Three-time Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie is on the cusp of a record-breaking sixth Finn world title in Cornwall.
The 35-year-old won all three of Thursday's races at the J.P. Asset Management Finn Gold Cup to open up a 20-point cushion heading into Friday's medal race on the south coast.
Ainslie only needs to start and finish the race to secure a sixth Finn world championship - three more than any other sailor - to help put him in a strong position to secure Olympic gold this summer.
"It was a great day," he said. "It was unbelievable sailing, some of the best I have ever experienced.
"It was at 25 to 30 knots of wind, massive waves so it was a really good test for everyone and a great day's sailing.
"It was pretty extreme. It is not often we race in conditions like that so it was great.
"I think there will be a lot of tired sailors but I think most people had a smile on their face most of the time."
Having seen sailing cancelled on Wednesday due to strong winds, the Finn fleet had to deal with testing conditions on the south coast.
Ainslie won the day's first race with a storming finish, before capitalising on Skandia Team GBR team-mate Ed Wright capsizing when leading the second race.
He then went onto win the final race of the day, with results meaning Ainslie and Wright are guaranteed to finish in the top two.
This year will be the third successive Finn Gold Cup victory by a British sailor - following Wright and Giles Scott last year - but Ainslie is focused fully on this summer's Olympics.
"It has been a good week and this event is important but really the main focus this year is the Olympics coming up,'' he said.
"It is good with that in mind but of course it is a great achievement to win a Finn Gold Cup.
"There is still a long way to go and this fleet is very tight. There are a lot of good sailors so I've still got to keep pushing and making improvements.
"Obviously I am very happy with the way this week has gone.''
Gold Cup victory will cap a great week for Ainslie, who kicks off the Olympic torch relay in his home county of Cornwall on Saturday.
"That will be very special," he added.
"That will be great for Cornwall and great for the country to have the Olympic flame here.
"As for me, I just hope I have enough energy to make it 200 metres down the road."
