Top sailors Jesse and Zander Kirkland were showered with words of encouragement during a moving 2012 Olympic send-off at Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) at the weekend.As many as 80 people attended the three-hour long gathering to offer their support for the sailing siblings’ upcoming Olympic debut in Weymouth, England.The Kirklands, who are competing in the 49er Skiff, are the first local sailors to compete on the Olympic stage in eight years.The duo qualified for the Games at last May’s 49er World Championships in Croatia where they managed a top ten finish.Among those attending the send-off was Bermuda Sailing Association (BSA) president Tim Patton who hopes to see the pair reach their full potential in Weymouth.“We hope Jesse and Zander have within them the possibility of putting Bermuda back at the very top of the sailing world again,” he said. “And obviously I join the rest of Bermuda in wishing them the very best.”Patton, who competed at this year’s Etchell World Championship in Australia, used words such as “wonderful” and “marvellous” to describe the Kirkland’s Olympic send-off at RBYC.“There was a marvellous gathering of people from all walks of life with a wonderful and positive spirit shown towards Jesse and Zander and everything they have done and are doing,” he said. “It was just a really positive send-off for them.”Also offering the brothers words of encouragement was Comet class president Gladwin Lambert.“On behalf of the Comet fleet I wish Jesse and Zander Kirkland all the best in this Olympic adventure and hope they represent our country well,” he said. “To see where they have come from to where they are going is quite inspiring for local sailors in all classes.“These guys have put in a lot of hard work and are dedicated. They made up their minds that they were going to give their best show at Olympic qualification which they did.“Their best shot gave them a chance to compete in the Olympics in England and we wish them all the very best.”Former Newport Harbour sailing coach Zander said he was touched by the overwhelming support he and his brother received from past Olympian Alan Burland.“Alan got up and gave an impassioned speech backing us and it was moving because he’s known about our whole story from the beginning when we had a real long road ahead of us,” he said. “It was really cool to hear him get behind us because he is one of Bermuda’s most successful Olympic sailors and that stuff is powerful.”The Kirklands are due depart for England on July 16.Competition in the 49er fleet begins July 30 in Weymouth.