America's Cup won't distract Ainslie from his 2012 ambition

By David Jordan, Sportsbeat

BEN Ainslie admits his America's Cup adventures have been a setback to his chances of another Olympic gold - but the three-time gold medallist has backed himself to strike the right balance before London 2012

BUSY MAN: Ben Ainslie remains committed to his 2012 campaign - despite his involvement with Britain's America's Cup challenge (onEdition)

The 33-year-old followed up his Beijing success by taking the helm of Britain's America's Cup boat, Team Origin, in a bid to claim the Auld Mug for the first time since 1851.

But despite believing the mammoth challenge will leave him off the pace when he returns to Finn class sailing this summer, Ainslie insists he won't give up his position as British fleet leader easily, despite the claims of a host of domestic rivals.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be racing at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in August and I imagine Ed Wright and Giles Scott will have the edge over me then because they will have finished an entire ISAF World Cup campaign," said Ainslie.

"They're both really good guys who I have worked very closely with, so I am eager to get back and race them. 

"London 2012 is such a great opportunity for anyone involved in sport in the UK and that includes me.

"The plan is to get back into racing and be in a position to go to another Olympic Games.

"We'll have to see what the America's Cup throws up because you can never be sure what will happen with it, but London is certainly out there as a focus for me."

Ainslie jetted in from Team Origin's MedCup campaign to skipper a Prince's Trust charity boat at last weekend's J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

And after guiding Team Origin to their second win of the series earlier this month, Ainslie insists the squad are well equipped to deliver the ultimate prize - with the next America's Cup scheduled to take place at an unknown venue in either 2013 or 2014.

"I think the most important thing at the moment is that we have a good team and that is the key," added Ainslie.

"We know that the America's Cup is a long process with lots of ups and downs along the way.

"It can be quite mentally tough but we feel we have a good team now and we are in it for the long haul."