TOP Dorset sailors are one step closer to 2012 glory after being officially selected to compete at next year’s home Olympics.

Eleven sailors have been confirmed as the first athletes for Team GB’s 550-strong squad for the London 2012 Games.

Britain’s sailing legend Ben Ainslie, who has been based on Portland while training and competing at Skandia Sail for Gold regatta and the Olympic test event, is on course to fight for his fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

The 34-year-old said the ‘strong competition’ in the men’s heavyweight Finn dinghy class from Portland’s Giles Scott, Bournemouth’s Ed Wrights and their Skandia Team GBR teammates Mark Andrews and Andrew Mills, ‘pushed me all the way in every event’.

Weymouth’s windsurfers Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw are on course to build on their Olympic bronze medals in the RS;X men’s and women’s events, which they claimed in Athens and Beijing respectively.

Dempsey, 31, said: “This is my fourth Olympics, and this one is just everything to me.

“It’s the one – the Games that I’ve been waiting for my whole life. You’re never going to get better than winning an Olympic medal on home waters.”

Three-time Olympian Paul Goodison, of Wyke Regis, said it ‘felt good’ to have been chosen to defend his Laser dinghy class crown.

He said: “For me it’s important that selection’s out of the way so I can start to focus on what I need to do.”

Goodison’s girlfriend and Olympic sailor Saskia Clark earned selection after a whirlwind seven months with new helm Hannah Mills, following the retirement of her former helm Sarah Ayton.

They won the confidence of the Royal Yachting Association selectors in the 470 women’s dinghy event after a string of podium finishes.

Dorset’s Match Race Girls Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush have been chosen for the Elliott 6m Women's Match Racing event.

Called up for 2012

THE sailors who got their Olympic call-up include: Ben Ainslie, of Lymington regularly trains in the borough – defending champion in the Finn heavyweight dinghy.

Paul Goodison, of Wyke Regis, Weymouth – defending champion in the Laser dinghy.

Bryony Shaw, former Budmouth College student now living in Tunbridge Wells, Kent – RSX women’s windsurfing.

Nick Dempsey, of Wyke Regis, Weymouth – RSX men’s windsurfing.

Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, of Emsworth and Sherborne – defending champions in the Star men’s keelboat.

Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark, of Rodwell and Wyke Regis, Weymouth – women’s 470 dinghy event.

Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor and Annie Lush, of Poole – Elliott 6m keelboat, Women’s Match Racing.

n Selection trials are ongoing in the remaining three Olympic sailing classes – the 470 Men, the 49er and Laser Radial events.