Ras Al Khaimah: Enrico Malingri di Bagnolo, a former mentor to record-breaking British yachtswomen Ellen MacArthur, has revealed his plans to develop an all-Emirati squad capable of challenging for honours at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Malingri, head of the Ras Al Khaimah sailing academy, says it is possible to develop an Olympic team in three years and has invited youngsters to enrol for the academy when it re-opens for the 2014 season next month.
“The UAE has some amazing sailing terrain, but it has very few sailors,” he said. “Until relatively recently, even recreational sailing was not popular for locals, but interest has grown and we are working with a talented group of young enthusiasts that I believe have what it takes to challenge for Olympic medals and much more.
“It is my personal goal to work with these young sailors, to pass on what I have learned to help them fulfil their potential to compete at the highest level in world sailing. This was one of the main reasons why the RAK Sailing Academy opened, and I hope also to build a team that can compete with the world’s sailing elite in European regattas.
“Sailing is about more than just winning races. It is about learning to operate in the present, and teaching people to sail therefore becomes a stepping stone to creating a nation of innovators — people who can do extraordinary things with the bare minimum.”
