MICHAEL Phelps may have won eight gold medals at this Games, but there will be few as convincing as Ben Ainslie's.

The Lymington sailor yesterday secured his third straight gold to become, without question, Britain's greatest ever Olympic sailor.

And it was both ironic and fitting, after Saturday's medal race had been postponed due to light winds in Qingdao, that Ainslie completed his feat in some of the fiercest conditions seen on the Yellow Sea after seven days of struggle and calm.

After winning yesterday's medal race, Ainslie eventually finished a staggering 22 points in front of second-placed American Zach Railey, 23 to 45.

With Yngling trio Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Lymington's Pippa Wilson also securing gold, it became a historic day for Team GB's sailors.

For Wilson it was first time around, but Webb and Ayton have now become only the second British females in history to win back-to-back Olympic golds.

Debutant Wilson said: "This has been the dream and it hasn't really sunk in yet. It's pretty awesome. We've known since day one that you can expect anything out there.

"That's our strength really, that we're happy to come out in anything.

"It has been such a fantastic journey since I joined the team. It has been absolutely amazing, a perfect end to a perfect campaign and I'm very happy to be here." added the 22-year-old, proudly clutching her gold medal.

"This has been my focus since I left school. I've wanted this and my first goal was to make this happen and that's all I've been thinking about really. Hopefully there'll be more to come."

Like Ainslie, the Yngling crew got off to a flying start yesterday, but with the Dutch shadow-boxing all the way to the first mark.

However, once the Brits had rounded the buoy in front the tension was slackened.

And with the Dutch trailing home fifth in the medal race, Ayton, Webb and Wilson romped to gold by 24 points to 33 overall.

Ayton said: "It has been brilliant and highlights what this campaign has always been about; pure perfection and we're just an awesome team. We've been looking at starting as something we had to address, and we executed it perfectly today.

"I'm lost for words, it is such a relief, our experience was everything. We've had so many supporters who have made such a difference along the way and we just want to thank everyone," Webb added.

Legend Ainslie, meanwhile, hinted he could be prepared to go for a fourth straight gold - this time on the Dorset waters at Weymouth in four years time.

Speaking after his medal race victory, Ainslie said: "It felt like it would never come but there was great breeze and to win the race as well, I am a happy man.

"Conditions have been really tough, the light winds have been a real strength of will but today was a complete turnaround.

"I approached the race a bit differently to yesterday, as because the breeze was so light yesterday I couldn't let Zach get away from me but today I was confident that with my boat speed and fitness I could get away and it all came good.

"You take each Games as it comes. Each one has been tough and we'll see what happens in the future but I've enjoyed every minute of my Olympic sailing career, I've been very lucky. The draw of 2012 and racing on your home waters is huge.

"It's a long way away but if I've got a chance to be there and do well, I'd love to do it."

Elsewhere on the Qingdao waters yesterday, Sherborne Star class man Andrew Simpson and team-mate Iain Percy were lying eighth in the standings, while 470 stars Nick Rogers, of Lymington, and Joe Glanfield were due out this morning for their medal race with the duo chasing a silver.

Gold had already been secured by Australia.