Premier Dr. Ewart Brown's belief that sailing should be one of Bermuda's sports has been applauded by Tim Patton, President of Bermuda Sailing Association BSA).

Dr. Brown made the comment at the end of his Monday roundtable discussion with local journalists at Berkeley Institute, responding to a question on whether he regarded the $28 million given to football and cricket a wise investment.

Patton said he was greatly encouraged by the Premier's support.

"We have been talking about this for a long time and think that this recognition is long overdue," said Patton.

"Sailing consistently has produced some of the best sporting results Bermuda has seen including Olympic finishes just shy of the Olympic podium."

He was referring to Kirk Cooper's fifth place in Tokyo, Alan Burland and Chris Nash's fifth place at the Los Angeles Games in 1984 and Peter Bromby's fourth place finish at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

At the first-ever Youth Olympics in Singapore this summer, Owen Siese placed sixth.

"There is so much raw talent coming out of WaterWise and the club youth programmes that all we need is some decent funding to provide facilities, equipment, management support and a clear path from youth to adult elite status," added the BSA chief.

"Coupled with our location and ability to sail all year, the only thing lacking is the funding to produce even better results. Hopefully, the new leadership coming in a few weeks will share Dr. Brown's vision for the sport of sailing.

" We are in the process of re-developing our Strategic Plan we presented to Government some years ago and hopefully we will gain some support.

"Historically we have relied mostly on funding by the sailors personally, donations from the private sector and the Elite Athlete and Solidarity funding via the Bermuda Olympic Association to compete on the world stage."

Patton listed a long list of accomplisments in sailing outside the Olympics:

ADULTS

n 16 World or International Champions

n One gold and two silver medallists at the Pan-Am Games

n One silver medallist at the CAC Games

n Three North American Champions

n One European Champion

n One gold medallist, one silver medallist, one top junior at the Island Games

n Three US National Champions

n Women's International Match Race Champion and runner-up.

YOUTH

n Sixth place at Youth Olympics

n Four top ten finishes at the Optimist World Championships

n Three North American Champions

n Three US Collegiate All American team members

n One US High School Champion

n One US Collegiate Champion

n Two CORK Championships

BERMUDA HOSTING

OF MAJOR REGATTAS

n ISAF Match Racing Worlds

n ISAF Women's Match Racing Worlds

n ISAF Youth Worlds (twice)

n Seven World Championships

n Six North American Championships

n Three Major Ocean Races

n Member of the World Match Racing Tour