The yachting venue for this summer’s Olympic Games is a ‘sailor’s nightmare’ says double Olympic champion Ben Ainslie. Qingdao, in China, is beset with light winds, strong currents and persistent fog, he said.

Stephen Park, the Olympic team leader of the Royal Yachting Association, agrees. He has revised his target from more than five to three gold medals for the UK team.

Ainslie has not ruled out competing in Weymouth in 2012 despite being contracted to compete for the Team Origin consortium in the America’s Cup.