australian Lars Kleppich.