HE is Britain’s most successful ever Olympic sailor and has already been named the best male sailor in the world.

Now Ben Ainslie, pictured, is looking to make history again by winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Ainslie, who claimed his third consecutive gold and fourth Olympic medal in total with emphatic Finn class victory at Beijing 2008, was named on the final shortlist of ten in the running for this year’s award.

No sailor has ever received the prestigious BBC accolade, awarded annually since 1954.

The Lymington-based helm became Britain’s youngest ever Olympic sailing medallist when on his Games debut at Atlanta 1996 Ain-slie won Laser class silver at rge age of just 19.

However after going one better with his first Olympic gold at Sydney 2000, the 31-year-old switched to the bigger Finn class and he remains unbeaten in the class since 2004.

The 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year takes place at the Liver-pool Echo Arena on Dec-ember 14 and voting will take place by phone only during the live TV show.

The number to call to vote for Ben will be revealed on the programme at 7pm.