IT is high time that sailing was declared a national sport of Bermuda — as is cricket and football.So said Bermudian sailor and top world sailing official Peter Shrubb who recently returned home after umpiring in the America’s Cup in Spain.

“While we should be grateful for the funding we have received (from Government) it is about time that sailing received some serious funding like cricket and football,” said Shrubb who was only one of five umpires for the America’s Cup — sailing’s biggest event.

“Just look at the performances that some of our sailors have had over the years — especially recently with the young sailors.

“We have had World Champions and Olympians — Peter Bromby is trying to qualify for his fifth Olympics! And he just missed out on a medal at the Sydney Olympics.

“You have had people like Malcolm Smith being a multiple World Champion as well as winning two silver medals at the Pan American Games and our kids have been really doing well in the big Optimist regattas. It takes a lot of time and money to compete with the best in the world and that is why we need serious funding,” said Shrubb adding that Bermuda’s sailors have been producing the goods for some time now.

“We have a new generation of sailors coming along now and they will need (financial) help. You have to have the boats and you have to travel to take on the best in the world.”

As to emphasis the point, this week eight of Bermuda’s top young sailors returned from the Optimist North American Championships in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Competing against 185 sailors from 20 countries, James Anfossi came away with the silver medal.

Overall each Bermuda sailor had one or more races where they finished in the top 15 and six sailors finished in the top half of the fleet.

Shrubb said: “And recently you have Stevie Dickinson win the silver medal at the Island Games (in Rhodes). I think it is about time sailing was recognised as Bermuda’s national sport. It never has been and it is about time it was.

“The performance that some of these sailors have been producing is excellent — especially since we are such a small island. We are producing some very good and world class sailors but you need funding to get better.”

Shrubb also is hoping to get more Bermudians into officiating. “I can see more Bermudians getting into officiating,” he said. “I have a couple of people in mind now. I would like to get some new blood in there. People like Adam Barboza and Greg Davis are both interesting in umpiring and I am sure there are others. I would like to start a training programme here in the next few months. We are all getting older and we need some new people in there.”

As for himself, Shrubb has risen to practically the highest level you can for an official. “You can’t get much higher as an umpire than the America’s Cup — that is as high as you can go really. The only thing left for me would be the chief umpire (of the America’s Cup) and so that is something I can aspire to. It probably wouldn’t happen at the next cup but maybe in two cups from now.”

Shrubb was away from Bermuda for three and a half months officiating the America’s Cup races and the final between Alinghi and New Zealand.

And in September he will be in Rome to officiate a match racing regatta and then back to Bermuda for the Gold Cup in October and then it is off to Brazil for another regatta.

“In Brazil I will be the chief umpire — it is all different boats but it is all match racing,” he said adding that he would like to see match racing become part of the Olympics. “Right the Olympics is more about fleet racing.”

In August he will travel to New Jersey to be a judge at the Sunfish Worlds. “I hope Malcolm will be there,” he said referring to Malcolm Smith — a former Sunfish World Champion and who is now in Rio de Janeiro competing at the Pan American Games.

“We get put on events all year around — usually three or four Grade One events a year,” he said.

But it is not just the major events Shrubb officiates at.

He will also events in Bermuda.

“The same rules apply not matter how big the event is,” he said adding that although he is Bermuda’s national J-24 champion he is not able to defend his title this year.

But he does enjoy going out for the Wednesday sailing. “You have to keep those skills sharp,” he added.

Of the America’s Cup itself, he said that the umpires had to deal with some protests and he was happy they called it right.

The final race which saw Switzerland’s Alinghi defend her title was the closest finish in the history of the fabled event.

Alinghi only beat New Zealand by one second!

“We reviewed all the tapes and video footage and were confident that it was the correct call,” he said adding that a lot of umpires’ work is during the pre-start when both boats jockey for position.

“The pre-start of the race is where most of the action happens. You can get anything going on there and also around the marks. That start is very important. If you win the start it makes life a lot easier. They say that 80 percent of the time if you win the start you win the race.”

And while the relationship between athletes and officials in other sports can be contentious, at the America’s Cup is is more respectful.

“We talked to the skippers anytime they want to discuss a call. The relationship between skippers and umpires is excellent.

“We work closely with them. We do not want to be confrontational. We would prefer everything to be settled on the water and we want them to know how we are looking at certain situations.”

Shrubb is the Rear Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club with responsibility for sailing.

Besides the America’s Cup, his umpiring experiences include numerous Grade One, Swedish Match Tour and World Championship events. He was also the chief umpire for the Women’s World Championships in Denmark in 2006 as well as the Grade 1 Rolex Osprey Cup in the United States.