What advice would you give anyone who’s looking to get into sailing or trying it for the first time?
There’s definitely a misconception with sailing that it’s hard to get into and hugely expensive, but at an amateur level it’s the same as a lot of sports, you can pick up a second hand dinghy for £100. At most sailing clubs you can just become a member and start sailing with someone. They have great beginner courses and coaching, and it’s a social, accessible sport for all levels.

Do you think schools in the UK do enough to encourage children into sports at a young age, or could they do more?
No, they really need to do more, it’s about making sports fun. I was lucky because I went to a school that was very active in sport, but for a lot of my friends sport was just something in the timetable that they had to do. I spend a lot of time in Australia and New Zealand where they’re sports mad and there’s a culture about working as a team and being successful, and we could do with that in the UK. There’s a great initiative at the sailing club in Lymington, every Wednesday all the local school kids can use the club boats free of charge, they just go charging around the river. I get involved in that if I’m around, which is good fun. It would be good to see more initiatives like that around the country. 

Do you think succeeding as a professional sports person is as much about mentality as it is talent?
Oh yes, talent is obviously important, but it’s about being focused and organised and all of those extra attributes.

What do you love most about sailing?
The freedom it brings, I love the fact it’s such a diverse sport with so many challenges. One year I could be trying to compete in a race on my own sailing in a 14ft dinghy, then the next year I could be racing with 17 guys on an America’s Cup boat where it’s all about teamwork, design and management, that’s what I really love about it.

Where’s your favourite place to sail in Britain?
Falmouth, which is where I grew up and learnt to sail.

In the world?
Sydney harbour.

What would you say has been your greatest challenge?
Definitely the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Have you had to make any sacrifices in your career?
Yes, on a personal level, not being at home that much with family and friends is a sacrifice, but the flip side is I get to travel a lot and do what I love doing, so I can’t complain too much about it.

Have you ever considered quitting?
No, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been some hard times when things haven’t been going well and it’s been really difficult, but you just have to keep your head down and keep plugging away.

You’re officially Britain’s most successful sailor ever, how does that feel?
It’s a great feeling to be able to say that. But to me what’s really important what I’m working towards now and in the future. I certainly don’t want to sit around dreaming about the past, I want to keep moving forward, setting new goals and trying to be successful. 

How do you keep your feet on the ground?
I don’t know if I do! Though I suppose it’s just about always having something to work towards – sailing is a pretty time-intensive sport so when you’re actually going for something you don’t get distracted. The hardest thing about the last 12 to 18 months since Beijing has been that we were supposed to work towards the America’s Cup and then it got delayed, I’ve been a bit of a lost soul.

Do you still go sailing just for pleasure?
Definitely, I’ve been on a lot of sailing holidays where I’m just cruising around. That’s what I really love to be honest, much more than racing, because you can actually enjoy being in the water cruising along, having a beer, just chilling out and relaxing.

What’s been your proudest moment so far?
In Beijing, winning my third Olympic gold in a row.

Do you take your own boat to the Olympics?
I do, the boat I used in Beijing was the same I used in Athens, it means you can work on developing your boat so it’s different and personalised.

Do you have a dream boat?
I love designer boats called Howick, which are cruising boats, they’re modern build but they’re classic looking. They’re really beautiful boats and I guess it’s maybe my dream to one day own one of those.

What’s the boat’s name?
Rita, all my boats are called Rita. It’s a secret, but it’s got something to do with my mother. They all seem to go all right as Rita, so I keep calling them Rita.

What are your future goals?
The 2012 Olympics and the America’s Cup are the two big ones in the foreseeable future, but also I’d love to do the Volvo Ocean Race – that’s the race my dad did back in ’73 when it was called the Whitbread race. Also I’d like to have a go at the Jules Verne record – it’s the fastest circumnavigation of the world non-stop with a crew. So I’ve got plenty more to do!