Olympic sailors of the future?

The 700 acre Thames Water reservoir is the biggest area of enclosed water within the M25 and the club has been teaching almost 100 children each week over the summer holidays.

And while Olympic hero Sarah Ayton grew up just a stone's throw from the club in Glenfield Road, they have been inundated by queries from parents far and wide who want their children to be a hit at 2012 and beyond.

William Kennedy, 15, from Chiswick has been sailing at the club over the summer holidays. He said: "It's such an inspiration for everyone that they did so well in the Olympics. They are at the pinnacle of what they do. It's inspirational but it's daunting to think that 2012 is so close."

13-year-old Chris Parsons added: "It would be great to get to that level but it's so difficult. People are thinking they have done it, so why can't I do it too."

The club already have three hopefuls lined up for 2012 - Andrew Mills, 21, who sails in the Finn with three time Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie, and Oscar McVeigh, 17, and George Spedding, 15, who are both in the national junior teams.

Harry Harding, 18, of Braywood Avenue, Egham teaches part-time at the club. He said: "It would be nice to be an Olympic sailor but I am probably too old to make it now. It's great that the profile of sailing is raised though and it would be nice to help teach someone for the future."

The club has been buzzing since the girls who won gold in the Yngling sailing class showed off their medals there last week and they hope to unearth a raw talent of the future at their free courses for schoolchildren which start this week.

Rear commodore of the club Caroline Marriage paid tribute to the affect the Olympic medalists have had, saying: "Sarah and Sarah are great role models for our young sailors. This is helping to build sailing talent for future Olympic games."