Britain’s triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie received a CBE today from HRH the Prince of Wales, along with Andrew Pindar (pictured) – Chairman of sailing team Bahrain Team Pindar – who was honoured with a OBE.

Ben sailed into the record books at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by winning his third successive gold medal, added to his silver medal from Atlanta in 1996 when he was still a teenager. The four medals makes Ben Britain’s greatest ever Olympic sailor.

“I’m honoured to become Commander of the British Empire, it’s an extremely proud moment, when you’re out on the water competing in the Olympics you’re racing for yourself but a part of you is also doing it for your country, so it’s fitting to be recognised in this way. Receiving the CBE from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is also great for my family who have supported me throughout my career.”

“Over the next couple of years I will be concentrating on competing in the World Match Racing Tour and looking to get back in the Finn to concentrate on the Olympic circuit in order to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics.”

Andrew Pindar, Chairman of Pindar and sailing team Bahrain Team Pindar, was rewarded for his services to business and to the community. After collecting the accolade, Andrew commented: “Receiving the OBE from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales was an immensely proud moment for me. It is a huge honour and something that I would like to share with my family and all the many people who have supported our projects in business, the community and sporting arenas.

Away from his business Andrew’s passion for the sea is perhaps where the ‘Pindar’ name has become most widely associated. Well known for its sponsorship of Emma Sanderson (née Richards) in the 2002-03 Around Alone Race, Pindar has supported a broad range of sailing campaigns for the last 25 years: including current double ISAF World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams; quadriplegic sailor, Hilary Lister’s record-breaking English Channel crossing; and yachtsman Brian Thompson’s 2008/9 Vendee Globe campaign, in which he finished fifth.

Today, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was visiting the new Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which will play host to the sailing activity during the 2012 Olympic Games.