Rockal Evans is the proud owner of the only Finn dinghy on the island.

The reigning Comet Class champion took special delivery of the Olympic Class boat last month, which he hopes to compete in at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Evans is the proverbial chip off the old block as his late grandfather, Howard Lee, sailed in the Finn at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

The sail number on his second-hand boat is the same one his late grandfather used in his heyday.

“I spent all week trying to find his sail number and I finally found it today around 2pm,” Evans said. “I e-mailed the Finn association overseas and they got back to me.

“My grandfather qualified for the 1976 Olympics and now I have to make it happen for 2020 Japan. I think he’s looking down on me right now and is very happy.”

Evans’s boat was christened during a ceremony at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club yesterday.

That the ambitious sailor has a Finn to prepare for the 2020 Olympics owes much to the generosity of many.

The Bermuda J-105 Class raised nearly $15,000 which went towards the purchase and covering costs for Evans to compete in overseas regattas this year.

The idea was the brainchild of veteran sailor Trevor Boyce.

“I bumped into Rockal in the gym and he was telling me he was having a difficult time getting things off the ground and I used to know his grandfather very well,” Boyce said. “He used to be out watching us race J-24s 30 years ago.

“His grandfather brought him up since he was six years old and so I thought it would be a nice thing to do for his grandfather. Rockal is a real keen sailor and has sailed with a number of guys I’m friendly with, and so we thought we would help him out.”

Somers Isle Shipping Limited and Stevedoring Services Limited also played their part by shipping and offloading the boat free of charge.

George Butterfield, the manager of Meyer Freight, local agents for SISL, said: “We were approached in bringing the boat into Bermuda for Rockal and thought it would be a wonderful, great idea and so we jumped on board.

“We provided free transportation from Florida to Bermuda and what we’re also looking to do, if we can assist in shipping the boat to any overseas regatta, we will also make allowances and help in those areas as well.”

Warren Jones, the chief executive officer of Stevedoring Services, added: “We are really pleased to be able to support Rockal. He’s a young Bermudian attempting to make the Olympics, and the opportunity to assist him bring his boat wasn’t even a question.

“This is the type of thing we want to be a part of, so we wish Rockal well and we’re glad we could play some part.”

BF&M Limited have insured Evans’s boat free of charge while Bermuda Forwarders, Marine Locker and Triangle Rigging also donated to the cause.

“I would like to thank my sponsors and people who donated to make this dream of doing an Olympic campaign in the Finn Dinghy start to come true,” Evans said. “The J-105 Class, Bermuda Somers Isle Shipping Limited, Bermuda Forwarders, Marine Locker, Triangle Rigging, also family and friends. This couldn’t have been possible without them, and I’m very grateful.”