Norwich windsurfer Nick Dempsey insists he knows exactly what to expect at London 2012 after testing the Olympic waters at last week's Sail for Gold Regatta.

The 31-year-old was getting a sneak peak of the Olympic venue as he took to the water at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which is sponsored by SSE, looking to retain his Sail for Gold crown.

But it wasn't to be as he was forced to settle for bronze this time around, the title going to Holland's Dorian Van Rijsselberge while Frenchman Julien Bontemps won silver.

The trio are used to battling it out for supremacy, Bontemps having won the world title in March while Van Rijsselberge came out on top at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in December.

And after going at it again Dempsey believes he knows what is in for him at London 2012, although he is hell-bent on making sure it is him finishing top of the pile this time around.

'It was a frustrating week I would say. I am kind of happy to finish third after not sailing my best this week,' said Dempsey, talking in his role as an ambassador for SSE, who are sponsors to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, demonstrating commitment to the development of one of the UK's most successful Olympic medal sports.

'I had a few mistakes, so to still finish with a medal is pretty positive, but a few mistakes were made and I have learnt a lot this week which is good timing ahead of the Games.

'It is exactly as it should be heading into the Games.

'You have myself, Dorian and Julien who have won the last three events and I would be surprised if it wasn't us three on the podium in London 2012.

'Julien sails really well in the light wind and the very strong winds and Dorian and I sail well in the medium to strong winds.

'So we all have our ideal conditions and we all have our weaknesses and it is just a case of exploiting each others.'

London will be Dempsey's fourth Olympics, having failed to build on his bronze medal in Athens when he finished an agonising fourth in Beijing.

But if he was to climb the podium in the capital this summer, he admits it would make up for anything that has gone before.

'The Olympic Games here in Weymouth is more than once in a lifetime opportunity, it is the best thing in the world ever,' he added.

'It would mean so much to me to win the gold on home waters and I will be doing all I can to make that happen.'

• SSE is a supporter of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy helping them to generate 20pc of their energy through renewable sources by this Summer.

For additional information on making your home greener go to the sse.co.uk/beinggreen website.