Tornado test for old salt Sellers

by Ivan Agnew, Times Online on 30 Oct 2005 One of NZ's top sports writers and authors, Ivan Agnew, now Sports Editor for the Times newspapers, in Auckland's Eastern Suburbs, has penned the following article on double Olympic sailing medallist, Rex Sellers, and his latest Olympic sailing project.

At 55, Cockle Bay ‘Old Salt’ Rex Sellers has issued a challenge to the new Tornado catamaran ‘Dream Team’ of Aaron McIntosh and Bruce Kendall.

'They have the potential to be an exciting combination, but my son Brett and Nigel Williamson will give them a run for selection at the 2008 Beijing Olympics,’ says the recently-elected Yachting New Zealand President.

‘Aaron has the sponsorship but watch this space — I’ll be doing all I can to help Brett challenge for an Olympic berth.’

That includes stepping into Tornados with stepsons Ross and Mark Sly to offer Brett and Williamson keen competition in training and assisting super fit 16-year-old daughter Justine Sellers, who has moved out of Starlings into the domain of Bucklands Beach boardsailing queen Barbara Kendall.

‘It’s the old legend against the young guns and I’m ready to kick arse, coaching my kids or racing with them if need be.’

While Bruce Kendall won Olympic bronze and gold as a Mistral boardsailor at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Olympics before sister Barbara struck gold, silver and bronze at Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, this is his first Tornado venture.

2000 Sydney Olympic Mistral bronze medallist McIntosh switched to Tornados two and a half years ago with Mark Kennedy, who was replaced by Kendall because of illness.

In contrast Sellers, who still runs his Nelson fishing business, is vastly experienced in the class.

He won Olympic gold and silver in the Tornado at Los Angeles and Seoul with the late Chris Timms and was fourth at Barcelona with Brian Jones, brother of Maraetai America’s Cup star, Murray.

But for the American led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics because of the Soviets’ invasion of Afghanistan, Sellers would have been there too.

While the body is ageing, the mind remains agile and the competitive streak undiminished.

No one has won more New Zealand titles in the class and he has countless Hobie titles as well, including the top New Zealand finish when 43rd at last year’s world’s with daughter Justine.

‘I was quite happy with that considering I haven’t done any serious training for 12 years.’

Instead he’s been busy coaching Optimist and Starling sailors at the Howick Sailing Club for the best part of the past decade and his justifiably proud of his family’s achievements.

All his children have won Hobie national titles with him.

Now 19, Brett was top Kiwi when ninth at the last year’s World Youth Hobie champs in Mexico and has just completed a 14-month coaching appointment in Japan.

He’s grateful for his father’s expert advice in Tornados and is confident of making the adjustment from Hobies.

‘It should be an exciting challenge against Aaron and Bruce when we clash in Sail Auckland and the nationals in February and I’m really looking forward to it,’ he says.

Meanwhile Rex has genuine respect for Kendall and McIntosh and McIntosh was part of the Oracle weather team he headed at the last Louis Vuitton Challenge in Auckland.

But family bonds are strong with a self-styled ‘wind whacker coach’ who cannot resist a challenge despite his grandfather status.

And if that means climbing into a Tornado to ‘kick arse,’ then so be it.

For more stories from Ivan Agnew see:
http://www.times.co.nz/sport.shtml