You've gotta love Ben Ainslie, haven't you? On the face of it his actions over the weekend at the Finn World Championships in Perth - leaping overboard, swimming to a TV boat, climbing aboard and confronting the crew after he felt they had impeded him by sailing too close, thus costing him victory in a race, and subsequently being disqualified for yesterday's final two races that cost him a sixth world title after he was once again in the lead - appear fairly self-destructive and entirely against the gentle, mild-mannered character he appears to one and all.
Well, forget all that drivel. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Ben's a lovely man but put him on to the water and he turns into Michael Schumacher, or Roger Federer, or Steve Redgrave.
The man's a killer, ruthless, determined and very, very difficult to take on. Time and time again he's proved this, waltzing off to compete in other sailing disciplines such as the America's Cup, and then returning to claim Olympic title after Olympic title.
So far the count is three golds (don't mention his silver won at the age of 19 in Atlanta in 1996 - he sees that as some kind of failure, which is how Redgrave sees his 1988 bronze in the cosed pairs as well) and I'd put my house on making it four in eight months' time in Weymouth.
I've been fortunate to interview Schumi and the Fed a number of times and even rowed with Sir Steve, our greatest Olympian, and Ben Ainslie possesses the same ruthless character streaks that makes him and them winners amongst winners.
He won't be happy that his actions have cost him another world title but this will only fuel his anger and motivation even more for the 2012 Games. His main rivals will know this, which is why they will not be celebrating at Ainslie's minor hiccup down under.
