Nick Dempsey driven by Beijing 2008 disappointment

Dempsey won bronze in the windsurfing RS:X class at Athens 2004

Weymouth-based Olympic windsurfer Nick Dempsey says failure to win a medal at Beijing 2008 will drive him on to success at London 2012.

Dempsey won a bronze medal at Athens 2004 in windsurfing's RS:X class before finishing fourth at Beijing 2008.

"Finishing fourth is my main driver, that hurt a lot so I have to win here now," he told BBC Radio Solent.

"I want to do it more than anything and the fact it's at home makes it more important," said the 30-year-old.

The Norfolk-born athlete trains at the Olympic venue at Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, but he insists that local knowledge will not guarantee him a medal at London 2012.

"We are used to sailing here for 10 months of the year so from that perspective we still get more time on than the foreigners, but the advantage is getting less and less," he said.

"As time goes on people are sailing here more and more, so before long our opponents will have a good handle of what works and how to sail the venue."

Dempsey will next compete at the Sail for Gold regatta in June before the Olympic qualifying gets underway from 31 July.