A snap back at a reporter's remark along the lines of sailing being only a sport for rich people has brought about unexpected television coverage for one of Tauranga's little known sailing secrets.

Peter Burling's mum Heather Burling's reply to the question resulted in the reporter interviewing Bay of Plenty Sailing Academy staff this week.

'She was sick of all these Peter's Mum stories and comments about sailing being a rich man's sport,” says BOPSAT chairman Stuart Pedersen.

''Well hang on, back home where I come from… we have this thing called BOPSAT with the schools programme'.”

When the reporter returned to New Zealand she visited Tauranga and interviewed BOPSAT staff, and filmed at Merivale School and the sailing centre.

The story is expected to air on the ‘Super Sport Sunday' segment of the six o'clock news between 6.30 and 7pm Sunday night – on TV3.

Merivale School pupils are among the beneficiaries of the Trust's mission to reduce the cost of sailing for youth, particularly giving sailing opportunities to those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

This year the trust has used a recently established endowment fund to reduce the hire rate for its 420 fleet for high school team sailing, and to start a free school sailing programme for hand-picked students at low decile schools.

Five schools are now doing this in term four and term one. With more income and/or more volunteer instructors, the academy is hoping to expand the programme.

Last year the academy was able to give ten boats to TYPBC for the Sailing School which helps support the viability of the Sailing School, which is crucial to the growth of junior sailing in Tauranga.

The academy is also running a ‘Sponsor a Sailor' programme where sailors from the free school sailing programme being supported by corporate/private sponsors and BoPSAT funds to take their sailing to the next level and beyond.

BoPSAT's endowment fund at the Acorn Foundation, the Sail for Life fund, received a boost of $74,000 to the end of May.

'Our main interest through BoPSAT is in the personal development advantages that come to young people from getting on the water. Having gained a lot personally from sailing, all the trustees want to see everyone have this chance,” says Stuart.