If Ben Ainslie wins Olympic gold next year it will be the best naval victory off Britain’s coastline since Sir Francis Drake skittled the Spaniards off Plymouth Hoe.

Macclesfield-born Ainslie is already one of the country’s finest ever sailors.

And a fourth Olympic gold to add to his successes in Sydney, Athens and Beijing will further enhance his reputation.  Indeed, the Cheshire-raised yachtsman could expect a call from Buckingham Palace inviting him to join Britain’s sporting knights club.

And at the age of 34 Ainslie, who also struck Olympic silver in Atlanta in 1996, is still as good as ever.

Sailing on the 2012 course in Weymouth, Ainslie won the Olympic Test event on Saturday, claiming the Finn class by 31 points and went into the final day’s racing already assured of victory.

Britain’s world and European champions, Ed Wright and Giles Scott, have been among his rivals for the Finn nomination for London next year. But he’s left both trailing in his wake.

A decision on Olympic selection is expected next month and Ainslie said: “I will be disappointed if I’m not chosen.

“I’ve ticked all the boxes I’ve had to do this year and can’t really do any more.

“I have got to make a lot of decisions about my programme and preparations for 2012. And the uncertainty over selection won’t help.”

Despite all his awards, including being voted World Sailor of the Year on three occasions, Ainslie is as driven as ever.

“Having a chance to compete at a home Olympics doesn’t get much better,” he told MEN Sport today. “I am happy with the way things have gone. But it is in 12 months’ time that counts as that is where you want to be winning so I’ve got to keep thinking about ways to improve and keep pushing.”

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