Ben Ainslie named World Sailor of the Year

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's Olympic sailing hero Ben Ainslie has clinched the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Rolex World Sailor of the Year crown for a record third time.

Ainslie, who defended his Olympic Finn-class gold medal in Beijing this year, received the award in a ceremony held in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday night.

The accolade caps a hugely successful year for the 31-year-old, that saw him win the European, World and Olympic events.

It also marks the first time the award has been won three times by one sailor. Ainslie first won it 1998, before returning to claim it in 2002.

Ainslie said he was delighted with the recognition.

"It's a huge honor, it's really exciting, it's a great list of nominees and you've got to congratulate all of those people. It's a fantastic achievement.

"The world sailor of the year award is a massive honor for a sailor, it's huge.

"For me to win this year is fantastic, it's really made my year absolutely. I'm just really very happy,'' Ainslie said.

Ainslie's victory at Beijing -- and third gold medal in succession -- made him the most successful British Olympic sailor in history.

Among Ainslie's competition for the award were New Zealand's Tom Ashley, Francis Joyon of France, Italy's Vincenzo Onorato, and Ainslie's countryman Ian Williams.

Britain's gold-medal winning Olympic Yngling crew of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson were unlucky losers in the women's award.

The award went to 38-year-old Italian veteran Alessandra Sensini, who this year claimed the World title as well as a silver Olympic medal in the RS:X windsurfing class.