NOT many people have embraced the Olympic spirit in this region quite like schoolboy Adam Greaves, whose ongoing endeavours at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy continue to gather huge acclaim.

Over the last five years, the 15-year-old, who lives in Southwell on Portland, has not only watched the huge developments that have taken place on his doorstep but he has embraced them and opened up a potential career path in the process, which has even led to praise from none other than Lord Sebastian Coe.

Speaking to Echosport, Greaves said: “It all started through the Sail for a Fiver scheme in May 2007, which is run at the Academy in conjunction with SailLaser and The Chesil Trust. “It enables young, school-aged children, usually in Years Five and Six, to have a session of sailing, a morning or afternoon, for just £5. I thoroughly enjoyed the session and was thrilled when I was awarded the trophy for the most promising child of the afternoon.

“From there I was then lucky enough to get sponsorship through my RYA stage one and two qualifications, which enabled me to join the OnBoard Club at SailLaser and it is from there that I have pursued my passion for sailing for the past five years.

“During that time it has become a huge part of my life.

“In 2008, I took a great interest in the Beijing Olympic sailing events, where I followed the progress of Laser sailor Paul Goodison, who eventually went on to win gold, which was extremely inspiring.

“It was great to watch because I could really relate to what Paul was sailing, what with me sailing at SailLaser and Paul sailing in the Laser class.

“I can also remember thinking it was possible and achievable sometime in the future that I could sail a full rig Laser too. At that stage I was sailing a Laser Pico.

“Lord Sebastian Coe was also another inspiration.

“He heard about what I had achieved since starting sailing and actually wrote a letter to me in which he said what I was doing was ‘a true example of the Olympic spirit’ and that he hoped I was ‘very proud’ of my achievements.

“His letter went on to add ‘I wish you every success with your sailing in the future – maybe one day we may even see you competing at a future Olympic Games.’ “It was from there the dream was born really and from that point onwards my aim has always been to strive to be the best I can with the hope of one day competing at the Olympics in the Laser class.”

Since those early days, Greaves’ face has become synonymous with the Academy and hardly a couple of days go by where he has failed to get out on the water.

The Royal Manor Arts College student added: “I get out on the water as much as I possibly can.

“At present, I sail on a Monday night in a partnership formed between SailLaser and Castle Cove Sailing Club and on Thursday evenings, I crew on the Laser 28 yacht, Farr Out, on which I am a Bowman.

“Then, at the weekends, I can nearly always be found down at SailLaser or the Academy putting in as many hours as possible.

“My interest in sailing has led to other activities too.

“I have taken several courses and I currently hold a RYA assistant dinghy instructor certificate, which means when I volunteer at SailLaser during the school holidays, I can assist with the courses and OnBoard Club, which is exactly how I started.

“I was also in a position to take the RYA Powerboat 2 course and that allows me to volunteer on a regular basis at the Academy as crew on the safety boats during various regattas.

“Over the last two months, I have also started to attend Marine Cadets, where I have undertaken a further course and a number of sailing sessions in the evening.

“I was also lucky enough to undertake a voyage on the Tall Ship Pelican in April, which was sailing on a scale that I had never experienced before and I absolutely loved it.”

The Academy really has become a home from home for Greaves and it has led to him rubbing shoulders with some of Britain’s top sailors, who will be going for gold at Weymouth and Portland in August.

He said: “Being at the Academy so much has given me the opportunity to meet quite a few of the Olympic sailors.

“The first I met was Paul Goodison when the opening of the enhancement works to the Academy took place in November 2008. “That was a huge day for me as it was only a few months previously that I had watched Paul achieve that gold in Beijing. “It really spurred me on and reaffirmed the dream I have of competing in the Olympics.

“I also met double Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks, who competed in the 49er Class at the celebrations for 1,000 days to go to this summer’s Games.

“We both led the procession from Portland Castle to the Sailing Academy where the festivities took place, which was fantastic.

“Another chance that came my way was to sail with another Olympic medallist in Chris Draper and his partner Pete Greenhalgh in their 49er in Portland Harbour. This was another fantastic opportunity and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

“I have also been lucky enough to meet Lord Coe and Jonathan Edwards too.”

Greaves went on to add: “The fact the Games are coming here is very exciting and it is something I am really looking forward to watching from my vantage point at the Nothe.

“Obviously, I will be cheering the whole team on, especially Paul, but having followed Sail for Gold this year, I will also be rooting for all the teams in all the Olympic and Paralympic Classes.

“As I have already said, my ultimate sailing ambition is to compete at an Olympic Games sometime in the future.

“Only time will tell if I have the ability to reach that goal but that is not the only thing I have to overcome as sponsorship and funding for any sport is difficult to come by and only given to those who have the real potential to make it. “I believe I could make it but without a boat, and therefore the chance to compete on a wider level, my fight to become an Olympic sailor goes on.

“In the short term, I will be putting all my efforts into assistant instructing and preparing myself to undertake the instructor certificate after I turn 16 in October, which will hopefully help me gain employment in that capacity.

“That will keep me as close to the action as possible and also enable me to earn some of the funds to pursue that ultimate dream.”

Greaves picked up a silver medal in the 2011 Dorset Schools Sailing Regatta and also won the SailLaser Weymouth Laser Race Series in 2010. To find out more and keep up-to-date with the talented teenager’s sailing exploits visit adamgreavessailing.weebly.com