Just when Jessie Kirkland thought his week couldn't get any better - it did!

Moments after helping St. Mary's College put an end to a seven-year Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association National Championship drought, the 21-year-old Bermudian was named All-American sailor for the third consecutive year.

Kirkland is due to arrive home today but will hardly have time to bask in his glory as he and elder sibling, Zander, will step up an estimated $300,000 bid to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

The brothers have left no stone unturned in their Olympic quest having recruited world renowned coach, Ramon Oliden, to assist them in taming 'The Beast' that is the Olympic class 49er skiff.

Having coached his native Argentina to a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in the Tornado Class and more recently coached Spain to a silver medal in the 49er Class at last year's Games in Beijing, Oliden comes highly recommended.

The Argentine is due to arrive on the Island this month to conduct a personal clinic with the brothers, who stormed to victory in last year's Long Distance Comet Race.

College student Jessie is a past Optimist North American champion as well as North American Fleet racing champion with the St.Mary's Seahawks while brother Zander is currently coaching on the US West Coast at Newport Harbour, who he guided to Inter-Scholastic Sailing Association double-handed glory in Florida last month.

Together, the pair make a formidable combination and past Olympic sailor Peter Bromby believes they have the potential to go far in the sport.

"I think Jessie is doing very well at the collegiate level and we are all looking forward to when he steps up to the senior level. He has an Olympic ambition and hopefully all this success will help prepare him for that," Bromby told The Royal Gazette.

Having appeared in four Olympics, reigning Bacardi Cup Star Class regatta champion Bromby knows all too well what it takes to compete at that level.

"It is another level and there are hurdles in the way. But you just have to find your way over them and I think Jessie has the potential to make it to the Olympics," he said.

However, Bromby admitted their task was a daunting one made all the more challenging as they have to acquire the boat handling skills required to sail a 49er – the Formula One of Olympic class boats.

"I haven't sailed the boat myself, but I have had some very good sailors tell me they have sailed that boat before and could barely keep it upright," he said.

"It is a very tricky boat and not like anything they have sailed before and so you would expect some growing pains and hopefully they will have the resolve to stay there and work through it.

"It is a very interesting choice for them to have made and technically it's going to be tough as the 49er requires a lot of boat handling."