Ainslie likes to rough stuff at ISAF World Cup

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat, in Weymouth

BEN AINSLIE insists he welcomed the tough conditions in Weymouth as mother nature gave the three-time Olympic champion a less then warm welcome back to solo sailing.

LUMPY SEAS: Ben Ainslie enjoyed the rough conditions at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta, the concluding event in the ISAF World Cup series (onEdition)

The 33-year-old is just two days into his return to Olympic class Finn sailing at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta - following a two-year break to focus on his America's Cup ambitions with Team Origin.

With the wind reaching 30 knots race officials deemed it safe enough for just one race - with Ainslie finishing 12th to move to sixth in the overall standings but some way behind runaway leader, Frenchman Jonathan Lobert.

"It was some of the roughest weather I have faced in the Finn and it's a tough boat in those conditions but I managed to hang on," he said.

"I did still enjoy it out there though but it is just hard when you know you are basically not fit enough or trained enough in the boat.

"So I was lacking a bit against the other guys but it is still great to be out there and racing the boat again in all sorts of conditions.

"It was a warm welcome back to Finn racing and even though it was really tough."

Australia's Brendan Casey picked up the win in the Finn class while Lobert collected second to go with a first and second on Monday to open up a commanding lead.

It was a day to celebrate for the French team with the pairing of Pierre Leboucher and Vincent Garros recording two wins in the 470 class and the team of Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis doing the same in the 49er.

And even though he was fighting hard against the waves while out on the water, Ainslie admitted his French rival hadn't escaped his attention.

"I was getting a little frustrated because I didn't do quite as well as I could have," he added.

"And with these two days I am still finding out about everyone and I saw what people were like in the calmer waters and then again in the choppier stuff, so that is good.

"I suppose the one thing I noticed is that Jonathan Lobert looked very good again and that is two days in a row now, so he looks like one to look at for."