Ben Ainslie

Ben Ainslie gazes out across the bay at Weymouth where he expects to defend his Olympic title in less than three years' time knowing that, if all goes to plan, it will be the last occasion any of us witness him doing what he does best - mining for gold.

The triple Olympic gold medallist from the past three Games - he also took silver aged just 19 in 1996 - has an MBE upgraded to a CBE to his name, plus the title of the world's greatest sailor, and if he were to make it four golds, as he is heavily tipped to do, a knighthood would surely follow as indeed it did for rower Matthew Pinsent.

A fourth Olympic title, and a third in succession in the Finn Class after his gold in Sydney in the Laser, would also see him draw level with Dane Paul Elvstrom who, between 1948-60, set the still standing Olympic sailing record of four gold medals, but Ainslie has no wish to go on to beat a man he describes as his hero, let alone emulate Sir Steve Redgrave's British Olympic record feat of five golds.

"You can never say never in life," insists the 32-year-old. "But I can't think of a better way to bow out of an Olympic career than winning a fourth gold medal, and a fifth medal in total, at a Games held in your own waters in front of a home crowd. It's funny, because I was so upset winning that silver in Atlanta when I was 19. Looking back the truth is I was very concerned that I'd blown my chances of ever competing in the Olympics again, which sounds funny now. It was a good thing because it made me determined never to lose again. 
"I am aware of my achievements and it would be huge if I could go on and match Elvstrom's mark of four, but to me Steve Redgrave remains the guvnor for taking five golds stretched over pretty much 20 years in an incredibly gruelling sport, and while I think Chris Hoy is fantastic and could go on to make it five gold medals by London he is in a sport where you can win more than one title in a single Games. As for me four will do very nicely, but I musn't get ahead of myself because I still need to be selected and there's stiff competition for the place in the Finn for 2012 with the likes of Ed Wright and Giles Scott pushing hard."

Ainslie would have time on his hands to make it five golds but it turns out his ambitions go way beyond even this, and that striking gold in Weymouth in 2012 is only part of an incredible master plan that may already be under way before the Olympics after being appointed skipper of Team Origin, Britain's entry into the America's Cup. Despite all Ainslie's Olympic success, it is the thought of bringing the most prestigious trophy in sailing back to this country that really floats his boat.

Whether he gets his chance in 2011 or 2013 depends on the winner of the 33rd America's Cup next February between holders Alinghi and BMW Oracle deciding to defend their title in two or four years' time. Ainslie would be happy for it to be four, thus freeing up more time to nail his fourth Olympic gold but, either way, he believes he, his crew and his boat will be ready to become the first British winners of the America's Cup in its 158-year history.

"Winning the America's Cup for Britain is what I've dreamt about since I was a small boy, not winning Olympic gold medals," he admits. "Winning Olympic titles has been wonderful, of course, but I don't want to be seen as an Olympic specialist, but a great, all-round sailor. Being skipper of a British boat has brought me a step closer to realising my dream, but it's only a step. It's not enough to be in charge of Team Origin and racing in the America's Cup. I have to win it and even if it takes me the next 15 years to do this I won't give up until the goal's been reached. Anything less will be a failure and I'd be very, very disappointed not to have won it by then."

Ainslie's hoping it may take a lot less time than this, however. "I'm not saying we're going to win the America's Cup in 2011 or 2013, but I will say we'll have a chance in either year because I see us as one of only four competitive boats in with a shout of winning the trophy.

I can't imagine the reaction if we won. I know it was the biggest thing that ever hit Australia when Alan Bond achieved it, so I'd expect half a million in Portsmouth to welcome us home if we came back with the America's Cup in our hands for Britain for the first time since 1851. There'd be a great deal of pride in the country, that's for sure, and in myself."

That, you might think, would then be that, but still Ainslie will not be finished, as he eyes up yet another challenge which, of course, would make him the best in yet another category of sailing. "I'd be pretty satisfied with four Olympic golds and the America's Cup to my name," he admits, with an ironic grin. "But if I pull it off I'd then set my sights on the solo, round the world speed record known as the Jules Verne Trophy. That requires a different set of skills, especially mentally, and solo offshore sailing, as proven by the likes of Ellen Macarthur, Mike Golding and others, is a massive challenge. It's something I'd go for, though, if I can achieve my other goals."

Whatever happens the next three or four years are as big as Ainslie can possibly imagine. "I've had some special moments over the years," he reasons. "But there's no point denying it. A fourth gold medal and a decent stab at winning the America's Cup in the next few years is as big as it can get. It's scary thinking about it, but I can't wait either to give it my best shot." 
And with Ainslie best usually means first.

"Close to the Wind," Ben Ainslie's autobiography, was published by Yellow Jersey Press on September 17th.