The Olympics sailor's Finn dinghy, aka ‘Rita', will be put on public display in Falmouth
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Ben Ainslie’s gold medal-winning dingy is going on public display at the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall.
The Finn dinghy, fondly named ‘Rita’ by Ainslie, has been his companion in the last three Olympic games, winning gold medals in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and in Weymouth this summer.
Rita will be displayed alongside Ainslie’s winning Laser from the Sydney Games in 2000.
Ben Lumpy, exhibitions manager at the Maritime Museum told the BBC that visitors will be able to see and touch the boats on display.
“We’re here to celebrate the sea, boats and Cornwall and what better story to tell than that of Ben and Rita,” said Lumby.
“Not many people know that Ben used the same Finn in all three recent Olympics.
“We do not know of any other actual boat that has won three consecutive golds as sailors prefer to have a new one if they can.”
Ben Ainslie, who turns his attentions to racing catamarans in the America’s Cup in California, has said that doesn’t think he’ll ever race in Rita again.
“It’s really unlikely I’d go for the Finn physically. I don’t think my body can go through that again.”
Read more stories:
Gallery: Ben Ainslie sails his Olympic-winning Finn down the Thames
Gallery: Which sailor had the best Olympic medal celebration at Weymouth?
Image: onEdition